I found a quote that puts into words my feeling about metal lyrics.

[ping-ping-clicka]

Malcolm "Scruff" Lewty, guitarist and vocalist of Hellbastard, describes the distinction between metal and crust punk lyrics "Metal lyrics were so dumb, so far removed from daily life. Venom were going on about Satan... and bikes... and Satan... and women... and Satan! You know what? I never got up in the morning and said, '**** yeah! Satan! Let's go and meet my disciples from Hell!' I'd switch on the TV and know I was going to see hundreds of people dying because there'd been an earthquake in the third world... and all these people starving to death while military expenditure still increased... That was — and still is — the reality of it. The whole heavy metal thing is just an escape from reality, into this other world of... well, ******** basically."

 

[Skyhook]

From the Peace Sells video: "[ANGRY DAD] What is this garbage you're watching?! I wanna watch the news! ... [KID SWITCHES BACK TO METAL] This *IS* the news!".

There's plenty of metal not doing Satan or bikes(and in Venom's case, don't forget women and drugs as well).
For every Dio and King Diamond there's a Nuclear Assault or a Megadeth or earlier Metallica.

Personally now...
I'd much rather read unfathomable lyrics than have the latest headlines rubbed in my face to the accompaniment of riffs.
I'd like to quote Stephen King here from one of his many many forewords or breakages of the 4th wall: "Reality can take a flying phuque on a rolling doughnut".

 

[Timbresmith1]

From the Peace Sells video: "[ANGRY DAD] What is this garbage you're watching?! I wanna watch the news! ... [KID SWITCHES BACK TO METAL] This *IS* the news!".

There's plenty of metal not doing Satan or bikes(and in Venom's case, don't forget women and drugs as well).
For every Dio and King Diamond there's a Nuclear Assault or a Megadeth or earlier Metallica.

Personally now...
I'd much rather read unfathomable lyrics than have the latest headlines rubbed in my face to the accompaniment of riffs.
I'd like to quote Stephen King here from one of his many many forewords or breakages of the 4th wall: "Reality can take a flying phuque on a rolling doughnut".

That Stephen King quote is a variation on a phrase Kurt Vonnegut wrote. “Why don’t you go take a flying ____ at a rolling donut”.

 

[Timbresmith1]

Malcolm "Scruff" Lewty, guitarist and vocalist of Hellbastard, describes the distinction between metal and crust punk lyrics "Metal lyrics were so dumb, so far removed from daily life. Venom were going on about Satan... and bikes... and Satan... and women... and Satan! You know what? I never got up in the morning and said, '**** yeah! Satan! Let's go and meet my disciples from Hell!' I'd switch on the TV and know I was going to see hundreds of people dying because there'd been an earthquake in the third world... and all these people starving to death while military expenditure still increased... That was — and still is — the reality of it. The whole heavy metal thing is just an escape from reality, into this other world of... well, ******** basically."
View attachment 906391

Is he suggesting that crust punk lyrics are superior because they are relevant to daily life? This, from people who resent bathing?
I don’t have any skin in the game; most lyrics are easily critiqued. People use music in different ways. Sometimes, simply as a mental exfoliant.

 

[hemingway]

The lyrics are the least of my problems with most metal.

To be fair though most music of all genres is mediocre. Picking on metal isn't necessarily fair - but they're an easy target.

I once saw an article with the title WHY IS METAL NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE MAINSTREAM?

Some questions answer themselves.

 

[Skyhook]

The lyrics are the least of my problems with most metal.

To be fair though most music of all genres is mediocre. Picking on metal isn't necessarily fair - but they're an easy target.

I once saw an article with the title WHY IS METAL NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE MAINSTREAM?

Some questions answer themselves.

 

[tubedude]

Malcolm "Scruff" Lewty, guitarist and vocalist of Hellbastard, describes the distinction between metal and crust punk lyrics "Metal lyrics were so dumb, so far removed from daily life. Venom were going on about Satan... and bikes... and Satan... and women... and Satan! You know what? I never got up in the morning and said, '**** yeah! Satan! Let's go and meet my disciples from Hell!' I'd switch on the TV and know I was going to see hundreds of people dying because there'd been an earthquake in the third world... and all these people starving to death while military expenditure still increased... That was — and still is — the reality of it. The whole heavy metal thing is just an escape from reality, into this other world of... well, ******** basically."
View attachment 906391

I thought Satan would have better outfits for his groupies.

