So what’s up with death metal anyway? In this paper I hope to dispel all the mystery and misconception this subject is shrouded in. Lately there has been fierce speculation and controversy on the subject of my choice of music. I will now attempt to bring to light all the questions I have been asked on the matter.
I have become a serious progressive metal and hardcore enthusiast. There are many factors in my fascination with the genres, all of which I will address in detail later, including proficiency, composition and artistic un-orthodoxy. Unfortunately most of what I say will seem quite contrary to the typical reader’s current understanding due to mainstream opinion, so I ask that you read with an open mind. Also it should be noted that although I will refer to metal music, this can branch out into many genres as long as the said musical principles still apply.[i] If the reader finds me straying too far into musical analysis he is encouraged to skip to the next section if he desires. I will keep terminology very universal for the reader’s sake and use the term progressive metal instead of more specific genres (such as technical or symphonic) for this reason.
Technical Proficiency
I am a classical musician in training and as such have developed certain tastes in music. I have drifted towards modern music that is similar to classical and this has caused me to become un-satisfied with what pop and mainstream music has to offer. The reason for this is that pop tends to be very generic and almost entirely predictable. I understand the average person does not appreciate classical elements in music composition and therefore prefer to listen to basic music for an emotional connection. This is no doubt the reason why most metal and hardcore bands are relatively obscure in spite of their extreme talent and commitment. Because I comprehend technically what is going on in the music however, I feel driven to find something more sophisticated. The author George Orwell said that “orthodoxy is unconsciousness.” I muse suppose that because the complexity of metal demands one to listen actively and consciously the average person shies away. I do not deny that there is a balance between technical and emotional composition which is often shifted quite far one way or the other (more often the former) in progressive music. Therefore I understand why one who does not study music seriously would dislike a heavily technical sound as found in progressive metal as it might have less emotional value than other simpler forms of music. I have certainly discerned that progressive metal artists have far superior virtuosity to pop stars.
I am at a loss as to the virtue of electronic pop. The only serious skill involved would seem to be vocals which are usually so technically immature if not totally processed. The instrumentals are not performed by trained human beings but rather are made up of sequences of beeps and beats generated by a computer. As long as this kind of music continues to be this prominent ( as it certainly is among my peers) I fear society will lose the meaning of musical talent and in performance and composition.
Aesthetic
I have observed that both lyrical and instrumental aesthetic is much more prominent in progressive music than mainstream. Lyrics tend to have much more original substance in progressive music, especially the genre of nu-metal. Many heavy bands either offer basic, stirring lyrics or a more artfully crafted poetic style often about politics, philosophy, or social subjects.
Morality[ii]
Metal is widely known to be crude, violent, or satanic. I do not deny that metal potentially harbors evil influences, but I am firm in the belief that it is not a matter of genre. Almost any genre has bad influences of some kind and I am convinced that it is largely mainstream bands that stoop to this perhaps due to pride. Since the typical person is only acquainted with the most mainstream of metal bands, their chances of viewing the genre as vulgar are much quite high.
I am appalled by the number of sexually perverted messages is pop and how easily they are accepted by the people who profess themselves to be devout in the matter. Since the average person does not actively seek out bands, they will usually just listen to the most famous artists which as I have mentioned are often the most obscene. Because the said person is so narrow minded at finding good music, they might also suppose that there are no other options than the music that they hear about through trends and corporate advertisement. My moral standards concerning music are higher than those of most of my peers. I do not listen to music with profanity or satanic messages and yet I am able to find plenty of material among metal and hardcore by being selective. It is certainly a sacrifice for me to either edit tracks myself of completely walk away from excellent instrumentals due to excessive vulgarity in the lyrics. Fortunately there is a wealth of Christian metal bands[iii] whom I trust to produce wholesome material and I have not been disappointed with them yet. Many find the idea of Christian metal bands to be a contradiction, but have always observed these bands to be consistent in their beliefs and in providing inspiring messages.
Beauty=Proportion
In music there are two contrasting qualities: power[iv] and brilliance[v]. In metal the former is often delivered in the form of low, dissonant and heavily distorted electric guitar chords. The latter is usually higher in pitch, more elegant in articulation, and includes melodies. I believe that the two of these when used together effectively are one of the most beautiful things in this life.
Metal is an excellent source of this practice because it has plenty of both these properties. Due to the aggressive nature of metal, it is very pleasing to hear sections of a song that are either mellow, major (key tonality), or melodic. Indeed these conditions are quite often found in progressive varieties of metal. For example, I will often hear an extremely heavy sounding verse with powerful guitar chords and savage sounding screaming. The verse will then move into a new, much more melodic section with clean singing showing extreme contrast.[vi] I find that alternative and pop music are often so generic that it is hard to find much contrast.
Metal seems to be a breeding ground to extreme and therefore beautiful or at least original proportion. An example of extreme proportion is the breakdown.[vii] The breakdown is a section of a song often found in hardcore music in which the rhythm scheme becomes heavier and possibly changes tempos or time signatures. This dramatic change of groove when done well can produce a pleasing effect, which is why the breakdown remains a prominent rhythmic phenomenon in the composition of hardcore music today.
