Heavy metal and the deafening threat of the apolitical
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/pomh.v6i1.224Keywords:
heavy metal, Herbert Marcuse, metal culture, political actionAbstract
This article focuses on the relationship of heavy metal to the political. The political is often rejected in heavy metal scenes in favour of a desired apolitical autonomy. At the same time, as the author argues, there are also more political strains in metal, as in Napalm Death’s anti-fascist stance for example. Drawing on the work of Marcuse, the author affirms the potency and subversion inherent in metal’s apolitical stance. Metal provides a ‘liberated environment’ in which the rejection of politics creates a space for community and art.
References
Adorno, Theodor. 1978. ‘On the Social Situation of Music’. Telos 35: 129–65.
Bohlman, Philip. 1993. ‘Musicology as a Political Act’. Journal of Musicology 11(4): 411–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/jm.1993.11.4.03a00010
Christ, Jimmy. 2010. ‘The Dawn of War: Bolt Thrower and the Birth of British Death Metal’. Terrorizer. http://truecultheavymetal.com/blog1.php/2010/05/06/interview-dawnof-war-bolt-thrower-and-the-birth-of-british-death-metal.
Edelman, Murray. 1995. From Art to Politics: How Artistic Creations Shape Political Perceptions. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Endres, Markus. 2007. ‘Watain Interview’. http://www.metal.de/stories.php4?was=story &id=897.
Franks, Thomas. 1997. The Conquest of Cool: Business Culture, Counterculture and the Rise of Hip Consumerism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Garapedian, Carla. 2008. Screamers. http://www.screamersmovie.com/story.html.
Gross, David. 1980. ‘Lowenthal, Adorno and Barthes: Three Perspectives on Popular Culture’. Telos 45: 122–39.
Hatfield, Rab. 1970. ‘The Compania de’ Magi’. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 33: 107–161. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/750893
Heesch, Florian. 2010. ‘Metal for Nordic Men? Amon Amarth’s Representations of Vikings’. In The Metal Void, ed. Niall Scott and Imke Von Helden. Oxford: Inter-disciplinary Press.
Horkheimer, Max, and Theodor Adorno. 2002. The Dialectic of Enlightenment. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press.
Kahn Harris, Keith. 2007. Extreme Metal, Music and Culture on the Edge. London: Berg.
Lawson, Dom. 2010a. ‘The Flame Game’. Metal Hammer, Subterranea 202 (March): 125–26.
—2010b. ‘Warrior Souls’. Metal Hammer 207 (July): 68–69.
Lim, Freddy. 2009. ‘Chthonic’. Terrorizer 187 (Summer): 24–28.
Marcuse, Herbert. 1991. One-Dimensional Man. London: Routledge.
Moore, Ryan M. 2009. ‘The Unmaking of the English Working Class: Deindustrialisation, Reification and the Origins of Heavy Metal’. In Heavy Metal Music in Britain, ed. Gerd Bayer. Farnham: Ashgate.
Negash, Girma. 2004. ‘Art Invoked: A Mode of Understanding and Shaping the Political’. International Political Science Review 25(2): 185–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0192 512104041284
Pidd, Helen. 2009. ‘Rage Against the Machine Beats X-Factor’s Joe to Christmas No 1’. The Guardian, 20 December. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/dec/20/ rage-against-machine-christmas-number-1.
Rage Against the Machine biography at: http://www.ratm.com.
Raphael, D. D. 1990. The Problems of Political Philosophy. London: Macmillan.
Shakespeare, Stephen. 2010. ‘Black Notes’. In Hideous Gnosis, Black Metal Theory Symposium 1, ed. Nicola Masciandaro. New York: Open Access Publication.
Smith, Bradley. 2006. ‘Interview with Wolves in the Throne Room’. http://www.nocturnalcult.com/newcontents.htm.
Tuckey, Bill. 2010. ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’. Independent on Sunday, 1 August.
Viereck, Peter. 2004 [1941]. Metapolitics: From Wagner and the German Romantics to Hitler. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
Weinstein, Deena. 2000. Heavy Metal: The Music and its Culture. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
Discography
Metallica. 1992. ‘Nothing Else Matters’. Metallica (‘The Black Album’). Electra records.
