Posted on 10/29/2026 7:09:01 PM PDT by DoodleBob
Metal has a woke problem.
A very broad statement as it applies to a heavy metal, extreme metal slam hard-core goth punk.
For most of the alternative subcultures that pride themselves on individuality and self expression, the word “woke” is not a vague term for kindness and acceptance. It does not just mean awareness of social issues
For them, “woke” means hyper fixation on far left activism. It means putting far left messaging first, above all else, above quality and truth.
The current dynamic is not that there are zero problems from the far right.
It is that a loud, online, far left contingent treats any noncompliance with their demanded messaging as support for far right extremism.
Any genuine question, disagreement, disapproving evidence, or neutrality is treated and labeled as support for bigotry, fascism, and genocide. Then, condemn and lambaste those who dissent even slightly.
Expressing, libertarian, centrist or basic right wing views, joking about progressive subjects, and wanting concerts to be Neutral, are treated as attacks that require condemnation and harassment.
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The far bigger problem is “heavy metal, extreme metal slam hard-core goth punk” isn’t music.
I prefer Whitecross, Barren Cross, and Stryper (stuff Stryper made after they came out of retirement a decade ago).
“Take me out to the black,
Tell them I ain’t comin’ back.
Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can’t take Ted Nugent from me.”
(With apologies to Joss Whedon...)
Couldn’t get enough of ‘Creed’ back in the day. Well, still today. ;)
There is pretty much nothing in human society the Left does not aspire to infect and destroy.
???
I listened to Nirvana’s last song today. “You Know You’re Right.” Sad but wow.
Didn’t you know that punk is all about following established rules and never speaking out against the crowd?
No, the irony is that the actual punks have long since realized the wankers and control freaks are leftists.
This is just leftism being leftism. They claim control over EVERYTHING. You can’t be metal without being woke. You can’t be punk without being woke. You can’t be Christian without being woke — say THEY (/THEM; aka “Legion.”)
They retreat instantly upon being challenged. Anti-authoritarian is anti-left, full stop. Leftism is: “I want to be stereotyped. I *want* to be classified.” I am my label.
>Didn’t you know that punk is all about following established rules and never speaking out against the crowd?
Spot on. Isn’t that the message of Rage For The Machine? “F you, I’ll do the jab you tell me. F you, I’ll say what they tell me.” :D :D
Well, that’s misleading. It’s countercultural, which nowadays means being against leftism.
I’m very alternative - have been since I was about ten.
Whoever created that is a collectivist, which is the exact opposite of what punk is. That’s why being called a collectivist is such an insult.
That’s true sadly.
Zack De La Rocha - singer for ‘Rage Against the Machine’- is a hypocritical Communist idiot who’s hurt feelings are assuaged by counting his fortune (25 million according to Wikipedia). I do admire the talented band, who worked with Chris Cornell for a while as ‘Audioslave’.
The best musicians are conservative by habit, utilizing discipline to hone their craft with less time for popularity-seeking their less-serious liberal cohorts pursue. Musicians cover the entire political spectrum with the least secure of them misled by self-servers.
The one sub-group with the most “woke” members has to be screen actors and the script-writers who make their on-screen personas. Newsom and California’s other Democrat politicians may have done the film industry an inadvertent favor by making the state nearly impossible to do business in anymore. The companies doing well now make their films everywhere EXCEPT California, granting the crews far more experience with real-world people away from Hollywood’s influence.
I dunno. It strikes me a strange they chose that little cartoon girl with the sign. She’s straight outa Archie comic books.
Are Betty and Veronica protesting, too?
Some members of Social Distortion, Van Halen and Adolescents are professional musicians who are Catholic family men with wives, children and cheerfulness. It is dishonest and cruel to state that all rockers should be anti-Catholic and anti-American.
Creed, Alter Bridge, and Tremonti make up my regular rotation. Something magical about the core components of that band regardless if it’s Stapp or Myles singing. And Mark Tremonti... he’s a modern-day guitar legend, IMO.
I’ve started gravitating back to metal. There’s a culture emerging that looks very similar to what I remember of the late 80s and 90s. Some bands never left, and the new ones are taking cues from some of the greats.
I have faith that as rap continues its long overdue decline, we will see a resurgence in rock bands. Not this mushmouthed, sneakergaze crap but actual artistry with stringed instruments and thoughtful, soulful lyrics.
That poster is fascist because it tries to tell people what to think, do, or be and does so as a group.
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