Slayer And Metallica Dominate Soldiers' Playlists

U.K.'s Guardian.co.uk reports: It was a throwaway statistic in an article about the heavy metal band Slayer that got Jonathan Pieslak thinking. During the Gulf war, he read, some 40% of the band's fan mail came from soldiers stationed in the Middle East.

Professor Pieslak is a music theorist at the City College of New York. Over the past few years he has interviewed U.S. soldiers about the music they listen to and – more importantly — what they listen to it for.

You wouldn't expect much Chris de Burgh or Barry White to come floating over the barbed wire fences around military camps in Iraq or Afghanistan, and Pieslak's research confirms the hunch. The playlists are dominated by Slayer, Metallica, Eminem and others.

What's interesting about the work is not so much which bands soldiers are drawn to, but the extraordinary terms they use to describe the power the music has over them. Some talk about tracks turning them into monsters, making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.

Read the entire article from Guardian.co.uk.

Click on player here to hear Sergeant First Class CJ Grisham talking about Metallica, which they played from a sound system rigged to their armored vehicle.

Comments

[Baby Joel]

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part:

making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.

Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

[shreducator]

This is just dandy.....I hope Tipper Gore don't get wind of this...

[thedarkblues06]

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

That is if you can understand metal lyrics, HAHAHAHA...

On topic, this doesn't surprise me. It's an ultimate psychological therapy and motivator, kind of like when people play metal or violent rap when they go to work out...

This kind of therapy is why I will always love music.

[thedarkblues06]

thedarkblues06 wrote:

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

That is if you can understand metal lyrics, HAHAHAHA...

On topic, this doesn't surprise me. It's an ultimate psychological therapy and motivator, kind of like when people play metal or violent rap when they go to work out...

This kind of therapy is why I will always love music.

And this kind of therapy (before anyone gives metal a bad rep) is extended to ALL music, hence why the Mozart playing notion when we were kids...

All music provides all kinds of affects on our psychii. It's almost like a drug...and it's one that I can't get off of.

[godberry]

i don't know about metallica and slayer making me commit inhumane acts, but metal makes great music to play in the background while i'm busting heads on killzone 2.

[GS LEAD 5]

shreducator wrote:

This is just dandy.....I hope Tipper Gore don't get wind of this...

Lol.....
Does that mean Monopoly makes us millionaires?

[-LAW-]

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

Basically why I like metal lyrics.

[ExtremeMetalFTW]

Metallica was very anti-war, so that's kinda ironic.

I listen to far more violent and brutal stuff, and I don't get the urge to kill people, so it's all in their heads.

[Pagan_Poetry]

The whole inhuman acts part, whatever floats your boat, but I personally dont find that lyrics affect how I think. I find songs emotionally fitting, like if I'm down I'll listen to something more relaxing or sad etc, but I've never found that lyrics changed the way I felt about things.
Weird. Meh. Different effects for different people.
-Pagan Poetry-

[Styx]

Mah, this is bullsh!t.Metal lyrics are not always about bad things,beside it depends on the guy that listen to it and every music has it influence for bad or good.So dont come b!tching on metal cause Metal still rules!!

[Nirvanarien]

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

So basically because the stereo type metal song is about Death and Gore u just assume they all actually are and dislike them all at once?

U probably haven't listend to a lot of Metal yet you say you dislike it all, seems rather strange to me...

[wouldyakindly]

ExtremeMetalFTW wrote:

Metallica was very anti-war, so that's kinda ironic.

I listen to far more violent and brutal stuff, and I don't get the urge to kill people, so it's all in their heads.

A fair point, but the idea that they're actively using music to turn themselves into "inhuman monsters" is both chilling and not why the music was written.

I'd recommend a nice dose of Rick Astley, but perhaps that wouldn't win many wars XD.

[Baby Joel]

Nirvanarien wrote:

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

So basically because the stereo type metal song is about Death and Gore u just assume they all actually are and dislike them all at once?

U probably haven't listend to a lot of Metal yet you say you dislike it all, seems rather strange to me...

Yeah, don't pretend like you know what I listen to. I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

[uvq]

Disposable Heroes..

[wouldyakindly]

Nirvanarien wrote:

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

So basically because the stereo type metal song is about Death and Gore u just assume they all actually are and dislike them all at once?

U probably haven't listend to a lot of Metal yet you say you dislike it all, seems rather strange to me...

