Death Metal Underground Newsletter 1/6-1/12
Death Metal Underground
Newsletter
1/6-1/12
Because Metal Is Art
Various Artists – Servants
of Chaos (Debemur Morti Productions)
SMR-style reviews of a
interesting compilation from Debemur Morti productions in which
we cut through the advertising and give you the truth.
Rotten – Cryptic Catacombs
Death metal in its heyday
achieved an atmosphere: an impending sense of demise from
impersonal forces beyond the listener’s control. Technique was
used to achieve this, but mechanical dexterity was not the end
objective of an album – which is where many modern death metal
bands go astray. This, coupled with crystal-clear production,
often creates a product which evokes no sensation beyond being
pummeled with a digital baseball bat. Fortunately, the real
“underground resistance” against this monstrosity still exists.
Assück – Anticapital
Grindcore requires some magic
to pull off convincingly in the first place, but it’s doubly
hard because 95% of grindcore bands confuse music and message in
importance. Grindcore is music first, message second. When the
message comes first, grindcore becomes an incoherent advertising
campaign, not art.
Assück’s strength is that they do not let the messages of the songs (which are often from a leftist angle) eclipse the power of their music. The music is the most important thing here. The first album from Florida’s purveyors of supreme grindcore is also their definitive work.
Assück’s strength is that they do not let the messages of the songs (which are often from a leftist angle) eclipse the power of their music. The music is the most important thing here. The first album from Florida’s purveyors of supreme grindcore is also their definitive work.
— / Dawning – Split
Preposterous Creations put
out a split between reclusive act — and by their own
description, long-standing but frequently interrupted American
band Dawning, who re-recorded their signature song “Divine
Arrival of the Massive Hoof.” The result makes for interesting
listening and aims to be obscure and withdrawn, which for the
most part enhances the experience.
Shakira (feat. Wyclef Jean) – “Hips Don’t Lie”
Every now and then, even the
most cynical of metal writers loses a bet.
We who toil in darkness and expect no reward because we consider pop music to be the incoherent rantings of a egomaniac egalitarian society gone amok, despite our misgivings, must sometimes venture to the above-ground world to see what the majority listen to.
We who toil in darkness and expect no reward because we consider pop music to be the incoherent rantings of a egomaniac egalitarian society gone amok, despite our misgivings, must sometimes venture to the above-ground world to see what the majority listen to.
Massacre reveals track listing for Back From Beyond
Mortuary Drape – All The Witches Dance
Mortuary Drape resembles
Emperor in its focus on the more bombastic elements of black
metal. Mortuary Drape takes a more heavy metal flavored take on
the genre, similar to Root or Master’s Hammer.
The speed metal influenced riffing which dominates most of this album lends further credence to that comparison. The mix is unusual for the time as well, in that it deemphasizes the guitars in favor of the bass and vocals. Guitars are still present, but thinner than one would expect from speed metal and not trebly enough to make one think of black metal.
The speed metal influenced riffing which dominates most of this album lends further credence to that comparison. The mix is unusual for the time as well, in that it deemphasizes the guitars in favor of the bass and vocals. Guitars are still present, but thinner than one would expect from speed metal and not trebly enough to make one think of black metal.
Interview with Dr. Martin Jacobsen who teaches “Heavy Metal as a Literary Genre”
Over the four decades that
heavy metal has been with us, people in responsible positions in
society have gradually become more accepting of it as an art
form and a message from its fanbase.
Such acceptance could not exist without people like Dr. Martin Jacobsen, who by teaching a class on heavy metal as literature has introduced academics to the depth and richness of this genre.
For the past semester, Dr. Jacobsen has been teaching “Heavy Metal as a Literary Genre” at WTAMU, where he introduces students to the literary and artistic aspects of heavy metal. In addition, he writes for Death Metal Underground and is a world-recognized expert in death metal who is active in his local death metal scene.
Jacobsen has returned to teach another semester of the class, which seems to be attracting more students as word of it spreads. We were able to follow up on our first interview with Professor Jacobsen to get a feel for what has changed between the years.
Such acceptance could not exist without people like Dr. Martin Jacobsen, who by teaching a class on heavy metal as literature has introduced academics to the depth and richness of this genre.
For the past semester, Dr. Jacobsen has been teaching “Heavy Metal as a Literary Genre” at WTAMU, where he introduces students to the literary and artistic aspects of heavy metal. In addition, he writes for Death Metal Underground and is a world-recognized expert in death metal who is active in his local death metal scene.
Jacobsen has returned to teach another semester of the class, which seems to be attracting more students as word of it spreads. We were able to follow up on our first interview with Professor Jacobsen to get a feel for what has changed between the years.
Sammath – Godless Arrogance pre-orders shipping now
Fan kills black metal singer for not being Satanic enough
I’m going to hell for this,
but it’s an observation, not a recommendation: black metal was a
lot better when it was the Wild West, with bodies cropping up
everywhere, churches aflame, and musicians stockpiling
paramilitary gear.
Then it got all civilized — about the same time it became sociable and profitable — and immediately descended to the same repetitive and soulless level as all other music that has been socially accepted.
Then it got all civilized — about the same time it became sociable and profitable — and immediately descended to the same repetitive and soulless level as all other music that has been socially accepted.
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Subvert the dominant paradigm, don't be a solipsist.