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Banging On About Metal

caldrail

Entry posted by caldrail

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Warning! Heavy metal music is bad for you!

 

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I've heard this all before. I can't remember how many times I've been warned about volume. There was a time when.. (Warning - Imminent Reminiscence).... I was at a practice in a garage rock band when a council official turned up to measure the sound after complaints about us. He asked us to play (that was our first gig man!) and with alarm told us we were too loud. A bit predictable, but then he said our volime was the same as Concorde taking off. I pointed out we'd been practising for six months already and therefore shouldn't be able to hear his advice to quieten down. Actually, we weren't that loud, but in later years Red Jasper were unable to book gigs in Bristol because we were too loud and awful.

 

So it isn't volume thats dangerous. According to the news item I got the pic from, its headbanging that makes you prone to neck and brain injury. Well I've never been much into that particular dance mode, so obviously I'm not prone to injury (apart from bruised and blistered fingers from a hard gig behind the drum kit - those were the days) and if I were honest, I really don't remember many people headbanging at our gigs either, so obviously metal music is not to blame for hospital traction.

 

Whats left? Oh yes.... the insidious spread of satanism and reversed messages on LP's. I mean, did anyone actually take that seriously? Its like a boys club where you make strange gestures to be part of the crowd, rather than any belief that Ozzy is the Prince of Darkness (now contested on World of Warcraft adverts) and that wearing black leather makes you a devel worshipper. Its a rebellion thing. We only do it to upset our christian elders and no-one really believes it.

 

So in what way is Heavy Metal music dangerous? It isn't. I would argue that nightclubs and their moronic metronomes harbouring a culture of drug taking is visibly worse for your health. After all, metal fans go a gig to enjoy their music. Nightclubbers need pills to enjoy theirs.

 

CD of the Week

I picked up a live recording of Ronnie James Dio on his Holy Diver tour. Good stuff. I remember what an impact the original album made in the eighties. Fresh, energetic, and a thoroughly good listen. I'm going to have to stop, it's not good for me you know....

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caldrail

You know what? I agree. A lot of metal is derivative and mired in sub-cultural expectation. Take this review from Rolling Stone....

 

In June, these Chicago metalheads had the Number One album in America. It's not hard to see why: With meticulously constructed guitar skronk, serrated verses and cathartic refrains on cuts like "Enough," the album has clear pop appeal in its own dour way. Singer David Draiman says Indestructible is Disturbed's darkest record yet

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docoflove1974

I'm the same way. I mean, as far as "angry" music is concerned, I do like a fair amount of bands--Nine Inch Nails for one, and many Foo Fighters songs are pretty heated, and these are two of my most favorite bands. It's just the way that metal seems to be as a genre; there's a a 'make up' for a typical metal song which doesn't have much to it other than screeching.

 

Guns N Roses is a great example. I HATE Axl Rose's voice...it literally hurts my ears. But Slash as a guitarist is first rate; I was thrilled when he became part of Velvet Revolver (that, and I love Scott Weiland). I have a hard time listening to a GNR song because of Axl, but I love listening to Slash.

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caldrail

Screeching is unfortunately neccessary unless you're blessed with a powerful voice. The background of distorted guitar riffs doesn't leave a lot of room to be heard. Then again, there aren't many talented singers in metal anyway. One CD that crossed my desk recently was brilliant until the singer started.

 

Then again, I remember Dokken live at Hammersmith in the eighties, supporting german metal band Accept. Dokken, never a man to be humble, led his his band to an astonishing gig. He really did capture the audience and thats with the usual rocked up ballads he performed. Accept, a very tight and professional band themselves, struggled afterward despite the crowd pleasing headbanging rock like London Leatherboys

 

Dokkens material may have been a little mawkish and american, but his talent came through.

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