You're right, it's unfair to stereotype genres, but considering the elitism of many metal fans I'm willing to bet you're no better. Ever given indie/dance/hiphop/jazz a chance?

[Mike_Atherton]

If i wanted to commit inhuamn acts i tihnk id listen to something i really really hate as it wud irritatem e so much id want to kill...though it could go the other way and i kill myself, like i wanted to on holdiay when I had to listen to the same rap songs every time we were in the car and the radio was on...argh....that darn holidayi n song....

however I do agree on the metal to get motivated point, I know my brother tends to listen tio Slipknot whenhe works out and I usually stick Machine Head or soemthing on

[SeveredSurvival]

If i was in the war I'd listen to Death, Eminem, Opeth, Lil Jon or The Faceless.

[Dopey_Trout]

So is this another one of these bandwagons I keep hearing about?

[Nirvanarien]

@Baby Joel
oke oke, so i was wrong about you knowing Metal excuse me sir, everbody makes mistakes. Well still its not like al lyrics are about death and gore. i mean listen to a Wintersun song for instance the songs that are about Death are not like murder etc etc but about life or about the singers strugle against TBC. Just to name a band....

@Woulyakindly
I don't get your point but to awnser your last question; Before i got into Metal i listend to Hip-Hop for quite some years that was. Some jazz i like but the more obsecure random typ of jazz i don't really like even tho it takes great musician ship to play all those weird tempo's n stuff :P And i also like traditional Folk music (the nordic kind) and am a big Classical music fan. does that awnser your question?

[Shinsen88]

Yeah, this is gonna turn into a scandal... *sigh*

[B455GU174R]

Soldiers have good musical tastes...

[DZCunuck]

Makes sense. Nothing better than a little Figh Fire With Fire when bustin heads so that we can conquer Iraq and Afghanistan and Reign in Blood.

And the metal makes you violent argument (or that it raises the propensity to commit violence) is bull crap. Violence has existed for a long time and extremely violent and inhuman acts of war have been committed well before the invention of metal or rap. I bet you that during Vietnam the US soldiers listened to a lot of ,what is now, Classic Rock (Cream, Stones, Floyd). Lets label those bands as 'bad' too than. Oh and during WWII, i bet a lot of German SS troops really enjoyed listening to classical music in between committing despicable acts of violence and cruelty. This must make classical/orchestral music 'violent' too. Plus, this theory doesn't even account for the existence of ethnic (non-anglophone) music. I doubt that a lot of Afghan or Iraqi militants break out God Hates Us all before assaulting a US military outpost.

Crap research that knew the results it wanted and needed well before the study had even began.

[ILIKEMUSICALOT]

ExtremeMetalFTW wrote:

Metallica was very anti-war, so that's kinda ironic.

I listen to far more violent and brutal stuff, and I don't get the urge to kill people, so it's all in their heads.

Exactly. They're basically just using the music as an excuse to kind of help them cope with the fact that they are actually killing people.

[the_hoodster]

ExtremeMetalFTW wrote:

Metallica was very anti-war, so that's kinda ironic.

I listen to far more violent and brutal stuff, and I don't get the urge to kill people, so it's all in their heads.

I think if you're surrounded by war and death, you'd be able to find it in songs if you looked hard enough.

[JFRules]

Killing Fields!!!!!

Lol that song going in my head phones with a AK in my hands not sure about this lol

[vIsIbleNoIsE]

metal doesn't make you violent, but it sure as hell feels good when you're already violent. or in this case, forced to be violent.

[Kinseh]

this makes me feel very safe... :\

[RX120D]

I think that it's good that they're able to use music to hold on to their sanity. When you're in a firefight, Metal would probably keep you on your toes whereas softer music wouldn't help. It probably kicks the adrenaline levels way up having some aggressive music in your ears while you're being shot at. If I was out there, I would be doing the same damn thing.

[RX120D]

vIsIbleNoIsE wrote:

metal doesn't make you violent, but it sure as hell feels good when you're already violent. or in this case, forced to be violent.

+1

[Melkord]

I think this is the same concept as athletes or weight lifters. I played football through high school and early college. In the locker room we would play rap/metal, depending on who got to the cd player first, and before games when the team would walk the field I always had something along the lines of Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God, etc. in my cd player.

Then after my football days were over, I got a job at a gym, and I would close every night, and me and a few other guys would work out after I got off. I had a couple of Parkway drive and All that Remains albums there specifically for that.

