Jump to content

Does humour have a place in music?


RelentlessOblivion

Recommended Posts

  • 2 months later...
Probably because Bethlehem is the silliest band in all of black/dark metal. Well' date=' second most silly after Darkthrone. If you're counting only intentionally silly bands.[/quote'] It depends on what era you're talking about. Dark Metal sounded plenty serious to me, and Dictius Te Necare sounds over the top, but still disturbing. I also couldn't see calling Darkthrone silly until maybe Total Death.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bethlehem may be not so obvious if you don't understand their German lyrics. I mean, "soft stool in such fleshless poison" and all that other stuff, to be brutally honest, I think they're taking the piss. The totally OTT silly interviews I read just support that. Although they stated that while they're very silly, they're not as silly as those corpse/warpaint BM bands. Darkthrone? I think Transilvanian Hunger was their only serious album. From Goatlord: "And flowers remain... FLOWERS TO STEP ON!! Flowers to burn!" You can't get any more black metal than that though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bethlehem may be not so obvious if you don't understand their German lyrics. I mean' date=' "soft stool in such fleshless poison" and all that other stuff, to be brutally honest, I think they're taking the piss. Darkthrone? I think Transilvanian Hunger was their only serious album. From Goatlord: "And flowers remain... FLOWERS TO STEP ON!! Flowers to burn!"[/quote'] Really? Transylvanian is their only serious album? "The Mountains are Cold, So Cold!!!" Lol
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bethlehem may be not so obvious if you don't understand their German lyrics. I mean' date=' "soft stool in such fleshless poison" and all that other stuff, to be brutally honest, I think they're taking the piss.[/quote'] I disagree. While the lyrics (I can understand them) and vocals may both seem silly when you look at them by themselves, they're inseparable. I don't think Rainer could ever had sung those megalomaniacal monologues in a very different way.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't comment on Bethlehem and don't like Transilvanian Hunger all that much but Darkthrone were an impressive and serious black metal band at one point. They're a bad joke these days but at least they're not doing the same thing over and over again.
You don't have to take yourself seriously to take your music seriously. Some of Darkthrone's lyrics may play at stereotypes and over-the-top subject matter, but their music is no less serious for it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Precisely though Darkthrone amount to little more then a cautionary tale these days.
I disagree. While most retro metal is garbage because it attempts to emulate only the superficial elements of that sound without any context or understanding for the purpose of and feeling behind that sound, coming off as little more than a kitschy pastiche, Darkthrone's sincerity and conviction can't really be called into question. Maybe it's not the style that you favor from them, but I have a hard time believing that Guitar Hero clowns like Holy Grail enter into the same realm as newer Darkthrone.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Certainly their integrity remains intact but in terms of quality I have a hard time differentiating between new Darkthrone and the plethora of retro bands putting out soulless garbage. I get that they love the style but it is for that reason that they should be condemned. Paying homage to their heroes with a Darkthrone twist would make for amazing music but they're just blatantly copying them same as any other retro band.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Certainly their integrity remains intact but in terms of quality I have a hard time differentiating between new Darkthrone and the plethora of retro bands putting out soulless garbage. I get that they love the style but it is for that reason that they should be condemned. Paying homage to their heroes with a Darkthrone twist would make for amazing music but they're just blatantly copying them same as any other retro band.
I'm fairly familiar with the style they're going for, and I can't draw any parallels to any one band that they sound like. To me, it sounds like another band from that time, not a modern band trying to mimic the past, yet it still sounds like Darkthrone.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's all a taste issue with them. I haven't liked their albums since Sardonic Wrath, but so what? They're obviously doing exactly what they want. As far as taking them - or any other band - "seriously", I don't see any conflict between sinking into the trashy, angry vibe of "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" and chuckling at the B-grade humor of the intro or that shouted "uhh Nocturno Cultooo!" Plenty of other bands seem to have no problem writing great music with nods to the inherent silliness of metal stylings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Immortal seem to have a certain knack for combining very silly songtitles and lyrics with outstanding music. Tragedies Blows At Horizons??? Then you get Cradle Of Filth who are preposterous but fully intended to be taken seriously (or they are really dedicated to the schtick)
I personally don't think there's anything wrong with being campy, as serious devil worship seems even more silly by comparison, and as long as you're lovingly playing at the joke ala Spinal Tap, who cares? It's just music, if you're looking for a life path, then you should likely venture outside of art's more observative and less conclusive nature.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...