Some clarifications:

1. The OP isn't just about lyrics, but metal's aesthetics in general. The imagery and themes as well.

2. The goal of new, more affecting imagery isn't necessarily to shock again, but to be emotionally and intellectually enjoyable to the listener.

This is something that I've always been an advocate for. That's why I give Chthonic so much credit. They're able to take Taiwanese myths and incorporate them into black metal in a really fitting way. I've also wanted to see a band use Native American themes for a really long time.

Yeah, but how I said in the previously post I can't barely know what they are saying, and when I like a song very much, I look upon the lyrics to see
what the hell they are saying. (Rhapsody is my fav band ), so that's why I have been losing some deep music. If I just liked the song and thing is good but not great, I dont bother looking for the lyrics.

Not black metal, but Necronomicon (CAN) has the album "The Sacred Medicines" which uses Native American / Aboriginal / First Nations themes.

this might be a little off topic, but metalheads are usually regarded as dumbshits and I just want to say that I get great grades (I'm in middle school) and I'm completely devoted to metal. Also, kerry king graduated as valedictorian of his high school.

maybe back in '80....but I have the same case of you, actually most of my friends who listen metal get high-above average grades.. and as for me, I'm the one who recieves the best grades in Literature, Law, History and Sociology....and I my friends are in Biology, Maths, Algebra, Physics recieving good grades.....

I suck in maths

I am going to expand upon what ThrashingMad was getting at before.

It would seem to me that using subjects such as AIDS, terrorism, etc are just too tangible for much of metal's aesthetics. The high point of lyricism in metal is where not just fear, but fear of the unknown is utilized to it's highest advantage. When Ozzy first belted out "Satan, laughing, spreads his wings", that seemed to have set the tone for everything.

We are living in a transitional period in history - religion is finally being shed in favour of a more rational, secular existence, and these sorts of allegorical tales and associated symbols can quite possibly be put to rest in the coming times. It won't happen overnight, but give it a few generations, and maybe in 500 or 1000 years humanity will have shed most of it's... religious affiliations, as it were.

However, in the present time, these symbols are just as powerful as they were hundreds upon thousands of years ago. They conjure up the unimaginable, the dreadful, the unspeakable. The dark side of humanity.

Here's what I DON'T think the problem is: the lyrical subjects themselves. Satan, death, destruction, disease, the unknown, so on and so forth. The problem is more likely a stagnation of the lyricists themselves. There are a lot of shitty ones out there. And in metal, the lyrics aren't the hugest of priorities for many bands, either. Thus, a combination between a instrument-centric music and poor lyricism means that metal has hit a bit of a low point.

And that's not to mention that metal has always had rather mixed-up roots. It's origins in 60s prog rock, psychedelic rock and (in many cases) jazz means it's always been a bit avante garde in it's own right, and then with the 80s, the influx of the anarchist themes of punk (which led to thrash metal's birth) meant that even more strain was put upon this melting pot of alternative music (using that in the literal sense, not the categorical sense here). And once punk hit the vein, it sort of exploded, with thrash, death and black metal, while the NWOBHM went back to its rock roots, and then played one too many games of Dungeons and Dragons and then BAM power metal was born.

I think a lot can be said of the great metal lyricists, or even the vocalists in metal who can add such depth to under-par lyrics that it comes out even anyways. But there's always room for improvement.

cheers,
--N

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Now playing: Ereb Altor - By Honour
via FoxyTunes

Akercocke has an interesting approach to Satanism, mixing it with Victorian asthetics and suit-and-tie-wearing coolness. Certainly better than the whole retarded "HAIL SATAN" thing.

Interesting. I will check this out.

I don't normally care about lyrics, but I do agree people need to be more creative.

It's simple. The majority of bands will always try to look scary and sound loud than being innovative. It's a dangerous idea. From an economics and fans acceptance point of view, it's totally understandable.

Metal has become sort of mainstream and it's basic ideas are now recycled to death by the bands and the magazines like Metal hammer.

People blame 90's for lack of solos. Now everyone is doing that and it's a normal standard but there's a lack of focus in lyrical field. Except, Behemoth, Nile and Dark Tranquillity ofcourse. They are rich with metaphors and facts.

Personally, I'm sick of hearing lyrics about war and religion only. Politics is spoiled by core bands.

