Plinky prompts some 'Lunatica'

Struggling for inspiration today I had a look at the topics Plinky were suggesting. One of today's prompts was: 'What songs must you always sing the lyrics out loud to?'. As I read this prompt I was singing my lungs out to one my my favourite songs and decided that this had to be fate.

The song I was singing was Lunatica's 'Farewell My Love'. When I first heard this track on their 2009 album 'New Shores', I had to do a double take. It reminds me so much of a big love song in a Disney Princess movie. This song is bittersweet and beautiful. The male/female vocals are perfectly balanced and the lyrics really touch you. This song is one I always love listening to in the car on a long trip or when I am feeling really down and lonely. There is something I can relate to in there. Something I think everyone can relate to. It is without a doubt the song I must always sing the lyrics out loud to.

Lunatica - Farewell My Love

I've been feeling so uncertain

Since the day you left my life

Now I'm standing at the crossroads

No direction left to go

I've been thinking 'bout the good times

And I've cried a lake of tears

If losing you is just a nightmare

I hope I wake up by your side

Farewell my love

Forgive the things I've done to you

May your days be warm and bright

May your journey lead you to the light

So many words been left unspoken

And some words were far too much

Maybe sometimes love is hurting

But it's the sweetest pain I know

Farewell my love

Forgive the things I've done to you

May your days be warm and bright

May your journey lead you to the light

Farewell my love

Forgive the things I've done to you

May your days be warm and bright

May your journey lead you to the light

Ooh, farewell my love

(my love/goodbye)

Forgive the things I've done to you

May your days be warm and bright

May your journey lead you to the light

(to the light)

How to Look Like a Hot Metal Chick

During a research and fact finding expedition around the Internet this morning for ideas for this blog, I came across a video called ‘How to Look Like a Hot Metal Chick’.

On further investigation it looks as though this video has been around since 2009 and both MetalSucks and Metal Injection have already mentioned the content on their sites.  Feeling equally as baffled, I felt I had to throw in my two cents on the subject, for what they are worth.

The ‘How to Look Like a Hot Metal Chick’ video suggests that to look like a hot metal chick:

• Hair should be brunette or blonde only or colour can be ‘fun too’
• Hair should be messy and dirty looking
• Particular attention should be paid to eye make up so that it looks dark and dramatic
• Have a dramatic and defined eyebrow because that will make you look little bit more aggressive and intense
• Wear band t shirts (of bands you know and like only)
• Wear a nice pair of black boots
• Nails short and painted a dark colour

These are all valid observations and as a general rule, dressing in the way she suggests would indeed help you look like a stereotypical metal chick for sure.  All the well known mainstream women’s magazines offer similar advice on what is currently fashionable, how to make your make up look better and what hair styles might suit you and so the idea behind this video really isn’t anything new or groundbreaking.  The resulting look feels very fake though.  Calling a metal gig a ‘metal concert thing’ and admitting that you prefer silver metal on your boots because it looks more ‘metal’ than any other colour of metal really doesn’t sell the content as valid or authoritative advice.

The insinuation that taking these measures will make you ‘hot’ also suggests that this look is about attracting a ‘metal head’ boyfriend rather than actually embracing the metal culture and community.

The real issue for me though is that the way we dress is an extension of our personality.  It communicates to those around us a great deal about who we are, what we stand for and what we like.  There is absolutely nothing wrong in taking advice about or pride in your appearance as long as the results are a true representation of you as an individual.  Making an effort with your clothing, hair and makeup should be because you want to feel confident in and good about yourself and not just so you fit into a specific niche or clique.

Being ‘metal’ isn’t about getting dressed in a fancy dress costume; it is a way of life, an attitude, an emotion that just can’t be authentic when forced or manipulated in the way this video suggests.  If you are ‘fancy dressing’ rather than ‘dressing’ then there is a real issue to consider with your own self image and self worth.

