Theatrics have always been a huge part of rock n' roll since it began. The idea of "arena rock" has its practitioners, but it's always seemed to be the goal of bands to produce at least one overblown, theatrical work. Some people love and are drawn to this idea of theatrics in music. Others despise it. I've heard albums like The Wall and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway referred to as "pompous" and "arrogant," and I can definitely see where people are coming from when they make these accusations. However, I'm not really interested in talking about Pink Floyd and Genesis. What I'm interested in is: why is it that so many metal bands are drawn to the theatrical element?
Corpse paint is only one portion of the theatrics of metal. Simply the composition of a musical piece can lend to its element of theatrics. The music of Turisas' To Holmgard and Beyond, for instance, sounds incredibly theatrical. The use of narration lends further to the sense of drama. Multiple singers/voices (sounds), symphonic elements, ambient noises, concept albums, props, themes of history and fantasy... all these are extremely extravagant and histrionic.
Almost all other genres of music tend to focus on (or, at least mostly focus on) more realistic, common subjects. Sure, every once in a while Neil Young will write a Greendale or Bruce Springsteen will write The Rising; but even when they do, their themes still are very much grounded in reality. And on other records, the sound is usually stripped down to enhance that effect.
Why is it that metal so often aspires to the exaggerated, theatrical element of music? Even black metal albums such as In the Nightside Eclipse, Battles in the North, Dark Medieval Times, and Under the Sign of the Black Mark possess a quality that elevates them to a dramatic level. The lyrical subject matter is constantly striving for a fantastical elevation, and the music complements the aspirations.
On the opposite end of the metal spectrum, this idea of theatrics still pertains. Bands like Manowar Nightwish, Kamelot, and Turisas are constantly creating epic, extravagant albums, and Rhapsody has managed to tell the same damn story throughout all their records.
The list of theatrical metal bands is endless because most of them possess this quality to some extent. So why is it that they're drawn to this idea? Does it have to do purely with the subject matter? Many bands are drawn to historical or fantasy themes, which certainly are separated from the common, everyday themes of most classic rock. Is it the literary element? Many metal musicians admit to being fond of writers throughout literary history. By creating works that aspire to a theatrical level are they attempting to justify their music as an addition to the literary tradition? Or is it something far simpler than all this; do they merely like the idea of taking on a role in their music and thus transporting themselves temporarily to somewhere else? Maybe it's a combination of reasons, and these certainly aren't all of them. I'd like to invite people to discuss why they think metal so often is tempted by this idea of theatrics.
Corpse paint is only one portion of the theatrics of metal. Simply the composition of a musical piece can lend to its element of theatrics. The music of Turisas' To Holmgard and Beyond, for instance, sounds incredibly theatrical. The use of narration lends further to the sense of drama. Multiple singers/voices (sounds), symphonic elements, ambient noises, concept albums, props, themes of history and fantasy... all these are extremely extravagant and histrionic.
Almost all other genres of music tend to focus on (or, at least mostly focus on) more realistic, common subjects. Sure, every once in a while Neil Young will write a Greendale or Bruce Springsteen will write The Rising; but even when they do, their themes still are very much grounded in reality. And on other records, the sound is usually stripped down to enhance that effect.
Why is it that metal so often aspires to the exaggerated, theatrical element of music? Even black metal albums such as In the Nightside Eclipse, Battles in the North, Dark Medieval Times, and Under the Sign of the Black Mark possess a quality that elevates them to a dramatic level. The lyrical subject matter is constantly striving for a fantastical elevation, and the music complements the aspirations.
On the opposite end of the metal spectrum, this idea of theatrics still pertains. Bands like Manowar Nightwish, Kamelot, and Turisas are constantly creating epic, extravagant albums, and Rhapsody has managed to tell the same damn story throughout all their records.
The list of theatrical metal bands is endless because most of them possess this quality to some extent. So why is it that they're drawn to this idea? Does it have to do purely with the subject matter? Many bands are drawn to historical or fantasy themes, which certainly are separated from the common, everyday themes of most classic rock. Is it the literary element? Many metal musicians admit to being fond of writers throughout literary history. By creating works that aspire to a theatrical level are they attempting to justify their music as an addition to the literary tradition? Or is it something far simpler than all this; do they merely like the idea of taking on a role in their music and thus transporting themselves temporarily to somewhere else? Maybe it's a combination of reasons, and these certainly aren't all of them. I'd like to invite people to discuss why they think metal so often is tempted by this idea of theatrics.