I think that's coming from the "gentleman" image of Satan as a charismatic, charming but devious entity. Much like a quote from Alice Cooper "Satan doesn't play in a rock band, but is the best car salesman".

I get exactly what you are trying to say. You make a lot of sense. I have had the exact same thoughts.

Regarding lyrics, i just like them to be at least somewhat original. Death metal band #392024 singing about gore is tiresome. Maturity is a big bonus too. I respect lyrics dealing with spirituality, physics, mythology or history for example so much more than something thats just screaming with hate.

I was actually reading Lykathea Aflame lyrics the other day and I found myself thinking how good it would be if the lyrics were actually audible in their songs because they're so beautiful. But of course, LA rule the way they are and I wouldn't change their sound for anything. Just' sayin.

Politics, Religion, and War are so popular because those things are what in our face for the most part everyday. It'd only be natural for artists of any genre to focus on these things.

A problem with most of these orignial bands that try some "innovative" lyrical concepts or symbolism usually fall on their face or it justs way too forced

This was pretty much exactly what I was going to say the first time I read the thread topic, even the CNN part (Megadeth kills a lot of their music that way), until I got bored trying to organize my thoughts adequately and just looked for something else in the thread to partake in. Kudos.

True true, but there are a lot of bands that seem to have the same fed-up attitude with the played out shit and are trying to do something different but don't make it obvious, or "forced" as you put it. One example, Peste Noire from France. They are taking Black Metal in a completely different direction while still preserving what makes it Black Metal.

You are correct, "noting" was under-descriptive, but I presumed that following up with a description of "anti-Christian lyrics" as though they exist (because they do) and giving an example would demonstrate that there's an entire large lyrical sub-genre of metal that is dedicated specifically to it.

THIS. I was going to write something similiar myself because there seems to be much this retarded "yeah enough with that stupid satanism and occult, more intelligent poetry about something more deep!!111)". Those topics are intrinsically extremely deep.

On a different note I have now for some time been waiting/looking for preferably Black Metal band(hopefully with Mystifier, Sarcofago etc. influences) coming from africa dealing with darker side of voodoo.

The topics are deep but the majority of bands don't bother exploring any but their most shallow elements.

That could be said of any genre or set of lyrical themes. Hell, even lyrics about gore or satanism can seem deep if they're used to make some sort of interesting point. The 'problem' isn't a matter of needing new symbols, it's a matter of using whatever symbols a band is using well. The thing is, it's never going to be the case that most bands will have good lyrics; it's just not possible. Honestly, I like metal partly because most metal bands don't even pretend to write good lyrics which is better than a lot of other varieties of popular music that tend to produce bands with delusions of eloquence. Therefore, I don't have any problem with bands using the same old symbols if they don't take them too seriously and focus on making good music. Realism tells us that that's the best we can hope for.

I don't think you understand what Ribos was proposing. It's not a bunch of the usual "damn, isn't the Bible hypocritical" and "aren't religious people full of shit" lyrics. It's more along the lines of, "Here's a take on God you don't usually get: he will destroy you, and that's pretty awesome." In effect it's like what many black metal bands do with Satan (portray him as a violent conquerer type) or what Nile does with Egyptian gods. It's not really even about being anti-Christian, I don't think; it's more about exploring the dark underside of that mythos for effect. There are plenty of Christian bands writing songs about God and how powerful he is, but none (that I know of) writing exclusively about how he'll rain plagues and ass-kickings upon you.

I can diggit, and I concur that it could be done well. One of the few interesting plot/mythos developments in Spawn involved portraying Heaven not so much as a great place as just the "other" place, though decidedly less outward in whatever degree of malevolence it garners. I beLIEVE that War of Ages may have God's-a-badass lyrics, but they're writing it from a Christian perspective so its likely very tame, not as bleak as what's been suggested.

how about satan at a keg party in hell, drinkin booze and thrashin like a fuckin idiot?

Now that's original!

I would like this a lot. Wrath of God type stuff is freaking cool to me. Metallica's Creeping Death had a bit of this. I'm really surprised that more band's have not already looked to this type of thing. It just seems so natural.

Not to mention, it worked really well for the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Christian lyrics would be way cooler if instead of their usual "God rulz, worship PRAISE TEH LAWDIIII" stuff, they talked about badass Christian stuff, like killing the unbelievers in the crusades, or torturing people in the inquisition for not following the church, and angels coming to beat the living shit out of you if you're evil. I don't know, portraying God as the destroyer who sends lightning bolts to atheists or something; I mean, if Christian 'metal' lyrics were more...METAL, probably people would like them.