—1998. Cunning Stunts. DVD. Universal.
Slayer. 2001. God Hates us All. American Recordings.
Steel Panther. 2009. ‘Death to All But Metal’. Feel the Steel. Universal Republic.
Bohlman, Philip. 1993. ‘Musicology as a Political Act’. Journal of Musicology 11(4): 411–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/jm.1993.11.4.03a00010
Christ, Jimmy. 2010. ‘The Dawn of War: Bolt Thrower and the Birth of British Death Metal’. Terrorizer. http://truecultheavymetal.com/blog1.php/2010/05/06/interview-dawnof-war-bolt-thrower-and-the-birth-of-british-death-metal.
Edelman, Murray. 1995. From Art to Politics: How Artistic Creations Shape Political Perceptions. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Endres, Markus. 2007. ‘Watain Interview’. http://www.metal.de/stories.php4?was=story &id=897.
Franks, Thomas. 1997. The Conquest of Cool: Business Culture, Counterculture and the Rise of Hip Consumerism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Garapedian, Carla. 2008. Screamers. http://www.screamersmovie.com/story.html.
Gross, David. 1980. ‘Lowenthal, Adorno and Barthes: Three Perspectives on Popular Culture’. Telos 45: 122–39.
Hatfield, Rab. 1970. ‘The Compania de’ Magi’. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 33: 107–161. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/750893
Heesch, Florian. 2010. ‘Metal for Nordic Men? Amon Amarth’s Representations of Vikings’. In The Metal Void, ed. Niall Scott and Imke Von Helden. Oxford: Inter-disciplinary Press.
Horkheimer, Max, and Theodor Adorno. 2002. The Dialectic of Enlightenment. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press.
Kahn Harris, Keith. 2007. Extreme Metal, Music and Culture on the Edge. London: Berg.
Lawson, Dom. 2010a. ‘The Flame Game’. Metal Hammer, Subterranea 202 (March): 125–26.
—2010b. ‘Warrior Souls’. Metal Hammer 207 (July): 68–69.
Lim, Freddy. 2009. ‘Chthonic’. Terrorizer 187 (Summer): 24–28.
Marcuse, Herbert. 1991. One-Dimensional Man. London: Routledge.
Moore, Ryan M. 2009. ‘The Unmaking of the English Working Class: Deindustrialisation, Reification and the Origins of Heavy Metal’. In Heavy Metal Music in Britain, ed. Gerd Bayer. Farnham: Ashgate.
Negash, Girma. 2004. ‘Art Invoked: A Mode of Understanding and Shaping the Political’. International Political Science Review 25(2): 185–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0192 512104041284
Pidd, Helen. 2009. ‘Rage Against the Machine Beats X-Factor’s Joe to Christmas No 1’. The Guardian, 20 December. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/dec/20/ rage-against-machine-christmas-number-1.
Rage Against the Machine biography at: http://www.ratm.com.
Raphael, D. D. 1990. The Problems of Political Philosophy. London: Macmillan.
Shakespeare, Stephen. 2010. ‘Black Notes’. In Hideous Gnosis, Black Metal Theory Symposium 1, ed. Nicola Masciandaro. New York: Open Access Publication.
Smith, Bradley. 2006. ‘Interview with Wolves in the Throne Room’. http://www.nocturnalcult.com/newcontents.htm.
Tuckey, Bill. 2010. ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’. Independent on Sunday, 1 August.
Viereck, Peter. 2004 [1941]. Metapolitics: From Wagner and the German Romantics to Hitler. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
Weinstein, Deena. 2000. Heavy Metal: The Music and its Culture. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
Discography
Metallica. 1992. ‘Nothing Else Matters’. Metallica (‘The Black Album’). Electra records.
—1998. Cunning Stunts. DVD. Universal.
Slayer. 2001. God Hates us All. American Recordings.
Steel Panther. 2009. ‘Death to All But Metal’. Feel the Steel. Universal Republic.
Published
2012-05-14
Issue
Section
Countercultures
How to Cite
Scott, N. (2012). Heavy metal and the deafening threat of the apolitical. Popular Music History, 6(1-2), 224-239. https://doi.org/10.1558/pomh.v6i1.224
