When I was growing up, we were taught is church that Ozzy Osbourne was satanic. I was taught that KISS meant “Kings in Satan’s Service”, and Rush “Rulers under Satan’s Hand”. They missed, of course, some more obvious examples, not being fans of rock music. A good example would be the Stones “In her Majesties Satanic Service”.
Yet we have grown far past the suggestive, into the explicit “selling” of evil and hatred. We have grown into what can only be called a death cult. Death metal is a type of music, and it is filled with anger, hate, viciousness, and violence.
This music is mentally sick, and it inspires mental illness in those who consume it. We keep seeing how “right wingers” might inspire some frail mind to violence. This is, as usual, the opposite of the truth.
We saw, quite recently, death threats issued against Sarah Palin by left wingers, after she was falsely accused of somehow inspiring Loughner. Leftists are people who NEED someone to hate, and the only way they can manage it is by pretending someone else is a hater, then venting all their pent up aggression on them. Keith Olberman is vicious. Glenn Beck very explicitly rejects ad hominem, and builds his cases with care and diligence.
What we need to be worried about, is the nihilism advocated in this sort of song, of which there are thousands of example. Some of our youth listen exclusively to this sort of crap, and in my considered view it will very literally warp the foundations of how they view the world. Virtually none of them will grow to practice literal violence, but all of them will be less open and giving than they would have been, less committed to participatory democracy and community involvement, less able as parents, and less charitable generally.
These are the sorts of results that take decades to manifest, but which are very hard to undo once they are present. My hope and my optimism is based on the fact that the people who listen to this sort of thing have certain operative assumptions about the nature of the world. This would include pessimism about the future, atheism, and a tendency to indulge in self pity and resentment. If a movement can be created which counters these tendencies, the effects can be reversed.
Can you feel that?
Ah, shit
Drowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems what’s left of my human side
Is slowly changing in me
(Will you give in to me?)
Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes (oh no)
There is no turning back now
You’ve woken up the demon in me
[Chorus:]
Get up, come on get down with the sickness [x3]
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me
I can see inside you, the sickness is rising
Don’t try to deny what you feel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems that all that was good has died
And is decaying in me
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems you’re having some trouble
In dealing with these changes
Living with these changes (oh no)
The world is a scary place
Now that you’ve woken up the demon in me
[Chorus]
(And when I dream) [x4]
No mommy, don’t do it again
Don’t do it again
I’ll be a good boy
I’ll be a good boy, I promise
No mommy don’t hit me
Why did you have to hit me like that, mommy?
Don’t do it, you’re hurting me
Why did you have to be such a bitch
Why don’t you,
Why don’t you just fuck off and die
Why can’t you just fuck off and die
Why can’t you just leave here and die
Never stick your hand in my face again bitch
FUCK YOU
I don’t need this shit
You stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore
How would you like to see how it feels mommy
Here it comes, get ready to die
[Chorus (last line changed to “Madness has now come over me”)]