So here are Femetalism’s 'How to Look Like a Hot Metal Chick' tips:

• Listen to, enjoy and fully appreciate metal music of whatever sub-genre you fancy
• Go to see bands you like and not just ones you think you should like
• Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in – you will only wear t shirts for bands you like automatically there is no forethought required
• Have your hair in whatever style or colour you feel like
• And remember - don’t give a toss about what people think you should look and act like … metal is about freedom of expression not conforming to socially acceptable norms.

If you are someone who still feels like you are struggling.  If you just don’t know how you are going to score that totally hot metal dude you really fancy.  Perhaps it is time to reconsider what you are looking for in a man?  Perhaps it is time to stop worrying about attracting a man so much? Perhaps it is time to just accept who you really are instead of trying to be something you clearly aren't - Now that is metal.  You never know … you might turn out to be his type after all?

Within Temptation Go Conceptual

As a big fan of Within Temptation the announcement that they would be releasing a new concept album in March 2011 was extremely exciting.  Tickets were bought for their UK tour date and anticipation and impatience ensued.

The Unforgiving is the bands fifth album release; a concept album based on a comic strip written by Steven O'Connell and illustrated by Romano Molenaar.  Although the band have previously been seen as gothic and symphonic metal, this new album will show the band taking a completely different approach to their music.  They have used the comic book concept to give them the courage and inspiration to change their sound and write what they believe are the best songs of their career.

Prequels for the comic book started to be released through the bands website in November 2010 and tell the story of a young woman called Sinead Harkin and the action she takes to protect her friend from a violent abuser. 

The album track 'Where is the Edge' was released on the 15th December 2010 and is not only the first release from the album but is also included on the soundtrack for the movie 'Me and Mr Jones'.  The track is particularly creepy and in conjunction with a video based on the movie, it leaves you with a distinct chill.  That said, I found the track to be a little softer and milder than I was expecting.  I really hope that this is more to do with the fact it was being used in a movie and that it doesn't represent the album as a whole.

In addition there are 3 short films which will provide further insight into the album concept.  The first of those films was released on January 31st entitled 'Mother Maiden'.  The film introduces Mother Maiden, a medium who recruits lost souls to be part of a task force for fighting evil.  Each recruit carries a specific guilt about something that they have done in their lives and Mother Maiden offers them the opportunity to redeem themselves.  She gives them missions to hunt down evil as penalty for their sins.   The film ends and goes straight into a band performance of the single 'Faster'.  A teaser after the band performance leaves you itching to view the next instalment.

'Faster' is a very catchy song that had my four year old dancing around the kitchen last night, singing along.  It is very easy listen to and has a very memorable repetitive chorus that will ensure this track's popularity and commercial success.

So, what do I make of all of this?  Well, I am not traditionally a graphic novel enthusiast and so some of the prequel hype has been a little wasted on me.  Updates have been provided by the band in many different forms using an impressive array of social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Spotify and their own website.  As a student of e-communications I can appreciate how effective these tools have been in generating the excitement it has amongst fans.

The story of 'The Unforgiving' is intriguing and this first short film is very cleverly put together.  Mother Maiden's voice is particularly blood-curdling and the dark scenes are quite chilling.   I am not sure about the sudden jump from this dark and terrifying setting to Within Temptation singing what sounds like another classic rock song however. There seems to be a sudden jump from the dark into the light. Perhaps that is the point?

I still can't put my finger on what the new musical style really is either.  So far it seems to sound like very classic pop rock which is particularly commercial.  I had hoped for a darker and harsher sound from their new material.  I feel the build up to the album's release so far has suggested that this is something we could expect.  I really hope we are being further led on by the band and that when the album is released they haven't sold out to commerciality completely.

'The Unforgiving' is released on the 25th March 2011.  The band have rescheduled their European tour now that Sharon is expecting her 3rd child and they have added some additional venues in the UK:

Tuesday 8th November - Birmingham O2 Academy
Wednesday 9th November - Manchester O2 Academy
Friday 11th November - London O2 Academy, Brixton

Musical direction concerns aside, I will be grabbing my copy of 'The Unforgiving' as soon as it is released and am heading for Manchester on the 9th November.  Within Temptation really have made incredible use of the Internet to create a massive buzz over their new material and I am very excited about what is to come from them this year.

