Table 3 Selected sustainability challenges in social-ecological systems (SES) and how they manifest in the form of heavy metal allegories
From: Heavy metal music meets complexity and sustainability science
SES challenge | Emotions in people | Manifestation in metal allegory | Song (Band/artist) examples | Links to YouTubea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ecological and social disturbances | ||||
(a) Before disturbances | Widespread positive emotions; ignorant of potential catastrophes in immediate environment | Melodic aspects in symphonic metal; joy and empowerment conveyed in power metal | Escapist (Nightwish) March of time (Halloween) Evoke (After Forever) Angels (Within Temptation) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybyU0pdIu4Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sQ5iaynO8k |
Sense of false security | Psychedelic elements in stoner metal | Dopethrone (Electric Wizzard) | ||
(b) During disturbances | Chaos, uncertainty | Rhythmic complexity and unpredictability in mathcore and grindcore | Concubine (Converge) Garrucha (Car Bomb) Agorapocalypse now (Agoraphobic Nosebleed) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIB9Cai5kZ4 |
Overwhelming exposure to and lack of control of intense and fast disturbances (e.g. floods) | Fast tempo and aggression in speed metal and trash metal | Unanswered (Suicide Silence) Speed metal messiah (Joe Stump) | ||
(c) Aftermath of disturbances | Widespread negative emotions; despair, agony, stress | Despair conveyed in doom metal; death reflected | Murdered by grief (Frowning) Among the falling stones (Ophis) Morte aetérna (Chelsea Grin) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSSFG_pNPg0 |
(d) Social and political causes | Dissatisfaction against governments | Crust punk lyrics dwelling on social/political ills | Dig their own graves (Corrupt Leaders) Fucking bastards (Behind Enemy Lines) | |
Systemic SES aspects | ||||
(a) Regime shifts | Often not perceivable given long time scales, but metal can serve as model to conscientize people | Transitions in songs in the form of breakdowns in metalcore and deathcore | Resistance (Veil of Maya) In Sincerity (For the Fallen Dream) Neo Soul (After the Burial) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd3IT1LuHfM |
(b) Undesired SES states (poverty traps) | For instance, health and disease related emotions | Abrasiveness and harshness in black metal | Demonium (Inmortal) Intent to kill (Dawn of Demise) A.E.O.N. (Sybreed) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk83pC0xDeo |