A Grisly Scene? Extreme Metal Music, Belonging and Ethnography

Abstract

Extreme metal music is often dismissed in popular culture as violent, misogynist and dangerous. However, it still draws fans. In this chapter, I explore how I came to grindcore music, and how this book is a highly personal attempt to reconcile the contradictions outlined above.

‘Look — I just don’t get your point —’

Tears well up behind my eyes. This is our first fight, I think. Why can’t he understand?

‘You mean you don’t understand why a woman might find the name Vaginal Carnage offensive? That’s seriously unbelievable. Unbelievable.’

My boyfriend shakes his head and gets up from the couch. He walks towards the television cabinet and grabs a boxed set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit DVDs.

‘I mean — you watch this crap. You think it’s entertaining. It’s all about rape and murder, right?’

I swallow hard — that isn’t the point. There’s a difference between a procedural crime drama and a band celebrating rape in songs like ‘Vagina Bazooka’.

‘Look — seriously — it’s just a joke. They’re nice blokes. Really. Just come along and see what you reckon.’

Within a week I was watching Vaginal Carnage play live. I could not understand the grisly lyrics, distorted by a pitch-shifter, but the beat was strong. My head nodded up and down to the rhythm. How is this happening? I thought. I’m a feminist. And this music is all about rape. How does this work?