Metal isn't the only type of music I listen to. I am a huge blues, and blues based rock fan, but there is something about metal/rap (and I normally can't stand rap) that just works for that mental pump up I guess is a good way to say it.

[acdcfan1556]

vIsIbleNoIsE wrote:

metal doesn't make you violent, but it sure as hell feels good when you're already violent. or in this case, forced to be violent.

couldn't have said it better myself

[Suav Nitebeest]

The image of soldiers blasting away insurgents to "Angel of Death" is a pretty disturbing one. Heavy music can definitely give you quite an adrenaline rush, which is why I always blast Helmet or Dillinger Escape Plan when I'm running.

[Genghis_khan]

It would be more impressive if someone listen to Tom Jones to be able to do inhuman acts...

[Arthur Curry]

my friend whose uncle is in the war was telling me about this the other day, how they just blast metallica and shit in order to kill people. also because apparently the other side can't stand it.

it's really ****ed up if you ask me. they're basically using music to override their conscience. if you told any of those artists that this is what their music is being used for, how do you think they would react?

[t.mcgrew]

Back in 90-91 when I was in over there we did the same kind of thing. But we had tape players, cd's were just making it big and they scratch to easy.
We would strap boom box speakers on the hummers and blow through what ever the patrol was that day. It was lots of fun at night. We would put on NVG's, turn off all the lights and scare the crap out of the rag heads. Anymore hard music ( metal, rock, rap )and conflicts go hand in hand. If it keeps them up, ready and alive go forward and rock the dump!

[Lemoninfluence]

They're simply using music to pump themselves up. they could be listening to anything to do this.

this just happens to be their reaction to listening to those songs

checked

[Black Ox]

Arthur Curry wrote:

my friend whose uncle is in the war was telling me about this the other day, how they just blast metallica and shit in order to kill people. also because apparently the other side can't stand it.

it's really ****ed up if you ask me. they're basically using music to override their conscience. if you told any of those artists that this is what their music is being used for, how do you think they would react?

Who knows.This is some crazy stuff,but I think its kind of cool.No different then a pep rally tho.

[dudemanwhoathe1]

ExtremeMetalFTW wrote:

Metallica was very anti-war, so that's kinda ironic.

I listen to far more violent and brutal stuff, and I don't get the urge to kill people, so it's all in their heads.

yes they were very anti-war. The only thing that bothers me is that people think the song Master of Puppets is a song thats anti-war, but its really only about cocaine usage, hence "shop your breakfast on a mirror".

[silent caution]

music just generally pumps people up, to do whatever sports, workout,in this case war...id rather have the troops ready to do "inhuman things" then not be ready at all

[AdamDK]

wouldyakindly wrote:I'd recommend a nice dose of Rick Astley, but perhaps that wouldn't win many wars XD.

In the event of WWiii ever breaking out, we should infiltrate enemy camps and play Rick Astley, it will softne them up, the BAM! Strike them.

[Barrier_of_Pain]

They Need To Be Listnening to GWAR

[trashbeast]

dudemanwhoathe1 wrote:

ExtremeMetalFTW wrote:

Metallica was very anti-war, so that's kinda ironic.

I listen to far more violent and brutal stuff, and I don't get the urge to kill people, so it's all in their heads.

yes they were very anti-war. The only thing that bothers me is that people think the song Master of Puppets is a song thats anti-war, but its really only about cocaine usage, hence "shop your breakfast on a mirror".

who thinks that, i've never heard anyone say that :P

[Pagan_Poetry]

Barrier_of_Pain wrote:

They Need To Be Listnening to GWAR

If they did, the war could get alot messier, ifyaknowwhatImean

Imagine people having Good Charlotte on their ipods for helping them through the war. That would just be strange.

[Arthur Curry]

if they wanted to "get pumped up" they could throw on some jock jams. this is to help them kill people. it just sucks man, it's the exact opposite of what music should be intended for.

[rtl999]

Well Hitler was a big fan of Wagner (a classical composer) and no one says classical makes you want to kill people.

[PerilousMangoo]

has anyone considered that soldiers just have good taste in music and arent inhuman killing machines, they are people?

[ffaf_kick_ass]

i suppose metal is kinda the modern age vietnam music.

[classicrocker01]

Melkord wrote:

I think this is the same concept as athletes or weight lifters. I played football through high school and early college. In the locker room we would play rap/metal, depending on who got to the cd player first, and before games when the team would walk the field I always had something along the lines of Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God, etc. in my cd player.

