Underground music scenes have been a constant for years. Compared to music scenes of today, the 1980s and 90s were a veritable breeding ground for musical creativity.
In the 80s, the heavy music community saw the rise (and eventual fall, trend-wise) of genres such as thrash metal. More commercially obscure hybrid styles of punk and heavy metal like D-beat and grindcore arose during this time period, as well.
The late 80s and early 90s broadened on these musical developments, creating something of a sub-culture within our society. Well known metalcore bands such as Converge and Propagandhi started in the early 90s and are still going strong today with an ever-growing fan base.
But what sort of contributions to extreme music have the 2000s brought to us? Commercialization of these once underground sounds? Stagnation in creativity? With an exception of a few bands, this has unfortunately become the case.
Music being released today has become increasingly more generic. Not only the pop music heard on the radio, but metal and punk music, too. There are countless crust punk bands floating around today. There are even more 80s thrash metal revivalists filling that musical cesspool. It seems incredibly unoriginal for musical artists to rehash on the music scenes of years passed, regardless of whether or not that time was better for heavy music. There's a big difference between honest and heartfelt tribute to the glory days and plain-and-simple ripoff.
A listener can only hear the same riff or the same lyrical themes so often before finding them stale. Hearing how capitalism is the root of all evil and that man will be its own undoing can become stale and come across as uninspired when those themes are all that are present in the band's repertoire. Likewise, generic chugging riffs can only take a band so far without sounding boring. Generic power chords, a few sloppy solos and illegible lyrics do not make for an enjoyable listening experience and will leave a band's followers unsatisfied. Too much disillusionment with the music world seems to have left many a music fan complacent.
It's unfortunate that even the legendary punk house C-Squat hasn't produced a whole lot as of late compared to the explosion of the 1990s. One might think that this is a sign that the metalheads, thrashers and punks of today ought to build a new music scene. A scene that will bring an end to the stagnation that true metal and punk has faced for the past few years.
Heavy music has turned into a form of fashion, especially amongst the more elitist members of the trash and crust world. It simply is not enough to wear a band's t-shirt. The elitists act like if you don't have enough band patches or (in rare cases) wash your bloody clothes, then you are a lowly poseur. These same elitists seem to shut out the outside world which is yet another cause of stagnation, no ideas and influences from the outside! Obsession with fashion and close-mindedness is a killer of a once thriving music scene.
The members of the underground music world need to look forward into the future and stop trying to rebuild the past if there is to be any hope of a revitalized heavy music scene. The "revival" movements have to stop simply ripping off the music of the past. Fortunately, this very concept has been put in action. There are growing scenes in the southeastern and mid-west United States, boasting notable bands such as Cross Examination and Parasytic. Name dropping aside, the DIY ethic that has long been a part of the music underground is finally making a resurgence and aiding in the advancement of heavy music. The music world is dead without this sort of free thinking. Let's all hope that it will catch on.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Brutal Existence Radio
Do you ever crave for a non-commercial, user-run, community-driven online radio? I know I sure do, and look what I found! I found Brutal Existence Radio (BER), the heaviest, loudest, and best online radio to ever be run strictly by music fans. BER loves to play the heavy stuff, ranging from power metal, to grindcore/crust punk, to doom and black metal. They even make a point of playing all of your requests! There is one catch, the radio station is RIAA compliant. But do you know what that means? That means that BER does not play music from RIAA-affiliated labels! It's a very simple way to work around a big problem. This station is not for your easy-listening enjoyment and not for the weak at heart.
Have yourself a listen and hop in the chatroom!
Brutal Existence Radio
Have yourself a listen and hop in the chatroom!
Brutal Existence Radio
The Wikileaks debacle
Well, since I like talking about punk music on here, it's only right that I throw in some political posts, as well. I'd like you to read this individual's piece on the recent Wikileaks document release. The author makes a fantastic point that many of the articles released are about major concerns to the well-being of humanity. These concerns are ones that are disregarded by the news media in favor of sensationalism and useless gossip. To put it bluntly, it is becoming increasingly more evident that the people in power are as ignorant and misinformed as the rest of us.
Read the article here and subscribe if you find it interesting:
http://wartard.blogspot.com/2010/11/wikileaks-and-death-of-american.html
That same America is still missing, how unfortunate.
