Silencer - Death - Pierce Me
Given my recent review of Diagnose: Lebensgefahr, I thought I'd revisit Nattramn's previous project, the legendary Silencer. This Swedish band only had one album, Death - Pierce Me (Lupus Lounge, 2001; reissued by Autopsy Kitchen, 2006), but it's a touchstone of depressive black metal.In addition to the music's general high quality, the production is surprisingly beefy. It's hardly polished, but the low end has girth and definition that's usually lacking in this kind of stuff. The result feels strangely strong; it's not all "kill me, kill me, kill me."
There's lots of that, of course, but there are also troublingly straight-up NS lyrics: "Crush the Shield of the Hexagon / Condemn the Sons of the Law," and "The Consumption Of Six Million Stars / Cyclonic Winds In Septic Wars / Shed Are The Blood Of Jewmans / Slay The Lion Of Juda / Revive The Night Of Crystals!"
I struggle with the issue of great music by people whose ideologies I find repulsive. Superb though this album is, knowing its lyrics, I would not pay money for it. And I'm surprised that Autopsy Kitchen carries this, since Jeffrey seems like he'd be anti-racist/NS. If you disagree with this interpretation, or if your political/moral compass orients differently, it's available at the label's webstore.
Labels: black metal, clee, sweden
11 Comments:
I think accusing Silencer of any sort of ideology is extremely off-base. The workings of a depressed insane man are not to be held up against political examination.
What you should be more concerned with if you are not sure whether to buy this album or not, is if you're willing to fund music by an insane (at the time at least) person. Looking at the picture inside is one of the few cases where 'Black Metal Imagery' might make that call for you. I would never pay for this, nor would I listen to it for free.
It's true that a person who's "not all there" mentally might not have 100% politics behind the lyrics. But whether the feeling is genuine or not, I'm not sure I need to have such lyrics in my consciousness. And who am I to decide who is insane, and who is not? Sure, this particular guy has been diagnosed as such, but art is full of borderline whackos that make worthwhile contributions. Heresi and Devin Townsend are two examples of mentally unstable people whose music enriches my life, and thus is worth funding.
My rule about ideology I don't endorse in music, is a simpler one. I tolerate any point of view, as long as the way it's put across doesn't insult me. So 99% of the NSBM bands I've heard are out not because I find their ideologies abhorrent but because they are 'shock tactics' as most of these people don't even understand the ramifications of what they're saying. It's just too stupid to consider.
Silencer conceptually is incapable to shock me with politics because I do not value the opinion on social betterment, of a person who wants to die to begin with. It's pretty simple case for me. If someone says 'death to jews and death to me' well... he's got problems. I don't want to give money to people with problems so they feel validated for having problems, that's all. Even worse are Stallagh. Should we pay these people for using mentally insane people? For having the 'vision' of overlaying screamy tracks with a black metal riff? *sigh*
When Devin Townsend goes "...it's all entertainment, folks!" I disagree. Heavy Metal isn't just entertainment for me. But at least his ideology is not put in a way that insults me.
I am not familiar with Heresi.
NS nonsense is definitely a bit of a sore point, but, to some extent at least, black metal's all about hate anyway. NS is just, I suppose, another aspect of that. Basically, I just don't pay attention to the lyrics for those bands (most bands really) and I won't buy the CDs from NS bands. If I like a particular group's music (Graveland or Nokturne, for example), I'll get the CD second-hand. I suppose you can call my views on this hypocritical, but oh well.
I don't think black metal has to be "all about hate." Of course, that seems to be a driving force for many artists, but I think there's often more to it. The sumptuous packaging, the limited edition pressings - I think there's love there.
To me, NS is where vague misanthropy crosses the line from art to reality (if there's such a line). That's because such beliefs have actually been put into practice. As a minority, I feel threatened by this. But I think that I miss out if I cut all art by assholes out of my life. So, like you, maybe I will find it in venues where I don't financially support them.
IO,
Yeah, I agree that BM is not quite all about hate, but, certainly the original inspirations for the genre (Norwegian second wave) are fueled by it. Ultimately, though, we are talking about an art form, as you say.
Hey hey hey
where is the NS in "Crush the shield of the hexagon"??
btw, there is a contradition with his lyrics, cos he says in Taklamakan "the eagle has landed the tamer of storms"
The shield of the hexagon - as in the Star of David. As for the rest of the lyrics, no, they don't always make sense.
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What the hell
I stayed months and months thinking, but i totally forgot about the star
I was taking a look at the lyrics again...
There are no ns parts there
As a misanthropic band, it has nothing with politics
It's all about human massacre
Bands such as Stallagh (now Gulaggh) have the same point.
Can anybody get the "Clones of Zuchon around you chamber"?
Jean Tótola
Jean, I think the above quoted lines about "Shed Are The Blood Of Jewmans" are pretty self-explanatory. The dude is not all there in the head, so I haven't felt the need to parse each and every line.
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