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Casey Gatto

Final Research Paper

November 23rd, 2020

Metal Won’t Settle

Metal has been discriminated upon since the 1900’s. With metal’s dark history

and folklore it’s hard to distinguish between what actually happened and tall tales

started by band members. I would like to take a look at heavy metal and how it could be

justifiably deemed unethical. Talking about the ethicality of metal means to talk on

issues in metal from the perspective of a female metal head. Controversy in metal

include: comparing today's society to historical society, the oppression of women, anger

inducing metal music, criminal fans, and the satanic aspects in metal music. Heavy

metal has impacted historical society and modern society today. With taking into

account the controversy surrounding heavy metal, many believe heavy metal is

unethical but I believe heavy metal is a moral salvation. Metal is used as an escape

from society and issues surrounding a metalheads personal life.

The views on heavy metal claim to have changed in today’s society but I don’t

think they have. Talking on experiences pertaining to going to a catholic school I have

had my fair share of stares and comments. The worst thing someone has said to me,

after looking me up and down, at this school was “oh… are you an art major?” or “you

don’t look like a nursing major”. This comment is very concerning to me as it implies that

people who listen to any sort of alternative genre or dress in an alternative fashion have

to follow a common stereotype of artistic. I am a nursing major who loves heavy metal

and this stereotype has forced me to strive for the best. With the rise of tik tok and E-
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Girls people all over the globe dress in goth apparel. So why is it that I have gotten

stereotyped but these girls are called cute and motivational? This stereotype would lead

back further than the 1900’s. With the rise and fall of the media there is no getting away

from common misconceptions and the darkness behind heavy metal. This stigma

around heavy metal had started in Europe but continues today with Michael Moynihan

who wrote of the band Mayhem’s brutal story saying “recent events in Finland and

Norway bare witness to the fact that Black Metal can still inspire fear and apprehension”

(Moynihan XII). Michael Moynihan’s Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic

Metal Underground had been written in 1998. This is a twenty two year difference from

today however, the fear and apprehension would not stop with church burnings. In 2018

the guitarist from Cannibal Corpse was put in jail for keeping human skulls and also for

having eighty firearms in his residence. The result of these incidents can be explained

again by Michael Moynihan, “some urged that black metal music should be outlawed

(when talking on a crime committed by a member of a metal band)”. Even in today’s

society people who listen to alternative music are pushed into a category of being a

criminal. However, when asked about why these things happen Michael Moynihan says

“It is more likely that the prime contributing factor behind his (Per Ohlin) extreme

behavior were psychological and pharmacological rather than anything to do with music

or satanism.” this would end up being the case for most of the controversy surrounding

metal. Metal was started by tortured souls such as Ozzy and a fierce woman by the

name of Jinx. All bands motives are different but what connects us is our love for the

darkness, not our love for crime.

Jinx is the lead singer of a band called Coven. She had started the metal

revolution of satanic worship. However, “women remain under-represented” as said by

Titus Hjelm, Jinx is a prime example of female metal musicians being overshadowed by

male metal musicians. Male musicians and their bands such as black sabbath and

bathory are credited for Jinx’s accomplishment of bringing dark themes, such as

satanism, to metal. As a woman that listens to metal I face discrimination in the genre

due to male domination as jinx had. The metal scene consists of primarily heterozexual

white males and that leaves little space for women, people of different races, and those

of different sexualities. Michelle Phillipov discusses black metal from a woman's

perspective, analyzing how metal bands portray women, saying that “Carcass explores

the dissolution of the body and the self as sources of pleasure, liberation, and comedy,

Cannibal Corpse’s more focused and controlled songwriting suggests a reassertion of

the boundaries of the gendered body and the violent forms of power through which

gender is affirmed” (Phillipov, 123). Metal is about crossing boundaries but as a woman

I don’t want to listen to women being degraded. However, metal has strengthened me

and motivates me to be better than the hate and discrimination. Many musicians write

on women being discriminated against within the genre. This acknowledgement is the

first step to equality within metal. I agree with Michelle Phillipov when she says that

gender is defined by dominance as men think they are more brutal because of their

stature. I have dealt with a few men who tried asserting their dominance onto me. One

specific instance of this was when a boy from my highschool put his hands on me when

we were watching a metal video together. The bigger question is what triggered this
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boy's actions? Was the erotic pictures to blame or the music in general that made him

act bolder?