Read the article here and subscribe if you find it interesting:
http://wartard.blogspot.com/2010/11/wikileaks-and-death-of-american.html
Monday, November 22, 2010
I'm Still Around
Sorry to have been so scarce around these parts as of late. I've had other school-related matters that needed tending to and just didn't have time to fit in some writing.
As a peace offering I give you Man Will Destroy Himself. This band is a fantastic hardcore band from right here in Raleigh. I don't exactly recall when or where I came across them, but I know that they are wonderful. Follow that hyperlink and have fun listening!
As a peace offering I give you Man Will Destroy Himself. This band is a fantastic hardcore band from right here in Raleigh. I don't exactly recall when or where I came across them, but I know that they are wonderful. Follow that hyperlink and have fun listening!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Great News for Nergal
Treatment for leukemia (and cancer in general) can be very complicated; sometimes treatments can be a success and the patient lives a full and healthy life from there on out. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Congratulations to you, Nergal, on being granted a matching donor.
Hails and horns, Nergal, the metal community hopes for you to have a full and swift recovery.
More can be read on Metal Underground at the following link:
Behemoth Frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski Finds Bone Marrow Donor
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Head up to Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Nov. 17th!
Trampled By Turtles is the name of the group; an immaculate blend of the speed of punk music with the heart, soul and instrumentation of American bluegrass music from Duluth, MN. The band started out in the mid 2000s and has released six full length albums to date.
The title track "Wait So Long off" of Trampled By Turtle's latest album, Palomino, is a fine example of this blend, along with a choice cut from the album. Not all songs on the album are as fast-paced as "Wait So Long," which further shows the band's musical prowess. The band shows they can play fast while not getting sloppy, yet they can play slow down but keep the music interesting (as opposed to becoming boring).
This isn't an album review so I will spare the reader of mentioning much else about the record. However, I will say that it is worth a listen if you are interested in American folk music, especially if you like fast. Listen for yourself, and make sure to make the trip to Carrboro to see Trampled By Turtles on November 17th, 2010.
You can listen to the music of Trampled By Turtles at their official Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/trampledbyturtles
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Left vs. Right in the Music World
Political extremism is often considered a counterpart to extreme music. The imagery in music is not always pretty, nor are many of the messages conveyed in the political organizations that some musicians belong to. Anarcho-punk and national socialist black metal (more often abbreviated as NSBM) exemplify the great dichotomy in political ideology between some of the underground music scenes. I interviewed two individuals from opposing sides on the topic of these beliefs in order get a better understanding of both sides of the spectrum.
From an outside perspective, these two political music groups may seem mysterious and possibly foreboding. So to better understand the music scene, one must know a bit about the scene's ideology. On the subject of anarcho-punk, anarchy is, as quoted by Ben Pearlstine, "...the belief that we must struggle against all forms of domination, hierarchy and authority, and try to create a truly egalitarian world; originally, anarchism was called libertarian socialism."The word anarchy is Greek for "without rulers." Anarchists consider themselves anti-state and often anti-capitalist, considering both the state and sometimes capitalism to be forms of oppression.
National socialism (abbreviated as NS) is considered to be on the opposite end of the political spectrum. NS is an authoritarian fascist type of ideology. The writings of Hitler in his book Mein Kampf are hugely influential; therefore, the concept of the Aryan Race plays a role of utmost importance. The idea behind the Aryan Race is that members of this particular ideology believe that the people of pure European descent are superior to all other ethnicities. NS is almost always associated with anti-Semitism and all-around racism. Pride in one's pagan heritage is also prevalent within the NS scene.
Both types of ideologies can be applied to music in so many ways. In regard to anarchism, it can be found in many forms of music but most commonly in punk. Though early punk bands like the fashionable Sex Pistols sang of anarchy in a tongue-in-cheek manner, it was bands like and Flux of Pink Indians and Crass who embraced it as their philosophy and not just a gimmick. These bands formed the genre known today as anarcho-punk.
Lyrical topics in anarcho-punk often revolve around its namesake anarchy, consumerism, capitalism, feminism, vegetarianism/veganism, and environmentalism. Anarcho-punks also follow what's known as the Do-It-Yourself ethic or DIY, as it's commonly known. Ben Pearlstine, the individual interviewed on the topic of anarcho-punk, says that it can be argued that DIY should be called DIT (Do It Together). The reason is that members of the anarchist community want to work together to change society for the better of both humanity and the earth. This camaraderie within the scene to create an anarchist society is astounding. This sort of kinship is rarely seen in contemporary society. Many people you pass on the busy city sidewalks would rather spit on you than talk to you, let alone help you in accomplishing a goal. So for a small group of people in England to have started a grassroots effort that has only continued to grow in to being a global community is truly phenomenal.
