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Author's note,1998: I originally published a version of this article in 1993 for a defunct publication called College Illustrated (CI). I was the author of a regular column on "heavy metal" (times have changed quickly) called "Flying Shrapnel." The following article was written for a special issue of CI devoted to subversive moments in culture and art. Originally, the article made some recommendations for listening that are now out of date. In truth, there are few subversive metal bands that have kept their edge over sustained periods - instead, there are great subversive songs or moments (such as early Black Sabbath, or even, arguably, the MC5). However, for those listeners looking for a subversive place to start, the older Metallica releases are quite rewarding, in particular Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets and …And Justice for All, which contains the song "D'yers Eve," perhaps the harshest condemnation of parental authority and abuse ever recorded. If there is sufficient reader interest, I will add a second part to this article, making some listener's recommendations on good subversive metal. -JR-
Is Metal More Subversive Than Punk?By Jon ReedMost people fear metal, but that doesn't mean it's subversive. The typical metal singer, far from being critical of society, embraces the American Dream with a vacant expression on his face and a hard-on in his crotch. The major difference between a mainstream metal star and a corporate executive is the suit and tie. While the corporate exec is more uptight sexually, both are businessmen at heart. Both would rather get drunk than take a hard look at themselves. But metal bands weren't always so stupid and complacent. Metal came before punk, and its creators, such as the original Black Sabbath, sounded just plain dangerous. Nowadays, most metal songs are as generic and dumb as the beer commercials they will eventually become. And of the few bands that actually do sound dangerous, such as Guns and Roses, much of that danger is directed towards women. Instead of focusing their rage against the status quo, Guns and Roses focus it on their ex-girlfriends. Far from being subversive, this kind of rage only disappoints. Indeed, metal's ability to repackage American ignorance in long hair and sell it to white youths as rebellion is truly remarkable. Yet I've always held the unpopular view that, despite its status quo tendencies, metal has been at least as subversive as punk, and certainly longer lasting. While punk has always been the more lyrically and politically sophisticated of the two genres, producing such articulate critiques as those of the Clash, the Dead Kennedys and Fugazi, metal has always had a firmer grip on the American grassroots. The impressive intellectualism of punk suffers from its own elitism. Punk's greatest offense is its scorn of the mainstream American kid - just the type of kid who needs its political insights the most. The most subversive metal enters here, in the quiet suburban bedroom of Joe Normal, with heady, relentless beats that put punk songwriters to shame. For most punkers, the song is just a vehicle for the lyrics. But for a metal fan, for better and sometimes for worse, nothing is more important than the song itself. The words may not be coherent, but the underlying sentiment always is. These songs get into your head because they're good. And if the messenger doesn't sound good, most folks won't stick around for the message. Subversive metal rarely offers a solution to the bitterness it so expertly taps. But for most of us, solutions are not nearly as urgent as frustration. "No guarantee, it's life as is," wrote Metallica, "but damn you for not giving me my chance." -JR-
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