Well daa, ofcorpse. That was one of my points also.

Unfortunately that would beat the purpose of the message these bands wish to relay. (Though Christianity does have the tendency to follow such horrifying trends.)

Personally, I think:

Death metal should go the more satirical route with their gore. For example, if they made a mockery song called "Killed In The Face." (I quite enjoy metal satire.) Even with the satire, it should still keep itself brutal though.

Black metal should find darkness in areas other than Satan and coniferous forests (though I do enjoy the forest theme.) I wouldn't have many suggestions when it comes to that.

Folk/power metal is honestly good the way it is. It needs the epic themes.

Horde did this and that doesn't make them any less bad.


There are some bands that take the "urban darkness" as their main lyrical themes. Cities, restrainment of the individual, drugs, pedophilia, etc. Then again, they're barely black metal. Amesoeurs, Lifelover, Woods of Infinity, Joyless, etc.

Good idea. I take it most of these American Christian bands are Protestant, not Catholic, so they're don't associate with the cool history of Christianity and are mostly interested in "spreading the word", or whatever.
Talk about an untapped wealth of material. "Take back Hagia Sophia!" "Impale the heretic!" "let...them...burn!":)

There are some bands that take the "urban darkness" as their main lyrical themes. Cities, restrainment of the individual, drugs, pedophilia, etc. Then again, they're barely black metal. Amesoeurs, Lifelover, Woods of Infinity, Joyless, etc.[/quote]
I didn't know that. That's actually quite a neat theme right there. I've actually heard Woods Of Infinity; they're good, but very avant-garde for black metal.

Im pretty sure thats Mortifications whole lyrical approach.
That idea is far from being original.
Embrace metal ideals.

Um.. there are plenty of metal bands not using the typical lyrics and over-the-top symbolism that has infested the scene.. Immolation, (later) Death, Neurosis, Origin, Odious Mortem, Wolves in the Throne Room...

While there are certainly a great deal of bands singing typical songs about death, satan, gore and the like, the fact remains that there are plenty more with abstruse subject matter.

We do know what we're talking about here, right? Its called Death Metal for a reason. I hate when people complain about too much satanism or too much gore or too much violence and shit in metal. Besides making quality music, extreme metal is aimed to shock. When a band wants to shock, the obvious lyrical themes would be about satanism, gore, violence, and such. While it might not put the least bit of fright into a seasoned metalhead, the majority of the world is not into death metal obviously and still sees the whole genre of death metal as obscene and disgusting, which is what most bands want. In short, death metal by its very nature will always have these topics as its main themes, even if it is immature and sometimes very stupid.

Even if you absolutely cannot stand any of the normal dm lyrical themes, there are plenty of QUALITY bands that have strayed away from that path. The Chasm, Phlebotomized, Death, Cynic, Atheist, Intestine Baalism, Cenotaph(Mex), Arghoslent (even if they are racist), and many more. I admit, having a lyrical theme like terrorism would evoke much more of a response out of the common metal listener, but the majority of death metal bands don't take into account the average listener. To a common person, hearing about cumming down a beheaded girl's throat would evoke enough of a response to gain some attention. Death Metal will never stray too far away from the gruesome gory lyrics that have been there since the beginning.

Thank you for not reading the OP, I was really getting annoyed with how on-topic everyone was staying.

I read the OP. Some of the comments in the paragraph weren't directed towards it, but all I'm really trying to say is, the majority of death metal will not stray away from the gruesome, mindless imagery, not even a pinch.

That's the point this thread addresses. SepticTomb is stating that these themes have become stale and over used and that metal bands should look for new and fresh ideas to write lyrics about. In the case of death metal, this would mean writing confronting and shocking lyrics that don't deal with mutilation, gore, rape, Satan etc. Can't think of any examples of the top of my head, right now, but just read the rest of the posts that have listed possible alternatives and you'll get the idea.

No, you don't get the thread either. The idea is that new ways to explore those already deep themes should be worked on. I specifically said that there's no need to abandon topics such as satan.

Yeah, my bad. I really suck at getting my point across sometimes. By new themes, I meant a different twist on already existing ones and/or completely original ones.

I forgot to specifically state that and by not, it just looks like I'm saying that old ideas should be completely abandoned. Sorry.