-
I think that question on seriousness is really tricky to answer and massively depends on whether you’re talking about the artist or their output.
There are thousands of metal bands that create incredibly serious music but are themselves unpretentious, down to earth folk just doing what they love.
I have no qualms whatsoever with metal being serious (or the artists themselves taking their craft seriously). It’s a genre that tackles some of the heaviest subject matters out there, and in large part does so with intellect, respect and compassion (with notable exceptions!). Take 1914 as an example - this band can invoke the horror of war like no book I’ve ever read. They are huge history buffs who are obsessive with the getting the detail of the events they are relaying right, and take the task very seriously. I would consider anything but seriousness in this field the kiss of death.
It also massively turns on what you listen to metal for. If you’ve got some tunes on with some mates and a few beers then a dissonant, complex and rambling death metal masterpiece isn’t going to fit.
I listen to music a lot on the turbo, where I like hard, fast and aggressive styles to get me revved up for the session (lots of death, tech-death and certain deathcore) or otherwise as a stress reliever / catharsis type of thing (where I like more dissonant / cavernous death and black metal). So ‘non-serious’ metal doesn’t ever really fall into my sphere and as such I very rarely listen to stoner, sludge or power metal.
All that said, I have learnt not to take the seriousness of a band’s name as an indicator. I very nearly passed on Fvneral Fvkk’s 2019 album Carnal Confessions, which turned out to be one of the most gut wrenchingly serious albums I’ve ever heard, dealing with sexual abuse in the Church. It’s an incredible display of clean-vocal doom, expertly written and performed and tackling impossibly heavy subject matter with wonderful sensitivity.
Sorry, that’s probably a wildly over the top response to what might have been a throw-away comment, but it was a really interesting question!
You are reading a single comment by @Ottomanotter and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
Ottomanotter
I've had a lovely afternoon in the park and am pleased / surprised to discover that people have actually humoured me. Many thanks, keep it coming.
Mammoth Weed Bastard, Spaceslug, Yob and Monolord sound like fun so I will start with them.
Is it just me or is seriousness the kiss of death for metal bands?