What was the prime factor in the metal music that forced him to act in such a

way? A study provided by William Neil Gowensmith had tested the theory of anger and

arousal on people listening to metal and deducted that listeners will have individual

feelings influenced by past experiences when discussing metal. These results have

determined what factors play into the emotion evoked by metal music. In the study “It

was found that heavy metal music aroused all subjects but that increases in subjects’

anger levels were due to an interaction of heavy metal music and the listener’s musical

preference.” In which quote states that heavy metal music arouses listeners but it in fact

did not anger anyone unless the person had a different taste in music. The study

suggested that “the effects of heavy metal music are mediated by subjects’ individual

differences and that examination of the effects of heavy metal music should take

individual factors of the listeners into account.” This study had in fact brought up a

solution to the judgement in metal. The study provided by William Gowensmith

suggested that it was not the material of fast rhythm in heavy metal that had angered

listeners but in fact how each individual listener's past reacted with the heavy content

that is metal. This study on arousal and anger still did not address the fact that

“Concerned groups contend that heavy metal often encompasses themes of

aggression, anger, rebellion, violence, suicide, drugs, sex, Satanism, hopelessness,

and antisocial behavior”.

I have used the word metal head quite frequently and I bet you’re wondering

what exactly that means. “Metal divides people.” as stated by Kahn Harris due to
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different groups, such as concerned parents, being afraid of metals' dark and otherwise

satanic past. This as I have stated earlier is controversial to what is truly believed of a

metal heads behavior. With pertaining to conformity, metal was new and out of the

normal. Some controversies on metal include that people higher in political status and

churches usually preaching against metal due to many metalheads “obsession with

fantasies of control”. The “fantasies of control” are equivalent to male domination and

have been expressed through many heavy metal bands and fans. Many people and

groups even in todays society choose to ignore that “Black metal is often treated as a

kind of ritualistic medium for personal transformation”. Without this change I probably

would not be attending college for nursing. Before heavy metal my parents worried

about me being out in the world alone. As of recently, my mother has stated how proud

she is of me for taking care of every little detail at Seton Hill. Seton Hill is in fact a

Catholic school and you’re probably wondering why I have chosen to attend here due to

my “satanic backgrounds”. I have come with my two sisters to Seton Hill so that my

sister Rylee could make use of the art program. Even with my metalhead appearance

and values I still have my priorities and morals straight. I have plans of marriage and

career searching just like any other person. However, this is unseen by the public

because metal and its “controversy became a battle over wider values in society and

about the boundaries of “appropriate popular culture”. This rebellion usually sets people

off when they see me in public. I work at rite aid and while off my shift, wearing my

normal clothes which consisted of my battle jacket (denim jacket with metal patches)

and my doc martens, when a customer from rite aid called me out for being satanic. The

catholic customer had stated “I didn’t know you played with the devil, the lord can save
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you”. This just shows that us metalheads are judged too quickly based on our

appearances and predetermined beliefs. A typical description of a metal head includes

“long hair, headbanging, screaming vocals and guitars, outrageous behavior and

excess, over the top machismo, black leather. The semiotics of metal are well known

that they have an almost iconic position in popular culture”. This stigma around heavy

metal fans has impacted me greatly as it does many other people. My grandmother has

said when I'm nursing I can’t “dress like that”. Due to the stigma surrounding

metalheads I am strong with my belief that metal will forever be a moral salvation for me

to get away from this judgemental world. Metal is obviously dark and can lead to social

issues, including metal fans becoming outcasts, so why is it that people like metal?