Then after my football days were over, I got a job at a gym, and I would close every night, and me and a few other guys would work out after I got off. I had a couple of Parkway drive and All that Remains albums there specifically for that.

Metal isn't the only type of music I listen to. I am a huge blues, and blues based rock fan, but there is something about metal/rap (and I normally can't stand rap) that just works for that mental pump up I guess is a good way to say it.

This. Right before I get on my bull at a rodeo, I listen to Metallica, Megadeth, Lamb Of God, or Slipknot. It's not the lyrics, it's just the fast, aggresive riffs and feel that get you pumped up.

Arthur Curry wrote:

if they wanted to "get pumped up" they could throw on some jock jams. this is to help them kill people. it just sucks man, it's the exact opposite of what music should be intended for.

I can't stand jock jams. It just makes me want to turn it off. I imagine there's many people the same way.

[NoInnerKind]

Nothing sets the mood for combat like listening to some Warzone.

[randomdude]

When I lift weights and box, I love listening to metal. Nothing gets me more pumped up than Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica, etc. The best song to go crazy to is "Take No Prisoners" by Megadeth, it's makes me roid rage.

[cotton3434]

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

Slayer and Metallica have some pretty shitty lyrics. Don't judge metal just by them - there are far better lyricists and bands; Slayer and Metallica are just among (if not) the most popular. I can definitely see why soldiers would listen to them though.

...Meh, if I were in the Middle East, I'd be listening to stuff like Machine Head, Hacride, Strapping Young Lad, etc. Basically has the same affect (adrenaline), but because of the music, not "kill 'em all" lyrics.

[RockInPeaceDime]

thedarkblues06 wrote:

thedarkblues06 wrote:

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

That is if you can understand metal lyrics, HAHAHAHA...

On topic, this doesn't surprise me. It's an ultimate psychological therapy and motivator, kind of like when people play metal or violent rap when they go to work out...

This kind of therapy is why I will always love music.

And this kind of therapy (before anyone gives metal a bad rep) is extended to ALL music, hence why the Mozart playing notion when we were kids...

All music provides all kinds of affects on our psychii. It's almost like a drug...and it's one that I can't get off of.

It's not music, it's rhythms. We're inherently attracted to rhythm; interestingly enough, when people have severe strokes (to the point where they have to relearn how to swallow basically), one of the few things that's never lost is a sense of rhythm.

[pwrmax]

cotton3434 wrote:

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

Slayer and Metallica have some pretty shitty lyrics. Don't judge metal just by them - there are far better lyricists and bands; Slayer and Metallica are just among (if not) the most popular. I can definitely see why soldiers would listen to them though.

...Meh, if I were in the Middle East, I'd be listening to stuff like Machine Head, Hacride, Strapping Young Lad, etc. Basically has the same affect (adrenaline), but because of the music, not "kill 'em all" lyrics.

Seek and destroyyyyy!!!!!

[Intricacy13]

Yeah, don't pretend like you know what I listen to. I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

FAIL.

If i had to kill people for a living, i'd ****ing listen to SLAYER

[Intricacy13]

Seek and destroyyyyy!!!!!

yeeaaaaa!!!!!

[Uber Man]

I would have though rap would be the most listened to one, thank god its metal

[Frusciante2323]

this must be why we havent found osama and got out of there

[LazyLatinoRocke]

I would listen to Exodus if I wanted the urge to kill.

[niel9802]

CHEMICAL WARFAREEEE!

[JD Blue Venom]

metal soothens my anger, i had a bad work day and a good playlist of all things 90s angry metal made me all peaceful again, good job im not in the army then :P

DZCunuck wrote:
I doubt that a lot of Afghan or Iraqi militants break out God Hates Us all before assaulting a US military outpost.

you never know!

[aig91]

Checked

[rickyj]

metallica and slayer should never be used in the same sentence as ****ing eminem

[TatarSalad2]

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.

Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

Such a stereotype.

[The Virtuoso]

Pansies, they need some Destroyer 666, Revenge, Conqueror, Angel Corpse, Holocausto in there. And to the people bashing metal and it's lyrical content, grow up; metal has some extremely talented musicians in its ranks, as do all genres.

[s-o-u-l-f-l-y]

To me this is BS seriously the emotional power music has over you is not that strong. Psycology in general is a wide area and so is music...There could be a million other reasons why soldiers feel that way when listening to metal...Most likely it's a simple trigger.