In contrast with anarcho-punk, national socialist black metal focuses mainly on pagan and Nazi themes. Third Reich imagery is very common in NSBM bands. Of course, like the rest of black metal, Satanism is a mainstay in lyrical topics. In a bizarre twist, some NSBM bands blend Nazism into Satanism. Jason Oberkirch, owner of Graveless Slumber Records, a black metal record label, was interviewed and stated this blend is "...the idea of merging NS ideals with traditional Satanism or Luciferianism, that the white race is the race of the Devil, thus the superior to all." Race, while truly being a social construct, is extensively discussed in much of NSBM. The obliteration of any inferior races or untermensch, what non-Indo-European ethnicities are referred to, is a common lyrical topic that stems from their Nazi ideologies and world view.
Both types of music have roots in punk rock. While anarcho-punk is a branch of punk music, NSBM has political roots in a form of hardcore punk known as hatecore. Hatecore's political and lyrical themes often revolve around neo-Nazi and white supremacy ideals. Hatecore is also associated with Rock Against Communism or RAC, a series of concerts in England that took place in the late 1970s that branched into a style of punk. Neo-Nazis and a portion of skinheads developed these sounds. Notable bands related to hatecore are Skrewdriver or Blue-Eyed Devils. It is also worth noting that some of these bands drew inspiration from country musicians like Johnny Rebel, whose lyrics were often so absurdly racist taht one might wonder if his music was meant as a joke.
NSBM took these concepts and applied them to black metal to pass on their extremist views with their own sound.
In yet another ironic twist, as NSBM bands oftentimes appreciate hatecore, RAC and even obscenely racist country music artists, anarcho-punks oftentimes enjoy black metal music. In some cases, even the bands which are associated with nationalism. During the interview, Ben Pearlstine mentioned that "luckily as they are singing in a foreign language, anarchists are able to pretend they are singing about unicorns and high-fives." Keep in mind that not all NSBM bands sing in a non-English language, so while this might be the case for musical enjoyment, if members of one of these scenes met a group from the opposing side, there would be trouble. Neither members of the radical right-wing NSBM scene or the radical left-wing anarcho-punk community see it as necessary for the other side to exist in an ideal society.
Religion is certainly an interesting topic when it comes to both anarcho-punk and NSBM communities. On one hand, religion in general is viewed by both parties as a hindrance to progression as a society. In black metal as a whole, religion (primarily Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) is viewed as something to be eradicated. Be it NSBM bands such as Absurd from Germany, or the apolitical black metal of Watain from Sweden.
Oddly enough, both parties have members that are pro-religion. Christian anarchy is one form of anarchy that some members of the anarcho-punk community follow. Just for clarity's sake, Christian anarchy is similar to standard anarchism in that it is anti-state, yet this particular branch believes that the only power one must answer to is God. Likewise, some NSBM bands preach of traditional Judeo-Christian values. Of course, with NSBM's special twist on the views.
Both scenes have grown since their inceptions. Classical anarchy is strikingly similar to Marxism and did not have a strong sense of oppression outside of social class. As anarchy evolved and became incorporated in punk music, the concept blossomed and began to incorporate topics such as criticism of capitalism and consumerism, making for a much deeper understanding of anarchy.
It is worth noting at this point that the NSBM community is not a very large one, with only a handful of bands that are truly national socialist both musically and in practice. When this is compared to the entire black metal music scene, NS bands only make up a drop in the musical bucket. Because of this, it's hard for the NS bands to isolate themselves from the entire black metal community and therefore have had to accept the outside black metal world. Stylistically, NSBM hasn't evolved much since the days of it's dominant metal roots, the notorious black metal bands that made names for themselves in the early 1990s.
Members of either party can be found in nearly all environments within society; be it in slow-moving small towns, or the rapid yet draining big cities. Despite the abundance of people involved in both scenes, few understand either side. Many view anarcho-punks as angst-ridden kids who will eventually grow out of this phase and become upstanding members of contemporary society. This is unfortunate because outsiders could learn much from the punks. For instance, outsiders could potentially understand anarchy as an actual progressive philosophy, not simply whiny young people wanting to fight "The Man."