People like metal because they’re able to relate to it. With the analysis of some

bands lyrics Michelle Phillipov states in the case of carcass that “Cacass’s use of the

second- person pronoun “you” invited listeners to view the actions depicted as signifying

a destruction of the self rather than an act of violence against other”. Carcass uses the

listener’s suffering and disintegrating life as comedy. Michelle then compares carcass to

cannibal corpse by saying that “Cannibal Corpse’s more focused and controlled

songwriting suggests a reassertion of the boundaries of the gendered body and the

violent forms of power through which gender is affirmed”. In both cases societal issues

are incorporated to grab a metal head's attention. Specifically for me, I like the subtle

remarks about how our government has done us wrong. I like this aspect of metal so

much that I was passionate about voting in the 2020 election. Metal can make people

passionate about societal issues in a way that opens their eyes to making changes. By

relating to the metalheads love for the dark which Michelle Phillipov defines as “A focus
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on graphic elements of gore and violence as aesthetically interesting is a key way in

which distanced appreciation is cultivated” metal musicians are able to connect to their

audiences with common themes of hate and sorrow. Metal musicians and fans alike are

angry with society but with each other's support they can change the future of our

communities with dark themes and heavy sounds.

Metal artists spread positivity and awareness. They use their own lives and

experiences to speak out against a terrible disease that plagues the Earth's surface;

addiction. Everyone is addicted to something. I happen to be addicted to coffee.

Caffeine is the most addicting substance as people are unaware it's addictive. Through

“rumors that cooper drank a bucket of LSD- laced phlegm of that AC/DC’s Angus Young

impaled himself on a Gibson SG set child standards for rock mystique”. Ian Christe talks

on substance abuse in his book ____ and talks on standard setting within the metal

community. Ian Christe talks on the one and only Ozzy Osbourne that has done drugs

so often and in large quantities that his brain has become fried. Ian Christe comments

on Ozzy and the metal community by saying “Ozzy Osbourne became a willing

spokesperson for rock-star insanity and earned the fierce loyalty of heavy metal misfits”.

Heavy metal fans are empathetic to the musicians as the musicians know the pain and

struggle the fans are going through. If metal has so many positive aspects to it then why

is it hated?

Metal was hated because people were scared of change and opposition. In

Europe many musicians faced oppression due to their views on religion. Their views on

religion were the opposite of the catholic church. Metal was despised back in the 1900’s

when “the scenes became more popular, and in so doing, more public, they began to
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attract the attention of governments and conservative religious forces, who saw them as

vehicles for the penetration of foreign, Western and even Satanic cultures that

threatened the very fabric of their societies”. When more people stood up against

societal issues the government and churches did not like this rebellion as it would

threaten all the rules and values they had put into place. I personally, am not religious

for the fact that predominantly catholic religions house hypocrites that do terrible things

and hide behind their power in the church. The band Mayhem was from Norway which

held pagan beliefs. In 1992 Norway, the first church burning had taken place from this

opposing view of religion. The catholic church had taken pagan land which is justified by

the church burning. Since then many forms of metal musicians slander the churches.

Bands such as Bad religion and Behemoth take the lord's name in vain to speak out

against the people in power of the churches. Metal musicians only speak the truth in

their songs and no matter how brutal or disgusting it seems the songs hold deeper

meanings that usually speak out against societal issues. Nergal from the band

Behemoth has always been my muse and he states “I hate christianity , as the religion

which is directly responsible for the obliteration of the pagan slavonic culture”. The

geographical origins of bands will influence what issues they speak out against. Nergal

is from Poland and like Norway they have dealt with the negativity that is religion.