[Slash181]

eggsandham2 wrote:

[b]

Yeah, don't pretend like you know what I listen to. I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

u named mostly shit bands...yeh iron maiden are good... but like maybe try listening to Shadows fall, L.O.G, K.S.E, Stone sour, slipknot even.....

[MotörHeadFan22]

They've got my support for sure now!

[pearlJam_31490]

shreducator wrote:

This is just dandy.....I hope Tipper Gore don't get wind of this...

Bringing up tipper gore was a mistake!

[Sassafrasquatch]

what happened to just listening to Creedence in war zones?!

[jetfuel495]

Slash181 wrote:

eggsandham2 wrote:

[b]

Yeah, don't pretend like you know what I listen to. I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

u named mostly shit bands...yeh iron maiden are good... but like maybe try listening to Shadows fall, L.O.G, K.S.E, Stone sour, slipknot even.....

You best be trollin :P

Anyway, in that one documentary about the war in Iraq they were talking about how when soldiers would go out into combat they'd play Bodies by Drowning Pool to get soldiers in the mood to fight. So this doesn't surprise me.

[Soloist96]

This is messed up

[limpidgreen345]

Baby Joel wrote:

Yeah, don't pretend like you know what I listen to. I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

That's something you don't hear around here very often... might come as a shock to some but not everybody listens to metal...

[Kevy Absolution]

Aaaaaand now you people know why I support neither wars nor metal.

[a drummer]

These comments just go to show how many people use stereotypes on this site. The song Master of Puppets, which CAN be translated in war, is actually an epic song about cocain and drug addiction. "Taste me you will see, more is all you need" Hhaha god damn, if any of you have ever been in the shitty white situation, this is the song. But thank god no more of that anymore.

[ZombieDuck]

This is so stupid, I listen to all kinds of Death Metal from Scandinavia and America and I don't want to kill anyone. I am a happy, sociable, and for the most part normal person with hardcore taste. and FYI, I HAVE given rap/pop/indie/techno/country and WHATEVER a chance and I like most of it, I just PAY for metal, however. Stupid article.

[DANZIG767]

Baby Joel wrote:

Nirvanarien wrote:

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/

So basically because the stereo type metal song is about Death and Gore u just assume they all actually are and dislike them all at once?

U probably haven't listend to a lot of Metal yet you say you dislike it all, seems rather strange to me...

Yeah, don't pretend like you know what I listen to. I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

HOW CAN YOU HATE IRON MAIDEN?!!!?? theyre one of the best bands ever, EVER! \m/

[Hamham272]

RX120D wrote:

I think that it's good that they're able to use music to hold on to their sanity. When you're in a firefight, Metal would probably keep you on your toes whereas softer music wouldn't help. It probably kicks the adrenaline levels way up having some aggressive music in your ears while you're being shot at. If I was out there, I would be doing the same damn thing.

Pretty sure they wouldn't be listening to it while in combat...

[theAccursed]

Apart from the article being mostly about rap, has the US military paid the artists for the use of their music which would normally infringe copyrights (ie; playing it willy-nilly to large crowds)? Or do the record labels just prostitute them out?

Joe Strummer wept when he heard the soldiers played 'Rock the Casbah' before their bombing runs in the first Gulf War, and I doubt Rage Against the Machine would like their music being used in the torture chambers of Guantanamo, so if the artists don't have control over their music, who does?

On a side note, I was reading James Hetfield gave a Baghdadi metal band one of his guitars after meeting them at the airport after they became refugees. I can't remember the band's name though...

[Mootallica]

Its an interesting read, but I can imagine what it would do.

Im a big Metal fan. I listen to metal, not the lyrics, but the guitarwork. The fast, thumping rhythms, whether it be with the guitar, bass, drums or the combinations of the three, really get my blood moving and get the adrenaline flowing.

These fast rhythms pumping through would be a vital asset for soldiers fighting a war. It gets them moving, keeps them alert, and plus, what would you rather overall, having to listen to music you don't like, or choosing the music that you want to listen to which you will perform best.

Remember, this is a soldiers personal choice of music which is going to help him through a situation. There's nothing wrong with soldiers listening to rap or metal, or classical, or blues, or whatever their preferred genre of music is, to get psyched up.

[Mootallica]

theAccursed wrote:
Apart from the article being mostly about rap, has the US military paid the artists for the use of their music which would normally infringe copyrights (ie; playing it willy-nilly to large crowds)? Or do the record labels just prostitute them out?