Likewise, members of the national socialist movement, at least within the black metal community, are considered ignorant bigots. While the bigotry is hard to argue against, these individuals are far from ignorant. In fact, many members of the NSBM scene are incredibly intelligent and could be considered intellectuals. It's also worthy of note that many black metal bands like to slap the NS label on their music to raise hype around their band.
Both anarcho-punk and NSBM are vastly different forms of music with even more polarized political viewpoints; strangely enough, similarities such as views on religion and distaste for much of contemporary society are present in both scenes. Yet these similarities could hardly bring peace between the two ideologies. This is because from its inception, traditional punk philosophy has stood against Nazism and the NS music world would naturally feel the same animosity towards anarcho-punks.
We live in a world of right and wrong, of left and right. Neither school of thought will or should ever get along; the views completely contradict one another. One side preaches a message of anti-establishment while the other preaches a more totalitarian view. One side desires unity among people. The other side desires the eradication of those deemed subhuman. One thing is for certain; both groups seem to be here to stay, in some cases, for better or worse.
From an outside perspective, these two political music groups may seem mysterious and possibly foreboding. So to better understand the music scene, one must know a bit about the scene's ideology. On the subject of anarcho-punk, anarchy is, as quoted by Ben Pearlstine, "...the belief that we must struggle against all forms of domination, hierarchy and authority, and try to create a truly egalitarian world; originally, anarchism was called libertarian socialism."The word anarchy is Greek for "without rulers." Anarchists consider themselves anti-state and often anti-capitalist, considering both the state and sometimes capitalism to be forms of oppression.
National socialism (abbreviated as NS) is considered to be on the opposite end of the political spectrum. NS is an authoritarian fascist type of ideology. The writings of Hitler in his book Mein Kampf are hugely influential; therefore, the concept of the Aryan Race plays a role of utmost importance. The idea behind the Aryan Race is that members of this particular ideology believe that the people of pure European descent are superior to all other ethnicities. NS is almost always associated with anti-Semitism and all-around racism. Pride in one's pagan heritage is also prevalent within the NS scene.
Both types of ideologies can be applied to music in so many ways. In regard to anarchism, it can be found in many forms of music but most commonly in punk. Though early punk bands like the fashionable Sex Pistols sang of anarchy in a tongue-in-cheek manner, it was bands like and Flux of Pink Indians and Crass who embraced it as their philosophy and not just a gimmick. These bands formed the genre known today as anarcho-punk.
Lyrical topics in anarcho-punk often revolve around its namesake anarchy, consumerism, capitalism, feminism, vegetarianism/veganism, and environmentalism. Anarcho-punks also follow what's known as the Do-It-Yourself ethic or DIY, as it's commonly known. Ben Pearlstine, the individual interviewed on the topic of anarcho-punk, says that it can be argued that DIY should be called DIT (Do It Together). The reason is that members of the anarchist community want to work together to change society for the better of both humanity and the earth. This camaraderie within the scene to create an anarchist society is astounding. This sort of kinship is rarely seen in contemporary society. Many people you pass on the busy city sidewalks would rather spit on you than talk to you, let alone help you in accomplishing a goal. So for a small group of people in England to have started a grassroots effort that has only continued to grow in to being a global community is truly phenomenal.
In contrast with anarcho-punk, national socialist black metal focuses mainly on pagan and Nazi themes. Third Reich imagery is very common in NSBM bands. Of course, like the rest of black metal, Satanism is a mainstay in lyrical topics. In a bizarre twist, some NSBM bands blend Nazism into Satanism. Jason Oberkirch, owner of Graveless Slumber Records, a black metal record label, was interviewed and stated this blend is "...the idea of merging NS ideals with traditional Satanism or Luciferianism, that the white race is the race of the Devil, thus the superior to all." Race, while truly being a social construct, is extensively discussed in much of NSBM. The obliteration of any inferior races or untermensch, what non-Indo-European ethnicities are referred to, is a common lyrical topic that stems from their Nazi ideologies and world view.