While on the topic of Europe, the biggest controversy in the metal genre is that of

devil worship. When “black metal first began to really make an impact within the wider

metal scene in the early nineties- thanks to a combination of new bands,

groundbreaking recording, and the headline-grabbing “Satanic Terrorism” taking place

in Norway- it appeared from the outside to be a very new phenomenon.” which had
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scared many of the religious groups. With this fear in mind and the songs depicting

Devil worship there had been stipulation around metal and its willingness to call Satan.

However, “Despite the sinister lyrics , the musicians involved were a far cry from the

bloodthirsty devil worshippers they playfully portrayed in their songs.” Many metal

musicians have been hurt by the catholic system and wished other people better.

Hoping to open the eyes of many bands like Mayhem and Behemoth, both of which

centered in Europe, had faith in the anarchy and rebellion of metal. Behemoth follows a

satanic priest in their songs to rid the air of catholic faith. In Europe there was either

catholicism or satanism. In 1992 that first church burning was a symbol of the metal

revolution. The revolution of anti christian beliefs which Necrobutcher from mayhem

said ‘here in Norway, the constitution is based on Christian values. Everything, the

government, school system.”. Chrsitianity would take over the entire world as we knew

it. You couldn’t be nonchristian without receiving dirty looks. Devil worship is a

prominent theme in heavy metal but most of the band mates were not satanic

worshippers. They gave themselves this notion to be heard and “Everything that could

upset a christian was good”. The shock value of metal had given the ammunition needed to reach

a lot of people, Khan Harris talks about why exactly metal musicians use satanic themes “From

its earliest days, when groups like Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper used occult themes

and violent imagery and lyrics for clearly commercial purposes, metal has used

controversy as a tool not merely as identity, but also as marketing.”. Devil worship in

metal had given the musicians a voice to speak of darker issues. This devil worship had

been the opposite of the ‘purity’ the churches preached which is why metal controversy

is justifiable.
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Liking metal can trigger many mental breaks due to those who don’t understand it. Metal

is best described as controversial and for those with an open mind. Metal will always be

questioned for its ethicality, however is this justified? No, metal is a means of expressing one

self and for groups to want to ban metal is a violation of the first amendment right to freedom of

speech. It is in fact the ethicality of society that should be questioned. Many groups today are

discriminated against by race, ethnicity, and interests. I have come from a metal background and

know first hand what it feels like to be discriminated against. Metal is a moral salvation because

of its empowerment, open mindedness, and uplifting themes.

Work Cited

Walser, Robert. Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal

Music. Wesleyan University Press, 2013. Ebook Central Academic complete,

https://setonhilluniversity.on.worldcat.org/oclc/854520233. Accessed 14 Oct.

2020.

Moynihan, Michael, and Didrik Søderlind. Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the

Satanic Metal

Underground. New ed., New ed., Feral House, 2003. worldcat,

https://setonhilluniversity.on.worldcat.org/oclc/646836298. Accessed 14 Oct.

2020.

Kahn-Harris, Keith. Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge. Berg, 2006.

worldcat,https://setonhilluniversity.on.worldcat.org/oclc/728775239. Accessed 14

Oct. 2020.

Gowensmith, William Neil, and Larry J Bloom. “The Effects of Heavy Metal Music on

Arousal and Anger.” Journal of Music Therapy, vol. 34, no. 1, 1997, pp. 33–45,

doi:10.1093/jmt/34.1.33.

Christe, Ian. Sound of the Beast : The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal.
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HarperCollins e-Books, 2014. worldcat, rbdigital.oneclickdigital.com. Accessed

14 Oct. 2020.

Phillipov, Michelle. Death Metal and Music Criticism : Analysis at the Limits. Lexington

Books,

2012. worldcat, https://setonhilluniversity.on.worldcat.org/oclc/782923598.

Accessed 19

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Hjelm, Titus, et al., editors. Heavy Metal: Controversies and Countercultures. Equinox,

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Patterson, Dayal. Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult. Feral House, 2013.