Jump to content

Does humour have a place in music?


RelentlessOblivion

Recommended Posts

I recently saw an old interview with Dani Filth in which, when asked if humour had a place in music, he emphatically answered in the negative. Devin Townsend clearly does not adhere to this view (for which I am glad). Personally I think music is, on the whole, too serious and needs more humour to break things up. What do you think?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Everybody's different. It's up to the band to make a place for humor in their music. Humor is prevalent in grind and slam. Bands like Type O Negative, Cephalic Carnage, or Faith No More wouldn't be anywhere near as good without their use of humor. On the other hand I can't imagine Jonas Renkse using goofy sound effects or silly puns. When it comes to Dani Filth, eh, you're not laughing with him, you're laughing at him...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a musician who puts humor in his music. ORCumentary combines 3 of my favorite things: fantasy, metal, and comedy. For me it's an extremely important form of self-expression. When it comes to music, there shouldn't be any boundaries whatsoever. It's art, and as long as the artist is being fulfilled by creating it, it should get made.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't have a problem with schtick and/gimmicks if they don't take anything away from the music' date=' but they all too often do.[/quote'] Sometimes, they don't just take away from the music, but also from the band members' personalities and the listener's quality of life in general. In extreme cases they can actually spread disease. Indeed, the significant uptick in venereal diseases in parts of the United States can be attributed almost entirely to the influence of Butcher Babies, BrokenCYDE and Attila.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sometimes' date=' they don't just take away from the music, but also from the band members' personalities and the listener's quality of life in general. In extreme cases they can actually spread disease. Indeed, the significant uptick in venereal diseases in parts of the United States can be attributed almost entirely to the influence of Butcher Babies, BrokenCYDE and Attila.[/quote'] Butcher Babies god almighty they suck.....literally. haha
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't usually have a lot of tolerance for humor in metal (Type O Negative excepted) unless it's being deliberately campy. Otherwise it usually ruins the atmosphere for me. I don't mind it in other genres though for the most part. Wonder why?
Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit was pretty entertaining when I was 19-20. Not really sure if it'll hold up (guess I should listen to it again).
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...