BastardHead wrote:
So I only just now found out that House of Atreus has a new album out (From the Madness of Ixion). On first listen it sounds basically the same as The Spear and the Ichor that Follows, but that's a-ok with me because I loved that album. It's really nice to hear Arghoslent riffs without them being aggressively racist at me.
praey wrote:
Man, I thought that new House of Atreus was garbage. Sure the riffing style is the same as Arghoslent, but there is a night and day difference in quality. On first listen actually I mildly enjoyed it just based on the galloping energy, on repeat listens I realized just how terribly dull and unimaginative the riffs are. I listened to it back to back with Hornets of the Pogrom, the difference in quality is like the difference between banging your hot girlfriend versus masturbating quietly in an empty room.
What's even funnier is that, despite their "Arghoslent without the racism" schtick, the band themselves are actually supporters of Arghoslent and have been pictured wearing their merch. So although they don't seem to be racist, they still openly support a racist band.
BastardHead wrote:
I think it's obvious that his point was that trying to sound like Arghoslent is in no way the same thing as agreeing with the bullshit Arghoslent says. No reason an entire stylistic approach should be tainted just because one of the pioneers was full of shitty people.
I have never listened to a single Arghoslent song, and I plan on keeping it that way. White supremacy (and National Socialism) should not be supported in metal. Unity is needed in metal, not segregation (I severely hope that message gets to everyone in Arghoslent somehow). I don't entirely believe someone liking the music of Arghoslent automatically means they instantly share Arghoslent's beliefs by default, though.
I do recall reading many people commenting on how they liked the music Arghoslent made, but refused to buy their music due to their refusal to support white supremacists. In turn, they wished there was a non-racist alternative, as there was no non-racist alternative to Arghoslent musically when Arghoslent started getting recognized in the metal underground. They thought it was unfair there was no non-racist alternative. Then one comes along, and people say, "Yeah, but they had to be aware of and acknowledge the sound of a racist band, thus they have no problem with their belief system."
Which brings me to Christian metal.
I know a very large percentage of Christian metal bands absolutely refuse to acknowledge secular metal in any way. I also know a very large percentage of Christian metal fans refuse to support secular metal in any way, and some even openly slander Christian metal bands they like if they support secular metal (I remember reading vitriolic comments towards the lead singer of Mortification when he was seen wearing merch of secular metal bands).
I can understand why these people would refuse to listen to a band with Satanic lyrics, like Deicide, or even anti-religion bands like Immolation, but a very large percentage of Christian metal fans even refuse to listen to songs by secular metal bands with songs that have lyrics that could be taken as Christian. Secular metal bands such as Devastation, Soulfly, and Solitude Aeturnus have assorted songs in their catalog that can be taken as Christian, and these people even refuse to listen to those individual songs. It has to be certified Christian, or no go.
Speaking of which, I wonder if there has ever been a Christian metal band who could be considered Deicide worship (hah!). I also wonder what the Christian metal audience familiar with Deicide musically (amongst those who only listen to Christian bands, but somehow know about secular ones) said about it (presuming such a band has ever existed).
I know that the overwhelming majority of people here refuse to support Christian metal in any way, but let's just say there was a Christian metal band in a situation comparable to the "I wish there was a band that sounded just like Arghoslent, but were not a racist band" situation.
Here are the circumstances in this hypothetical situation...
A Christian metal band comes along. There is no band that sounds remotely like them, beforehand or at the present moment. Many secular metal listeners who absolutely refuse to listen to Christian metal hear them one way or another. They hear them and say, "How come the only band that sounds remotely like this has to be a Christian band? Why can't there be a secular band that sounds like them? That's not fair. I hope a band can steal their riffs and melodies and puts the music to non-Christian lyrics."
Then comes a secular band who can be called a clone of that Christian metal band with no prior non-Christian alternative; musically sounding identical, but with no religious lyrics whatsoever. I wouldn't doubt a good percentage of the secular metal audience would probably say, "Too bad they apparently have to ape their sound from a bunch of Jesus fanatics. That means these guys have no problem with supporting Christian bands, and are more than likely Christians themselves, even if they have never openly said so. Therefore, I refuse to support this band as well."