It's not the US Military making soldiers listen to music. It is the soldiers choosing which music they want to freely listen to. The article is just highlighting that most soldiers listen to Rap/Metal as a form of motivation in war.

[theAccursed]

Yep, I see that point.

The other other one is that, in the fine print, it's illegal to play music you've purchased for yourself to a large crowd - like if you play it in a restaurant (without some sort of special deal with the label). So, what's the difference between playing music to an audience of diners and an audience of civilians with some guerilla's in their midst during a tank or helicopter attack. The guy in Apocalypse Now could get away with it because I imagine Wagner's copyright on Flight of the Valkyries had expired, but where's Lars asking for his cut in this situation?

[limpidgreen345]

Not a lawyer but here's how I understand it:

There's nothing illegal about, say, having a party at your house and turning on one of your CD's... That's well within the boundaries... when they talk about "public performance" for music and movies and such generally they mean they want royalties for playing songs at "real" events... sports teams, political rallies and such... they all pay for license to play songs.

[theAccursed]

Went a bit off-topic, but I found my answer (the difference is that you use music to make money from people coming to your restaurant, whereas a tank captain isn't making any money from the people he's playing his music too).

And I listen to metal when I'm washing the dishes, but that's because I like it and not because it makes me wash dishes any faster (though it probably does). So I'd listen to metal if I was a soldier too, but that's because I like it. I doubt if any soldier who liked Britney Spears stopped liking her and started listening to Cannibal Corpse when he set foot in a warzone.

But I found that musicians aren't into their stuff being used for torture (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28144557/)

[limpidgreen345]

There was a little bit of a fuss I read about... John McCain's campaign was playing "Barracuda" when Sarah Palin would speak and Heart wanted them to stop because they didn't believe in this or that or blah blah blah, the point being the McCain campaign AND the Xcel Energy Center where they had the convention both had paid the proper fees.

[limpidgreen345]

And to beat the topic COMPLETELY to death:

To perform or display a work "publicly" means--

to perform or display it at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered;

to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance or display of the work to a place specified by clause (1) or to the public, by means of any device or process, whether the members of the public capable of receiving the performance or display receive it in the same place or in separate places and at the same time or at different times.

(Title 17, U.S.C., Copyrights, Section 101, Definitions)

[MonsterOfRock]

I always thought metal music was a vent for aggression and not motivation for future aggression. But then again many soldiers are ****ed in the head. (Im sorry, but listenning to 'Dispossable Heroes' to be inspired for a killing spree is like sayin ur the biggest idiot in town, as that song is freakin anti-war.)

[Captain Sadler]

Black Ox
Who knows.This is some crazy stuff,but I think its kind of cool.No different then a pep rally though.

Well said. That's exactly what it is, it's just about getting pumped up to do a physically demanding and dangerous job. I mean, seriously, who would listen to "More Than Words" for working out? It's about rythms. That's it.

And as far as Metallica having anti-war lyrics, so did CCR, and that didn't stop the guys in Vietnam from enjoying them over in combat areas.

IT'S NOT ABOUT LYRICS!!

[theAccursed]

There's no such thing as an 'antiwar' anything for soldiers. They watch Platoon in bootcamp for Thor's sake! He bangs on about that topic for a while in Jarhead (the book).

I've come to the conclusion that this article is a beat-up on metal, especially considering that rap is as big over there, if not bigger.

[muel333]

This just goes to show the shear power music can have. It allows you to indulge in sound which can be both positive and negative

[PuddleJumper11]

Not really surprising at all. I listen to these guys when I run ( I Do XC) and I swear to God that I can run a whole lot longer and faster while I listen to music. Awesome that the troops are listening to these guys though!

[cal1]

That's badass. Not surprising either, Slayer isn't exactly relaxing...

[devilex121]

cal1 wrote:

That's badass. Not surprising either, Slayer isn't exactly relaxing...

i second that XD

[GenerationKILL]

/insert badass metal band they should be listening to instead here.

/insert flaming and long drawn out opinion about all the other posts here.

[hendrix n page]

Hmm Slayer makes me do inhuman things Ie bash my head on the table till the sound goes away.
Don't know why the soldiers would want to do that.
Do they listen to One?

[RUSTDOGG666]

The playlists are dominated by Slayer, Metallica, Eminem and others.

I'm sorry but Eminem doesn't really fit in with Metallica and Slayer. Totally different type of music there.

[ZeGuitarist]

Checked.