Both types of music have roots in punk rock. While anarcho-punk is a branch of punk music, NSBM has political roots in a form of hardcore punk known as hatecore. Hatecore's political and lyrical themes often revolve around neo-Nazi and white supremacy ideals. Hatecore is also associated with Rock Against Communism or RAC, a series of concerts in England that took place in the late 1970s that branched into a style of punk. Neo-Nazis and a portion of skinheads developed these sounds. Notable bands related to hatecore are Skrewdriver or Blue-Eyed Devils. It is also worth noting that some of these bands drew inspiration from country musicians like Johnny Rebel, whose lyrics were often so absurdly racist taht one might wonder if his music was meant as a joke.
NSBM took these concepts and applied them to black metal to pass on their extremist views with their own sound.
In yet another ironic twist, as NSBM bands oftentimes appreciate hatecore, RAC and even obscenely racist country music artists, anarcho-punks oftentimes enjoy black metal music. In some cases, even the bands which are associated with nationalism. During the interview, Ben Pearlstine mentioned that "luckily as they are singing in a foreign language, anarchists are able to pretend they are singing about unicorns and high-fives." Keep in mind that not all NSBM bands sing in a non-English language, so while this might be the case for musical enjoyment, if members of one of these scenes met a group from the opposing side, there would be trouble. Neither members of the radical right-wing NSBM scene or the radical left-wing anarcho-punk community see it as necessary for the other side to exist in an ideal society.
Religion is certainly an interesting topic when it comes to both anarcho-punk and NSBM communities. On one hand, religion in general is viewed by both parties as a hindrance to progression as a society. In black metal as a whole, religion (primarily Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) is viewed as something to be eradicated. Be it NSBM bands such as Absurd from Germany, or the apolitical black metal of Watain from Sweden.
Oddly enough, both parties have members that are pro-religion. Christian anarchy is one form of anarchy that some members of the anarcho-punk community follow. Just for clarity's sake, Christian anarchy is similar to standard anarchism in that it is anti-state, yet this particular branch believes that the only power one must answer to is God. Likewise, some NSBM bands preach of traditional Judeo-Christian values. Of course, with NSBM's special twist on the views.
Both scenes have grown since their inceptions. Classical anarchy is strikingly similar to Marxism and did not have a strong sense of oppression outside of social class. As anarchy evolved and became incorporated in punk music, the concept blossomed and began to incorporate topics such as criticism of capitalism and consumerism, making for a much deeper understanding of anarchy.
It is worth noting at this point that the NSBM community is not a very large one, with only a handful of bands that are truly national socialist both musically and in practice. When this is compared to the entire black metal music scene, NS bands only make up a drop in the musical bucket. Because of this, it's hard for the NS bands to isolate themselves from the entire black metal community and therefore have had to accept the outside black metal world. Stylistically, NSBM hasn't evolved much since the days of it's dominant metal roots, the notorious black metal bands that made names for themselves in the early 1990s.
Members of either party can be found in nearly all environments within society; be it in slow-moving small towns, or the rapid yet draining big cities. Despite the abundance of people involved in both scenes, few understand either side. Many view anarcho-punks as angst-ridden kids who will eventually grow out of this phase and become upstanding members of contemporary society. This is unfortunate because outsiders could learn much from the punks. For instance, outsiders could potentially understand anarchy as an actual progressive philosophy, not simply whiny young people wanting to fight "The Man."
Likewise, members of the national socialist movement, at least within the black metal community, are considered ignorant bigots. While the bigotry is hard to argue against, these individuals are far from ignorant. In fact, many members of the NSBM scene are incredibly intelligent and could be considered intellectuals. It's also worthy of note that many black metal bands like to slap the NS label on their music to raise hype around their band.
Both anarcho-punk and NSBM are vastly different forms of music with even more polarized political viewpoints; strangely enough, similarities such as views on religion and distaste for much of contemporary society are present in both scenes. Yet these similarities could hardly bring peace between the two ideologies. This is because from its inception, traditional punk philosophy has stood against Nazism and the NS music world would naturally feel the same animosity towards anarcho-punks.
We live in a world of right and wrong, of left and right. Neither school of thought will or should ever get along; the views completely contradict one another. One side preaches a message of anti-establishment while the other preaches a more totalitarian view. One side desires unity among people. The other side desires the eradication of those deemed subhuman. One thing is for certain; both groups seem to be here to stay, in some cases, for better or worse.
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