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The Modalities of Defilement Within Extreme Metal

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Sound, Symbol, Sociality

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Abstract

Extreme metal, Unger contends, highlights how symbols are expressive of contemporary identity, politics, and social relations. He suggests that an analysis of symbols can capture the aesthetic resonance between different social discourses. In this chapter Unger analyzes several modalities of defilement that comprise the extreme metal experience beginning with a close examination of the ways that musicians express themes and experiences of authenticity in their song-writing, sounds, and their construction of sonic atmospheres. To explore the different modalities of defilement Unger analyzes closely the music of Edmonton bands Death Toll Rising and Antediluvian and the different motifs and conceptual motivations that musicians employ in the creation of their music. Next, he explores how through the reaction to predominant social institutions such as religion, science, and politics, extreme metal has developed genres that explore alternative identities, religions, and national and historical origins. Both the aesthetic material as well as the public and popular media response shows that this symbolism also reflects, reposes upon, and expresses many modalities of fault within contemporary frameworks of meaning and causal relations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Matthew P. Unger

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  1. Matthew P. Unger
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Unger, M.P. (2016). The Modalities of Defilement Within Extreme Metal. In: Sound, Symbol, Sociality. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-47835-1_5

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