False metal versus hipster metal

Daniel Mee over at Non-Alignment Pact had this to say about the hipster metal binge:

But one thing that I do not hold against The Sword is that they are a “hipster metal” band. Now, that’s not because I think that the tag is inaccurate. On the contrary, I think that it describes a real stylistic phenomenon in hard rock- music that has some superficial resemblance to metal, but actually has roots in some other kind of music. The “hipster metal” epithet emphasizes the “superficial” part of this formulation, implying that the music is intended for dilettantes who get their ideas about underground music from mainstream culture (i.e. think all metal is guys that look like KISS playing Sabbath songs) and basically don’t know actual heavy metal from a hole in the ground.

I don’t think this is necessarily the case, although music critics certainly have a tendency to turn into those idiots when they try to write about metal. I think that it’s possible to make non-metal music that sounds like metal for some reason, either intentional or unintentional, without having the end result be something that is itself superficial. Instead of “hipster metal,” call it “false metal.” – Non-Alignment Pact

I guess my question is this:

Why pretend to be something you are not?

You change on the surface, but not inside. It’s a costume.

While it might be an interesting experiment, once, it seems more like infiltration.

However, he raises an interesting point.

Hipster metal is not just a regular band making a metal or metal-ish record. Enough have done that successfully that the process should be viewed as metal influencing the wider spectrum of music.

Hipster metal is insincere metal. It’s hipsters — surface > form — creating metal, ironically, so they have some new and unique/different combination to show off.

It is whore, at its heart and in its soul, even if its skin is metal.

0 thoughts on “False metal versus hipster metal”

  1. brutal slayer of christians, noble hessian warrior of death says:

    Holy shit, can you stop writing about the same topic ad nauseum?

    You know what, Negru Choda was right. This website is full of aspies and metal culture is puerile shit that belongs in the gutter. Tomorrow I’m cutting my hair and getting some new non-black clothes because the mere thought of being associated with neckbeard manchildren like the dweeb who keeps writing the same blogspot is revolting.

    Later queers and thanks to Negruvoda for opening my eyes!

  2. "Trees, like, don't pay taxes, mayng. You can't hug your children with nuclear arms!" says:

    I think you and that other buttmunch really failed to understand the motivation of these bands and the people that like them. Hipsters, like attractive women, wouldn’t touch metal with a ten foot pole. The people that make and listen to the music of say, The Sword, do so because they like the sound. Not because they have something to prove about the nihilistic philosophisings in the angry venting music of some car wash attendants from the South.

  3. Negruvoda says:

    CAPITALISM SUCKS, ONLY COMMUNISM IS REAL. PLEASE OBAMA, LET ME TAKE YOUR ENORMOUS BLACK COCK IN MY ASS. YOU ARE MY FAVORITE MARXIST.

  4. ANUS integrity = shattered says:

    I find it funny how you quote a guy that then goes on to praise Boris, Baroness and Torche.

  5. kirip says:

    “Why pretend to be something you are not?

    You change on the surface, but not inside. It’s a costume.

    While it might be an interesting experiment, once, it seems more like infiltration.”

    Valid questions for sure, but who are you REALLY asking these questions to? The imaginary hipsters that never heard of this site? Or is it really yourself, and the ANUS readership composed of impressionable kids reading this blog? Anyone who reads those questions and owns a Burzum shirt or has a Metal Hall account should really think about them, while considering the vapidity and worthlessness of extreme metal and its subculture. Look back on your life and the way you were before, realize where you went wrong, and resolve to change things around.

  6. Levy_Spearmen says:

    I thought this website was useless, why change anything?

  7. 8===> says:

    There’s no such thing as “hipster metal”, you just need a Popular Other to your purist death/black metal and it’s passe to whine about nu-metal or metalcore.