The Birthday Massacre - Pins and Needles

I discovered The Birthday Massacre by complete accident.  They were touring in 2009 and I was invited to go along.  As it happens I didn't end up going.  I then forgot about them until Last.fm recommended them to me some 6 months later.  Although not a genre of music I have previously been overly enthusiastic about, The Birthday Massacre's synth-rock style has really grown on me.

Pins and Needles opens with In The Dark.  This is one of my favourite tracks from the album filled with  the trade mark heavy guitar riffs and the stunning vocals of lead singer Chibi.  Shallow Grave is another favourite with electronica and really neat guitar riffs intermingled with Chibi singing in the cute and angsty style she has adopted so wonderfully.

New TBM T-Shirts!

Pins and Needles is of course the title track from the album and is without a doubt the standout.   I have found that there is always one track on each of their albums that I really love more than any other.  Pins and Needles is that track.  Really heavy riffs, criss-crossing with softer, almost pop like interludes.  Just awesome.

Although there is nothing particularly new or different about Pins and Needles in comparison to their previous albums I have to wonder whether I'd want anything new or different.  They have a winning formula and I don't think that they feel the need (and neither they should) to deviate too far from what they have been successfully doing to date.  Not at the moment anyway.

What really made this album even more special was having the opportunity to see it performed live in Corporation, Sheffield on the 17th October 2010.  I would say that it was the best gig I went to last year (and having seen Lacuna Coil a few weeks before, that is really saying something!)  They played a lot of new tracks from Pins and Needles as well as some older favourites.  It was a perfect showcase of the bands immense talent and their superb new album.

Women in Metal

If you like metal then you will have heard of Revolver Magazines ‘Hottest Chicks in Metal’ feature.   As with so many genres of music, women who work in the metal or hard rock industry are scrutinised by their appearance and their musical ability is judged by how many clothes they have or have not got on.  But what makes a women in metal ‘hot’?  Is it really their outward appearance that can be emulated, altered or manufactured to suit their perceived fan base that sells records or is it something more than that?

Here are the 3 women that I consider to be 'hot' in metal at the moment and why.

Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy

Angela as she appeared in the
2010 Hottest Chicks calendar.

Arguably the most metal woman in the history of metal. Angela Gossow has publicly slammed the ‘hottest chicks in metal’ 2010 calendar.  She told KNAC "I hate the Hottest Chicks in Metal! It’s an embarrassment for women, I think (laughs). It’s an embarrassment for female musicians, who actually are musicians.".  Revolver included Angela in the 2010 calendar but were forced to use a photo from 2004 when she rather loudly refused to participate.

It is true that Angela is an impressive musician.  She is a manager and the lead singer of the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy.  In addition Angela manages Swedish hard rock band Spiritual Beggars.  She has a mezzo-suprano singing range but tends to favour a growl style; one of the few women in metal to successfully achieve this.  She continues to grow and develop as an artist and is currently undertaking vocal training and piano lessons.  On the official Arch Enemy website, Angela provides vocal advice and teachings for up and coming metal vocal artists.  During her time with the band they have recorded 6 studio albums and 3 EPs.  She has also worked with Asmodina and Mistress along with countless guest appearances with bands such as Black of Heart, Slaves for Life and Couple Suicide.

Angela is an incredibly strong and confident woman who has refused to play up her gender.  She wants to be seen as a serious musician and is able to shake off the pressure within the industry by remaining focussed and true to herself.  She is passionate about promoting a good example of how a woman should be perceived in metal. 

