[Marxism] Re: Two rock-and-roll band documentaries

[Ben C <minnows@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following review article was originally going to be submitted to
Green Left Weekly as a sort of follow-on to the review of the Metallica
doco. I never got around to putting the final touches into the review
(and I forget what they were to be -- perhaps to mention that Kreator's
philosophical outlook is somewhat pessimistic and, I think,
existentialist); these two albums are a bit old to be worth reviewing
now anyway. But list readers with an interest in the "heavy metal"
genre/subculture might find this interesting.

Ben C
*****

The monster is dead… long live the new monsters!

Voivod, “Voivod” – Chophouse Records/SurfDog Records 2003
Kreator, “Live Kreation” – Steamhammer records 2003


Owen Richards outlined the latest degeneration of the heavy metal band
Metallica in these pages on 15 September. Summing up, he quoted former
Metallica bass player Jason Newstead as calling the bands entry into
therapy to produce a new album “lame and weak”.

The one-time vanguard of heavy metal, it would appear that Metallica are
now providing a parody better than the infamous Spinal Tap. Spinal Tap’s
drummer kept exploding, causing the band no end of trouble. Metallica
have similar trouble with bass players: the first died tragically in an
accident during their creative heyday; less tragically, it now seems the
band has died and the bass player survived (if only someone would tell
them…)

Jason Newstead’s new band, Voivod have been around almost as long as
Metallica. They have varied their musical style over the years,
releasing albums ranging from hard rock and roll to their earlier
ultra-heavy metal. Their latest CD “Voivod” blends textures and themes
from earlier material with a surprisingly low-key rock and roll
ambience. One reviewer likened it to “some crazy combination of the
1977-era Saints and Queens of the Stone Age with better lyrics and no
stoner quotient” (Allmusic.com) I’m reminded of old pub rock, especially
on the first song “Gasmask revival”, an anthem to political street
protest. (“I’m no more a good citizen - and never was”). Other song
themes include the “Eternal Champion” character from Michael Moorcock’s
fantasy novels and metaphorical tales of rebellion such as “Rebel Robot”:

“You wear the freedom while a child is working
You taste a kingdom while the trees are falling
Loud voice and clear messages
The demons are so creative

"There is a little matrix in everyone”

The music strays into more traditional heavy metal riffs, driving and
somewhat relentless, but captured and bound within the confines of rock
idioms beneath singer Denis Belanger’s unusual French-Canadian voice.
The album is not brilliant at first listen, but it grows in a somewhat
hypnotic manner as one listens more closely.

While Metallica have become a corporate rock monster, another 1980s
heavy metal “monster”, the German band Kreator (whose name is German for
monster) provide further perspective.

Kreator also travelled different musical roads in the last ten years,
but with the 2001 release of their CD “Violent Revolution” they very
much returned to their original speed metal musical forms. In fact they
seem to do it all better the second time around, with more mature song
writing.

Their double-CD “Live Kreation” is a best-of from their “World
Revolution” tour, with songs from all their albums to date. There’s no
pub-rock sound here, the closest is a couple of their more mellow songs
from recent albums. Despite their hyper-aggressive image (classics
include “Riot of Violence” and “Extreme Aggression”) the band takes a
political stand against racism and capitalism. Unlike the nitty-gritty
of street protest and concrete issues which Voivod describe, Kreator
vent their spleen with lyrics like

“Society failed to tolerate me
And I have failed to tolerate society…

“Your sick world
The loss of all morality
My hate has grown as strong as my confusion
My only hope my only solution
Is a violent revolution”

The lyrical content tends much more toward the metaphorical and obscure,
but their classic “People of the Lie” against neo-Nazis is included. The
live recording captures perhaps too much of the crowds’ cheers
(obscuring the music a little) but nevertheless if you wanted a “best of
Kreator” this would be it: there isn’t a bad song on the album. And,
dear Green Left readers, the violent themes seem to all be pointed
metaphorically at the capitalist system – great rants to cheer you up
when the world is beating you down.

Metallica’s recent efforts may have all the depth of singing in the
shower, but the musical movement they came from is still plodding along
and finding new ways to say interesting things about the world. Both
Voivod and Kreator are soon to release new albums. Watch out.



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