Status Updates From Death Metal Music: The Pass...

Naturally, it feels outdated. 2003 was 22 years ago and the scene has rapidly changed since... but very good preliminary understanding. Good idea structuring. Every is clear. I'm loving the book.

Fourth time “gay” has been used by an interviewee to express something unpleasant. Again, no qualification. So much of this book barely scratches the surface of what it professes to investigate. The attitudes toward violence, race, sexuality, religion, pop culture are much broader and more substantial than the research shows. The content is also limited. Not all lyrics/bands fit into the established categories.

I’m deep into the formal “ethnographic” chapters of the book. This is what sets this study apart and secures its value from a sociological perspective. Cool. But as a cranky antisocial misanthrope, I don’t care about the fans or people involved in DM! Hahaha! Plus, I don’t think the findings are particularly accurate or representative of DM today (but it’s been 10+ years since publication so...)

This is going to be difficult to forgive: “Although the DM audience as a whole generally disavows white supremacy and racism, many fans and bands in the black metal scene have embraced such themes. Such bands include Emperor/Zyklon B, Mayhem, Burzum, and Absurd.” NO SOURCE, no evidence, no explanation. Oh, and Lovecraft is a “19th century author.” The chapter on the lyrics offers examples but no analysis.

Not sure about this one...a bit dry and limited in scope. A few minor factual errors and inconsistent formatting things already (nitpicking but this is meant to be an academic study so I have a bit of a higher standard). I’ve definitely been spoiled by the other metal books I’ve read, which are definitely more oral histories with an insider’s view. Not sure what I’m going to learn from this...

I really don't know that this volume is equipped to deal with race properly. Also, the almost exclusive use of "males" and "females" is really starting to grate.

http://www.allmusic.com/style/death-m...

This is really starting to feel like an extended term paper

Oh, this section on metal vs rap in terms of racial identity is painful.

I thought once we got away from the musicology and into the sociopolitical analysis this would be better. Alas no.

Ok, the musicology is lacking, but the author's enthusiasm is kind of charming

I'd complain that the author isn't citing her sources, but she doesn't seem to be using any (other than interviews with people heavy in the scene)

Ah, I'm becoming nostalgic for my days listening to Seton Hall's Pirate Radio. But I don't understand how this book from 2003 is an advanced review copy.