 

[Manual Slim]

Everybody knows that the bird is the word.

 

[Sparky2]

The whole heavy metal thing is just an escape from reality, into this other world of... well, ******** basically."
View attachment 906391

 

[Festofish]

From the Peace Sells video: "[ANGRY DAD] What is this garbage you're watching?! I wanna watch the news! ... [KID SWITCHES BACK TO METAL] This *IS* the news!".

There's plenty of metal not doing Satan or bikes(and in Venom's case, don't forget women and drugs as well).
For every Dio and King Diamond there's a Nuclear Assault or a Megadeth or earlier Metallica.

Personally now...
I'd much rather read unfathomable lyrics than have the latest headlines rubbed in my face to the accompaniment of riffs.
I'd like to quote Stephen King here from one of his many many forewords or breakages of the 4th wall: "Reality can take a flying phuque on a rolling doughnut".

Stephen King? Check out Anyhrax’s early lyrics. Scott Ian was a Stephen King freak!
I think saying any genres lyrics are all about this or that is pretty narrow but I get where you’re coming from.
Ps Anthrax’s newer stuff is fantastic! As a matter of fact a lot of older metal bands have fantastic modern albums. Surprises me too.

 

[Skyhook]

Stephen King? Check out Anyhrax’s early lyrics. Scott Ian was a Stephen King freak!
I think saying any genres lyrics are all about this or that is pretty narrow but I get where you’re coming from.
Ps Anthrax’s newer stuff is fantastic! As a matter of fact a lot of older metal bands have fantastic modern albums. Surprises me too.

Yeah, I've noticed!
Among the Living and Misery Loves Company.
Probably something else as well which I've missed.

As a matter of fact a lot of older metal bands have fantastic modern albums.

Yeah! For instance, this thing:

 

[mkdaws32]

I just can’t…. This thread is the epitome of stereotyping. There are brilliant lyricists and utter garbage in all genres. Don’t get me started on Achy Breaky Heart.

 

[MrCairo46]

Malcolm "Scruff" Lewty, guitarist and vocalist of Hellbastard, describes the distinction between metal and crust punk lyrics "Metal lyrics were so dumb, so far removed from daily life. Venom were going on about Satan... and bikes... and Satan... and women... and Satan! You know what? I never got up in the morning and said, '**** yeah! Satan! Let's go and meet my disciples from Hell!' I'd switch on the TV and know I was going to see hundreds of people dying because there'd been an earthquake in the third world... and all these people starving to death while military expenditure still increased... That was — and still is — the reality of it. The whole heavy metal thing is just an escape from reality, into this other world of... well, ******** basically."
View attachment 906391

Ping,
I always enjoy your posts, you remind me of Andy Rooney.

 

[Festofish]

Yeah, I've noticed!
Among the Living and Misery Loves Company.
Probably something else as well which I've missed.



Yeah! For instance, this thing:

Exactly! Great album!
Have you heard of Primal Fear? The singer was in the runoff to replace Halford when he left. He didn’t make it but started Primal Fear. They live in the realm of this album so if you like this…

 

[buster poser]

Dude needs to hear some Vulgar Display of Power

 

[Larry Mal]

Heavy metal basically sucks and always has. I'm not saying there isn't some good stuff- very little. For the most part, though, it's just aggressive music made for and played by adolescent males and reflects the concerns of such.

How good is it going to be, really?

 

[Manual Slim]

Heavy metal basically sucks and always has. I'm not saying there isn't some good stuff- very little. For the most part, though, it's just aggressive music made for and played by adolescent males and reflects the concerns of such.

How good is it going to be, really?

If someone is in the mood to hear something aggressive then it’ll be a much better choice than listening to Sandy Denny.

 

[Sconnie]

Most music basically sucks and always has. I'm not saying there isn't some good stuff- very little. For the most part, though, it's just aggressive music made for and played by adolescent males and reflects the concerns of such.

How good is it going to be, really?

Fixed it for ya.

 

[naveed211]

Wait, so you’re saying Cannibal Corpse isn’t singing about normal, real, every day life stuff?

 

[basher]

Malcolm "Scruff" Lewty, guitarist and vocalist of Hellbastard,

The fact that I had to resort to Google to find out if you were kidding or not is exactly what I love about metal.