Metal and the Devil

[nattiep]

Excellent post Mike.

[scotty]

I have to say great post Mike all to true!

[wayang]

"DEVIL AMONG THE TAILORS [3], THE. English, Jig. A Major. Standard tuning. AABABA. The melody appears under this title in Charles and Samuel Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 3 (London, 1773)."

Yep, I'd say the metalheads are latecomers to the including-the-devil-in-popular-music game...

From a purely agnostic point of view, the modern fixations with 'the devil', 'satan', etc. are patently ridiculous. I can't imagine a more stooopid pursuit than choosing the losing side in a mythological war.

Just my opinion, of course!!!

[winston]

Great post Mike ............and Dane as always you come to the heart of the matter in the briefest of commentaries. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the points of view put forth on this thread, even though I am probably too old to be a confirmed metal head, I still like good music when I hear it and I don't care what label they put on it. End of story.

[rickenbrother]

I give post of the year to Mike!!

[dean712]

"DEVIL AMONG THE TAILORS [3], THE. English, Jig. A Major. Standard tuning. AABABA. The melody appears under this title in Charles and Samuel Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 3 (London, 1773)."

Yep, I'd say the metalheads are latecomers to the including-the-devil-in-popular-music game...

From a purely agnostic point of view, the modern fixations with 'the devil', 'satan', etc. are patently ridiculous. I can't imagine a more stooopid pursuit than choosing the losing side in a mythological war.

Just my opinion, of course!!!

I like Mike's post, and I like Dane's too.

I love "Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden (one of the great Revelations reference songs), and I also like "Stonehenge" by Spinal Tap, which makes reference to demons and banshees (if I remember correctly) and is a really effective comedy song. Actually, I think Peter named one of the spookiest Devilish songs... "Sympathy for the Devil," in which (while the music is tamer) the song ties Satan to some truly horrible world history events.

It's been a rich area for metal bands to draw material from, but certainly not the only one.

[phlemmy]

A good interview with Venom's Cronos on the subject.

[whojamfan]

Wow, interesting article indeed, all gimmick and no fortitude. If you're gonna stand for something, at least have the stones to back it. Yet another guy trying to be "hard" by using the Devil. All that "sticking to your guns" stuff is only as valid as your actions. I have much more respect for people who genuinely believe what it is that they are in to(whether I agree with it or not)than those who throw around controversial issues(like they invented it)and when called on it, back off and claim entertainment.

If you're going to have a controversial, unpopular issue be the focal point of what you are doing, you better be in to it, because you will be married to it. If I was a Satanist, I would find guys like Kerry King and these guys extremely offensive for exploiting my religion, and would probably hunt them down and offer them as sacrifices.

I also don't buy the "I like horror movies" defense in trying to downplay their usage of Satanic lore and influence. I've never met anyone in my life who has come to Satan through a movie. From the "Exorcist(one of my personal faves-still creepy)to the Adam Sandler comedy Little Nicky, we've seen the funniest and most horrifying versions of the Devil, yet I can't think of a single person who ever claimed to be attracted to Satanism through a horror movie. I love a good horror movie, and have since I was a kid.

I'm not trying to bust your bunyons here, or anywhere else for that matter,but most of this stuff is a gimmick, and most of these guys are posers and opportunists. It's like the one guy said in the interview, "I can play Motorhead for my mum, but never any Venom." Well why not, mamas boy, if that's what you think is cool? What's up with that, can't you just tell old mum that these guys aren't really meaning what they say, their just trying to be hard? I just don't get it, but I just get annoyed how two faced these people seem to be.

Too bad, as a lot of great players think somehow an allegance to Satan will bring them what they want, and give them an edge. Look at Venom, around for 30 years or whatever, played with many a household name, and are extremely unknown outside of their limited Metal community.

Again, I'm not trying to attack you, metal, or even this strain of it. All I'm trying to say is if you talk the talk, then walk the walk.

[phlemmy]

The Norwegian black metal guys unfortunately do walk the walk. This book paints a disturbing and true picture about a sect of bands that takes this stuff to the limit.

[sloop_john_b]

The Norwegian black metal guys unfortunately do walk the walk. This book paints a disturbing and true picture about a sect of bands that takes this stuff to the limit.

Didn't one of the guys in Mayhem kill a guy in a rival band for being "an inferior musician"?

[phlemmy]

yes.

many churches have burned over this stuff too. quite silly.

[whojamfan]

You'll get no argument from me on that one, those guys are the real deal, and while I am completely not in to what that are doing, at least it's not an act, gimmick, or marketing ploy. To comment any further would start to violate forum rules, so I am glad there are things that we agree upon.

[shamustwin]

I can't imagine a more stooopid pursuit than choosing the losing side in a mythological war.

Nails it!