Fight The Power: Metal Vs 'The Man'

Slayer Performing At Mayhem Festival 2009 Photo Credit: Mdnghtshdw

Going back decades, arguably since its inception truth be told, ‘rock’ music was always viewed upon as bad thing; a rebellious genre that started in the early days of rock ‘n’ roll a la ELVIS' controversial hip-swinging, leading young ladies astray…punk rock was always a primary instigator of rebellion when that came about, the musical equivalent of streaking through a convent with your middle fingers proudly pointing skyward…and then there’s metal. We’re not going to be delving into all of the deep, dark sub-genres, but metal itself has always been associated with the devil and darkness, and of course bands like BLACK SABBATH and IRON MAIDEN only fueled that…but sometimes a band just feels the need to speak up; make a statement and be as brutally honest or opinionated as they can be. Here; special guest writer PETE HARRIS ([email protected]) showcases his personal picks on “5 Metal Bands That Made Their Name Attacking The Establishment”

"There are many ways to speak to the powers above. But sometimes, the best and only way to unleash truth is to do it as loudly and as aggressively as possible. Here are five of our favourite artists who knew just that — and have used the inherent aggression of metal to express rage, dissent, and criticism against the unyielding sociopolitical establishment."

[5] BOLT THROWER

"There’s a reason why LOUDWIRE and many other musical critics consider BOLT THROWER to be a quintessential British metal band; just have a listen through albums “War Master” and “The IVth Crusade”. Bolt Thrower’s atmospheric use of death metal effortlessly conjures up images of medieval melees, the perfect accompaniment to the bellowing of vocalist Karl Willets, whose prophetic tales warn against the horrors of war. After the group disbanded in 2016, many fans argue that Bolt Thrower’s sound continues to live on in MEMORIAM, Willets’ latest metal project."

[4] SYLOSIS

"The progressive melodic death outfit that is SYLOSIS was formed by guitarist Josh Middleton back when he was just 15. Since then, the band has developed into an experimental group that dabbles in thrash, metalcore, melodic death and groove – wrapped around the introspective musings of Middleton’s songs. Although the band is not overtly political, Middleton’s interview with PURE GRAIN AUDIO reveals the front-man’s own political viewpoints on veganism, the social dynamics of power, and other criticisms on the socio-political establishment. He says ‘I like to dress the lyrics up a bit and use imagery so it’s not obvious what I’m talking about all the time’."

[3] RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

"Of course, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE deserves a spot on this list, even if it’s only to introduce them to the youngest metal heads stumbling across this blog. RATM didn’t just tackle institutional racism and the follies of late-stage capitalism…in the process of highlighting these social ills, the band also accomplished what musicians previously thought to be impossible; combining rap, metal AND funk. Some of their hits include “Sleep Now In The Fire”, “Guerilla Radio” and “Killing In The Name Of” which METAL INJECTION delightfully describes as ‘In your face metal infused with a snotty punk rock ethos’. Decades later, RATM’s sound remains to be one of the most recognisable sonic signatures in any of the genres they experimented with – inevitably tied to the militant spirit that underscores the bands historical and political relevance."

[2] MACHINE HEAD

Godfathers of 90’s and 00’s thrash metal; MACHINE HEAD first made a name in Europe before getting famous back home in the US. One of the pioneers in the ‘New Wave Of American Heavy Metal’ which began in the mid 1990’s and peaked later in the millennium. Machine Head dabbles with thrash and groove metal, which they’ve perfected in songs like “Aesthetics Of Hate” and “Clenching The Fists Of Dissent”. From criticising the critics who act like the gatekeepers of rock, to taking an anti-war stance in the midst of the American government’s oil-hoarding in the Middle East, Machine Head’s fans know that they mean business.

[1] SLAYER

"Among the four founding bands of thrash metal, only SLAYER was able to truly utilise the satanic imagery closely associated with metal in open protest against our institutionalised religious beliefs. With songs like “God Hates Us All” and “Angel Of Death”, the band succeeded in creating thrash anthems that highlight the hypocrisies of organised religion and government. Slayer unleashes thrash the way it was meant to be played – as offensive and as indignant as humanly possible."

"Being able to loudly and aggressively speak truth to power is just one of the many uses of anti-establishmentarian music. As many metal-heads can attest to, listening to some quality rock and metal can prompt emotional, mental and even physical benefits as well; revelling in the violent themes of metal in in many ways, an act of anti-violence and therapeutic self-love. In fact, academically-backed research published in an article on LOTTOLAND reveals that people who regularly go to live rock music gigs are more satisfied with their lives than those who don’t. The same source also reveals that powerful music can give a 26% boost to your overall blood-flow. Keep these things in mind the next time you’re debating whether or not it’s worth it to go out and see what the newest bands have to offer…"

What are your thoughts on metal bands speaking truth to power? Were there any bands or artists you feel deserve to be in this list? Let us know what you think in the comments!