ConnectionsDue to this belief that Heavy Metal as a whole possesses Satanic ideology, the genre is connected with the mistrust and disapproval that Black Metal often experiences. People naturally associate the most extreme form of an area with the whole area itself. In the case of Heavy Metal, Black Metal is the most extreme form that people often hear about (Ex. Church Burnings) so they naturally assume that because the two are related in music structure, then they must be related with their ideology of Satanism as well.
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The genre of Heavy Metal as a whole is then accused of things such as sabotage
and wanting to destroy the fabric of society by brainwashing young, susceptible
listeners because of this "Moral Panic" that society develops (Richardson 555). This attribution of unrealistic messages is apparent in the case of backmasking, and is one example of how due to the population's negative perception of Heavy Metal, then negative things are "looked" for in the genre to uphold the stereotypes that have been developed.
and wanting to destroy the fabric of society by brainwashing young, susceptible
listeners because of this "Moral Panic" that society develops (Richardson 555). This attribution of unrealistic messages is apparent in the case of backmasking, and is one example of how due to the population's negative perception of Heavy Metal, then negative things are "looked" for in the genre to uphold the stereotypes that have been developed.
Wait, play that back: Backmasking in Heavy Metal
One area of Heavy Metal opposition that has exploded into popular culture is the controversial issue of Backmasking. Backmasking is defined as, "A recording technique in which a sound or message is deliberately recorded backwards in a track that is meant to be played forwards" (Backmasking). Backmasking is a tricky, and controversial, concept that critics of Heavy Metal use to link the music to the Devil. Believers in this theory claim that sounds are intentionally recorded and hidden in the music so that the listener picks up on the intended message, even when the message can not be consciously heard and understood (Backmasking). The believers also say that the only way that the message can be heard is by reversing the sound waves and playing the song backwards.
One of the most famous examples of backmasking is seen in the song, "Stairway to Heaven".
One of the most famous examples of backmasking is seen in the song, "Stairway to Heaven".
The video to the right shows the song, "Stairway to Heaven" played backwards. The words that are included with the video are supposed to show the message that the song contains. |
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One phrase that is often referenced in "Stairway to Heaven" is the phrase, "Here's to my sweet Satan." The religious opposition believe that this is proof that Heavy Metal songs are being used in order to spread the message of the Devil, all without the listeners even knowing it (Trzcinski).
The lead sound engineer for Led Zepellin during the recording of the song, named Eddie Kramer, however, was interviewed and said that, "the charges of Led Zeppelin intentionally putting reversed Satanic messages into their songs for the intent to spread Satan's message was 'ridiculous' and that loops of the tracks can be used to make words appear from nothing" (Trzcinski).
Logos and ethos are represented by this quote, and offers an explanation from a sound engineer that would know all of the aspects that go into the creation of this song, along with the credibility of his knowledge of the song.
The lead sound engineer for Led Zepellin during the recording of the song, named Eddie Kramer, however, was interviewed and said that, "the charges of Led Zeppelin intentionally putting reversed Satanic messages into their songs for the intent to spread Satan's message was 'ridiculous' and that loops of the tracks can be used to make words appear from nothing" (Trzcinski).
Logos and ethos are represented by this quote, and offers an explanation from a sound engineer that would know all of the aspects that go into the creation of this song, along with the credibility of his knowledge of the song.
Metal on Trial
The idea of backmasking in Heavy Metal climaxed in 1985 in the case of suicide "caused" by Judas Priest (Judas Priest). Two boys attempted to commit suicide after listening to the album Stained Class by Judas Priest. One of the young men succeeded in the suicide pact, the other failed and delivered a shocking message; Heavy Metal caused them to attempt suicide (Subliminal Messages). The teen claimed that he was "driven" and "mesmerized" to commit suicide after listening to the music.
The plaintiffs in the case (the parents of the teens) claimed that the words, "Do it, Do it" were "subliminally imbedded into the music and can be consciously heard when the song is played backwards" (Reverse Speech). The words, "(expletive) the Lord" can also be heard.
The plaintiffs in the case (the parents of the teens) claimed that the words, "Do it, Do it" were "subliminally imbedded into the music and can be consciously heard when the song is played backwards" (Reverse Speech). The words, "(expletive) the Lord" can also be heard.
This, however, is not the whole story. The court found Judas Priest not liable for the suicide of the two young boys. The court had determined that the teens had been subjected to violence in the home when they were raised in and "the grade school that one of the boys attended suggested psychiatric help due to the boy pulling out his hair and tying belts around his head" (Reverse Speech). |
"It was also predicted by another school psychologist later said there was a
good chance that James would "respond violently to stressful situations" as he
grew older, according to court records" (Reverse Speech).
These predictions show how it was more than just the music that caused the teens to make the suicide pact. There was a combination of home and social factors that also may have led to the teens wanting to end their lives. The court's decision also that the band was not guilty showed how the accusations of Heavy Metal bands intentionally inserting Satanic messages into their music is not credible.
This is evidence that the subliminal messages that are allegedly "Backmasked" into some Heavy Metal songs are not actually true, defeating the idea that Heavy Metal causes suicide.
good chance that James would "respond violently to stressful situations" as he
grew older, according to court records" (Reverse Speech).
These predictions show how it was more than just the music that caused the teens to make the suicide pact. There was a combination of home and social factors that also may have led to the teens wanting to end their lives. The court's decision also that the band was not guilty showed how the accusations of Heavy Metal bands intentionally inserting Satanic messages into their music is not credible.
This is evidence that the subliminal messages that are allegedly "Backmasked" into some Heavy Metal songs are not actually true, defeating the idea that Heavy Metal causes suicide.