[007008]

Considering that I have actually lived/live in a war zone and in my teens at the time,and that my choice of music consisted of Slayer,Metallica,and various other metal acts that have been smuggled in the late 80 and early 90',I have turned out all right...so metal does not make inhuman monsters...We are monsters.
When your bombarded basically 24/7 and you've been delegated to pickup the injured and the remains of what were your neighbors,your friends teachers...And If that does not make you a headcase,well then metal wont either.

[Skuzzmo]

Baby Joel I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

Must be that Billy Joel, The Killers, Buckethead, Rise Against, Serj Tankian and Chicago music you're listening to that's making you hate so much...

But on a serious note, hating all that music?!?! what can I say.....unlucky.

[livewire76]

Here we go again. Lets blame music for making people capable of comitting "inhuman acts". Jesus, it's such a tired argument. People capable of doing such things didn't suddenly become monsters from listening to music, they are already messed up in the head. Or just stupid. For a start Metallica and Megadeth are anti-war! This story is just another attempt at sensationalism and naive to boot. Anyone with half a brain will see right through it i hope. Metal up brain dead journalists a55es.

[Viking_Blood85]

well i suggest you all stop bitching about it....i am a soldier and i am currently in iraq, so what if i listen to metal!! I FUCKIN LOVE SLAYER, METALLICA, NILE, DEATH, CANNIBAL CORPSE and all those bands you all hate so much, because it turns my adrenaline up and hels me more alert.

I am the Infantry.
I am my country's strength in war.
Her deterrent in peace.
I am the heart of the fight...
wherever, whenever.
I carry America's faith and honor
against her enemies.
I am the Queen of the Battle.
I am what my country expects me to be...
the best trained solider in the world.
In the race for victory
I am swift, determined, and courageous,
armed with a fierce will to win.
Never will I betray my country's trust.
Always I fight on...
through the foe,
to the objective,
to triumph over all,
If necessary, I will fight to my death.
By my steadfast courage,
I have won more than 200 years of freedom.
I yield not to weakness,
to hunger,
to cowardice,
to fatigue,
to superior odds,
for I am mentally tough, physically strong,
and morally straight.
I forsake not...
my country,
my mission
my comrades,
my sacred duty.
I am relentless.
I am always there,
now and forever.
I Am The Infantry!
Follow Me!

[ShaDoW0lf]

"And this kind of therapy (before anyone gives metal a bad rep) is extended to ALL music, hence why the Mozart playing notion when we were kids...All music provides all kinds of affects on our psychii. It's almost like a drug...and it's one that I can't get off of."
Actually, current evidence suggests that Mozart has no benefit at all. The Mozart Effect is a highly debated issue with lots of contradictory studies.

"I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc."
Seems like you hate a lot. Must be your non-metal music.

As any first year psych student knows, this does not constitute causal evidence. More likely, many soldiers have been desensitized by training and action, and the metal is just a symptom of this.
Just because something seems to make sense doesn't mean it's accurate.

[Baby Joel]

Skuzzmo wrote:

Baby Joel I've given metal a chance. I hate Metallica, hate Megadeth, hate 3 Inches of Blood, hate Slayer, hate Children of Bodom, hate Nile, hate Gorgoroth, hate Iron Maiden, hate Opeth, hate Behemoth, hate Testament, etc etc etc.

Must be that Billy Joel, The Killers, Buckethead, Rise Against, Serj Tankian and Chicago music you're listening to that's making you hate so much...

But on a serious note, hating all that music?!?! what can I say.....unlucky.

I do like Mastodon, and I love all the music of metal (Particularly Nile's complexity), its just the vocals and lyrics that throw me off.
I'm very picky with my music though.

[Baby Joel]

I must agree however that the music fof metal is really good at getting me pumped. Whenever I have to go running or do some labour or something, I'll usually listen to as heavy stuff as I can handle. Really good for motivation.

[jannick]

pretty funny considering many other test and reseaches have pointed out that people get more happy and relaxed listening to heavy metal and hard rock. though all tests suggests to rise your focus

[jannick]

music that would make me angry and do terrible stuff:
ricky martin.
classical.
and most of all: guy rappers that sings and raps about emotions toward girls. f**k 50cent. EmineM rules.

[ESPVpr104]

i was scrolling down and caught that someone said "Disposable Heroes", and i say FUCK YEAH!

[smalRaptor]

This ain't kids music... This is VIOLENCE! VIOLENCE! Fuck yeah. Big Red One, hooah.