Messages
The following is a synopsis of the music video for the song Composure by the band August Burns Red.
The scene is dark gloomy. A man walks alone down a dirt road at night and headlights appear in the distance behind him. Upon noticing the approaching vehicle he sprints down the road in an attempt to escape. The lyrics ring our about a personal catastrophe which leaves one devastated. The man trips and stumbles a few paces, then kneels with his hands behind his head in submission. As the car pulls up right behind him several men in suits get out and proceed to beat the man brutally to the ground. He is seen imprisoned in a small cell and offered a dish of water. Looking into the reflection he sees a clean cut version of himself. At this point as the song comes to a climax the scene completely changes. The man is again shown lying on the road surrounded by wildflowers and a bright blue sky. A flashy red sports car sits empty behind him. The lyrics scream out “Wave goodbye to the past, you’ve got your whole life to lead!” over and over again and as the song comes to an end the man stands up, buttons up his sleeves, and continues down the road.
This is a typical example of many inspiring messages found in extreme metal and hardcore songs. One needs only to search a bit to find many wholesome bands who are trying to make a difference in the world through heavy music. This particular song has enlivened me many times and yet many people would condemn it because of its instrumentals. It is definitely true that music influences people. I know this for sure because many of the best decisions I have made where made with fierce passages of music pounding perpetually through my head, fueling me on almost tangibly.
Composition
Another major factor in progressive metal is un-usual composition in both song structure as well as more micro elements. Most songs follow exactly or very closely a narrow variety of structure formulas. By song structure I mean the sequences of sections such as verses and choruses. Many progressive metal bands are known to compose songs in which no section ever repeats itself except perhaps through subtle themes.[viii] As I am more tolerant of mainstream musical ideas than most progressive metal enthusiasts, I am not entirely opposed to choruses; although I believe they should be used in moderation or more subtly. For reasons I can’t understand, the average listener prefers to predict exactly what will happen next in a song and I can’t call that artistic.
As I mentioned earlier there are many similarities between metal and classical music. I have noted these to be both compositional and instrumental, however in my opinion the former is preferable. I would rather see classical type of composition with all it’s intricacies played with modern instrumentation than a pop or rock song played with more archaic instruments, both of which currently exist. It seems that every person that has ever set out to accomplish something great has had a vision of their ideal. Some succeed completely, others open the door for their predecessors to finish the work. My own vision is to create a hybrid between metal and classical that has the virtues of both. Although extremely rewarding, this is hard work not only in recording, but also conceptually.
One of the most controversial things about metal is the vocals. I am convinced that by far the biggest factor in making a song sound abrasive is screaming vocals. There are various types of screaming, all of which are ridiculed by most people in my experience. I must suggest however, that screaming is another form of artistic distortion, similar to guitar distortion which few are opposed to. I agree with those who criticize bands that use screaming exclusively, but I admire artists who can use both screaming and melodic vocals together which is a powerful combination.[ix] I also admire artists who use a more classical style of singing as found in some types of metal.[x] I must note that the melodic singing that dominates modern mainstream music is no more sophisticated than scream as it is almost always done without classical technique and training.
I suspect that the reason many ironically slander metal as requiring little skill and aesthetic taste is that being un-trained in music, they fail to detect and appreciate the complexity of what is going on in the music. An example of this is rhythm guitar often found in heavy music. Sometimes repeated sequences of identical of similar guitar chords or “chugging”[xi] really are cheaply basic and repetitive, but much of the time the critic fails to realize that the rhythm is very complex and specific although it may be background support for the focus of the song.
Progressivism in Music vs. Other Philosophy
It should be noted that in spite of my repeated cries of musical progressivism, one should not suppose that I support progressive ideologies in other areas such as politics. I should clarify this so as to not alarm my colleagues who upon reading this report might otherwise suppose me to be rapidly going down a path of liberal political and social reform. Many of the things I have said are of this general state of mind, however I only intend to convey this through the scope of music.
Society
I suspect, not without uncertainty, that a factor in my enthusiasm for metal is my social position. I have been home schooled for quite some time which is a large facto in influencing me against anything mainstream. I have become more of a social rebel because most of my home school colleagues live substantially far away making regular interaction impossible.
Growing to maturity through a adolescence made all the more intense by these factors I have found music that is extremely aggressive and unique to be therapeutic. I have noticed this tendency in my home school friends as well. I have thought long and hard about who I will become, realizing that music will have a substantial influence, I have turned to some forms of metal for encouragement. The person with the typical opinion of metal, especially heavier forms, may find the previous statements humorous, but they have not seen the customs of less popular types of metal to compose positively enlivening music.
Conclusion
I hope I have brought to light much unpopular information about progressive metal and hardcore including technical complexity, positive influence, and deep meaning. I understand that this is personal matter and everyone has an opinion but I just want people to be informed.
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