  8. 8===> says:

    HIPSTERS SUCK BECAUSE THEY ARE POSERS

  9. Dominating Fucker says:

    @ kirip
    “but who are you REALLY asking these questions to? The imaginary hipsters that never heard of this site? Or is it really yourself, and the ANUS readership composed of impressionable kids reading this blog?”

    I assume you imply that “these questions” are unimportant to anybody except the ANUS community. So by implication they’re not important to you, so by extension you’re not part of the ANUS community. Am I right whining faggot?

    “Anyone who reads those questions and owns a Burzum shirt or has a Metal Hall account should really think about them, while considering the vapidity and worthlessness of extreme metal and its subculture.”

    So you’re not part of the ANUS readership, you clearly imply a futility in asking albeit accepting the validity of the stated questions and, pass judgement over the importance or lack thereof of metal subculture. Am I right oh-enlightened fag?

    Here’s what doesn’t match: you being here to preach your opinion about something you disregard as vapid in a place where clearly you don’t belong!

  10. Hipster says:

    And I get more ass than a toilet seat. U just hatin’.

  11. Dumbinated Faggot says:

    shut the fuck up aspie, no one cares about your OCD nitpicking that completely fails to adress the central issue

  12. Dominating Fucker says:

    Here’s the central issue, you’re a fucking faggot drawn to stupid queer whining by the weakness of your own ego-maniacal drama. You’re a worthless-retarded ego-preaching shithead; your contradicting behavior is a sign of unaware stupidity and your whining cries disguised as advice come through as dishonest, emo faggot self-righteousnes. You’re a hollow bitch. But you just had to drop by and let us know that. FUCK YOUR MOTHER FAG-CUNT COCSUCKER!!!

  13. Dimebag Darrell says:

    At least they aren’t bashing my music anymore.

  14. dominated & fisted says:

    blah blah blah I’m a big faggot who thinks playground insults make me look like the tough alpha dog on an internet blog

    put a sock in it you pre-pube twerp

  15. yea u mad, you hella butthurt says:

    also, u mad bro? lol

  16. kirip says:

    Oh yeah, I’m dishonest. Not the neckbeard telling you that mopy, long-forgotten noise made by teenagers and highschool dropouts 20 years ago is transcendental, highly philosophized and meaningful art clearly only understandable to the greatest segment of humanity, and not the majority repelled by its juvenile negativity. Because Venter, Barabási, Obama and Gates all have Morbid Angel and Burzum on their morning playlist. And metal musicians have made such a positive difference in the world with their hobby. Hey, buddy, you might as well mention that you only listen to the truest metal on your resume, that’s a real asset to any employer. Don’t forget to emphasize your passionate hatred of poser faggots and extensive experience with brooding in your room, I’m sure they’ll hire you instantly.

    What planet are you on again? Grow up, and at least try to get laid, faggot.

  17. correction says:

    in contrast with the majority repelled*

  18. Wow that's big says:

    Big sun. Small penis.

  19. Mahatma Gandhi says:

    My anus smells like creamy curry chicken. Would you like to taste it? We can have sexy time!

  20. Aspies tilting at windmills says:

    How is a band like ‘The Sword’ pretending to be something they are not? There’s nothing ‘false’ about a bunch of stoners writing stoner riffs and stoner lyrics for other stoners to do drugs to.

    Do the losers who maintain this blog really think Baroness, Boris or any shitty band signed to Hydra Head gives a fuck about making GRIM, DEEP, NIHILISTIC ART?

    Last I checked, this site didn’t consider Sleep a ‘true’ metal band in the first place, so If some beardo hippy fags want to rip-off Matt Pike and Al Cisneros why should ANUS be concerned.

    Oh wait, because it’s way easier to recycle the hipster meme than it is to try and write about stuff that doesn’t suck.

  21. kirip - 10 07 11 says:

    “Here’s what doesn’t match: you being here to preach your opinion about something you disregard as vapid in a place where clearly you don’t belong!”

  22. Charles Whitman says:

    Would anyone listen to Cianide if it was performed on a piano with no vocals?

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