[smalRaptor]

Viking_Blood85 wrote:

well i suggest you all stop bitching about it....i am a soldier and i am currently in iraq, so what if i listen to metal!! I FUCKIN LOVE SLAYER, METALLICA, NILE, DEATH, CANNIBAL CORPSE and all those bands you all hate so much, because it turns my adrenaline up and hels me more alert.

I am the Infantry.
I am my country's strength in war.
Her deterrent in peace.
I am the heart of the fight...
wherever, whenever.
I carry America's faith and honor
against her enemies.
I am the Queen of the Battle.
I am what my country expects me to be...
the best trained solider in the world.
In the race for victory
I am swift, determined, and courageous,
armed with a fierce will to win.
Never will I betray my country's trust.
Always I fight on...
through the foe,
to the objective,
to triumph over all,
If necessary, I will fight to my death.
By my steadfast courage,
I have won more than 200 years of freedom.
I yield not to weakness,
to hunger,
to cowardice,
to fatigue,
to superior odds,
for I am mentally tough, physically strong,
and morally straight.
I forsake not...
my country,
my mission
my comrades,
my sacred duty.
I am relentless.
I am always there,
now and forever.
I Am The Infantry!
Follow Me!

Lead the way!

[demondown666]

-LAW- wrote:

Baby Joel wrote:

That's actually really interesting. Specially this part: making them inhuman so they can do inhuman acts.
Basically why I don't like metal lyrics. :/
Basically why I like metal lyrics.

hell yeah, metalheads are a special breed only a few can be.

[ihavenoname93]

rtl999 wrote:

Well Hitler was a big fan of Wagner (a classical composer) and no one says classical makes you want to kill people.

well wagner was pretty much the metal of classical music

[TheSilverBeatle]

I'm a Metallica, Megadeth, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden kinda metal-fan. I don't venture too far out of those guys (Pantera is another I listen to).

But like everyone has said and Viking_Blood completely ignored is that a lot of these metal bands are anti-war. Loving metal does not = loving killing people in foreign countries.

Just because it sounds cool when he's going "land mines have taken my sight..." doesn't mean he'd like to be that guy.

I'm surprised they aren't listening to War Pigs or Hands of Doom out there.

[Viking_Blood85]

hmm slayer makes me wanna kill.....not really but i do like them for their music and the lyrics are awesome, especially "Angel of Death", i am in the army infantry, and currently in iraq, and yes bands like Decapitated, Slayer, Megadeth, Death, Cannibal Corpse....just to name a few, dominate my playlist. does it make me a mindless killer? no. i Survive out here, i don't go around blasting people. i listen to these bands because i like them, not because it makes me kill. yeah it makes me pumped up, yeah i like listening to it, but it does not make me an inhuman killer. in closing, the majority of music i hear coming out of soldiers chu's is rap, so this sudy is b.s.

[metallica-#1]

dudemanwhoathe1 :
ExtremeMetalFTW wrote:

Metallica was very anti-war, so that's kinda ironic.

I listen to far more violent and brutal stuff, and I don't get the urge to kill people, so it's all in their heads.

yes they were very anti-war. The only thing that bothers me is that people think the song Master of Puppets is a song thats anti-war, but its really only about cocaine usage, hence "shop your breakfast on a mirror".

*ahem*...

NO ONE caught on to this?
you should all be ashamed of yourselves...

@ExtrememetalFTW:
i suggest you chop your breakfast on a mirror

[metallica-#1]

sorry to ExtremeMetalFTW, i read that wrong, my apologies.

dudemanwhoathe1 should be ashamed of himself

[Paddles]

t.mcgrew wrote:

rag heads

you disgust me.

[SIEGE312]

So out of all the soldiers they interviewed over the past few years, they just had to choose one quote that says that the music turns them into monsters...

Note! Soldiers are not monsters, soldiers do not listen to music while outside the wire, their CO's, and NCO's would have their asses.

Also, consider the psychological affects of this music, most people I know, as well as myself, listen to metal to get amped up, and if they are already amped up, (possibly from adrenaline accumulated from any activity which causes such conditions) listen to it to bring themselves back down to more or less of a baseline. (A controllable baseline however) Not necessarily a "coping mechanism" to help soothe their consciences. They have support for that administered by the military.

Regardless, I think this article is skewed. There are positive and negative effects of this music on ALL people.

[moffcronos]

If I wanted to feel inhuman rage, I just might force myself to sit through 808's and Heartbreak.