Sharon Den Adel of Within Temptation

Sharon Den Adel

When I think of Sharon Den Adel, I think 'super mum'. She is a singer, songwriter, composer and founding member of Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation. She has never received any formal singing training but as part of Within Temptation she has had 5 studio albums, 2 live albums and 3 EPs. Sharon started when she was only 13 in a blues band and got into symphonic metal after meeting her now husband and band member Robert Westerholt. As a former fashion design, she designs her own stage costumes and the bands merchandise. Sharon also contributes to the Within Temptation online blog and is the mother of 2 small children with a third on the way.

Within Temptation participated in the 'Hottest Chicks in Metal' tour in 2007 and Sharon believes that this does not have a negative impact on the band.  When talking with Which.com's metal blogger Chad Bowar "I don’t think it matters if you are a female or male. When you are a frontman or frontwoman you always get the most attention ... It’s not about women in metal, it’s that you are the frontperson in the band. It’s something that comes along with it. You just have to get used to it."

Sharon is hardworking and passionate.  Her attention to detail, immaculate stage presence and ability to juggle her family and her band is inspiring.  Unfortunately, her acceptance of features highlighting how women look in metal and her views on it being part and parcel of the role as front woman is certainly something that a lot of women in the industry would share. 

Tarja Turunen

Tarja

As a classically trained full operatic lyric soprano and a founding member of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, Tarja has had a long musical career to date.   Nightwish had much success in their 10 years with Tarja and released 5 studio albums.  When she was publicly dismissed from the band for skipping rehearsals and acting like a diva Tarja took it upon herself to prove her critics wrong.  She has gone on to forge a successful solo career; writing and releasing 3 solo albums and touring extensively.   Tarja has her own website and contributes blog posts to her What Lies Beneath online blog on a regular basis.

Tarja is often mention in 'hottest chicks in metal' discussions online and in 2009 she was voted ‘sexist female metal performer’ in Ultimate Guitar magazine.

Tarja is a strong, dedicated and persistant woman who has dealt with her public dismissal from Nightwish with grace and dignity.  She has progressed her solo career and is now a true metal artist in her own right.

All of these women may be 'hot' but they are also incredibly talented musicians and business women. Each of them are making successful careers within a male dominated industry.

As the majority of metal consumers are male it seems inevitable that at some point the way these women look will be focussed upon in the media.  Record companies will encourage bands with a female member to exploit this fact in order to assist in the marketing and saleability of the band and media publications will place expectations on them when featuring them in their magazines. Angela Gossow revealed in her KNAC interview that when she protested about her inclusion in the 2010 calendar, Revolver magazine had threatened to make sure Arch Enemy were not featured in any of their future publications.  This is a difficult position to place any band in and the pressure on these women to promote their sexuality 'for the good of the band' must be high.

The truth is though that there are many women in metal with incredible talent that are often over looked or underestimated professionally because of the way they look or they way they allow themselves to be portrayed.  Sometimes it pays to dig that little bit deeper.

Welcome to Femetalism!

I am a fan of music and I am not sure I could define my musical taste as anything other than eclectic.  I can flip from a pop classic, to a quirky indie anthem right on to a dark symphonic metal masterpiece without a second thought.  Recently though,  I have realised that I tend to lean towards a rock/metal preference.  I find the metal genre really interesting, really diverse and really exciting.  It has been my mission of late, to go to as many live music events as I can possibly manage.  This year I succeeded in attending 16 gigs, all of which were fantastic (well almost but we will skip over the Misstallica experience).  Without a doubt the metal bands I saw live totally wiped the floor with all of the pop and indie artists.  In fact the gigs already planned for 2011 include 4 metal bands by April.

So what is Femetalism about?

With every gig I attend, with every online article I read, with every copy of Metal Hammer I flick through, I realise that women  in metal seem to be perceived as either the 'hot' member of some metal band, the girlfriend of some metal head who just likes it because her boyfriend says she should or the weird looking man-women who can drink any man under the table.

Use Google Images to search for 'women in metal'.  What results do you get?  Mainly pictures of talented metal front-women such as Cristina Scabbia, Simone Simons or Sharon Den Adel all scantily clad and pouting right?   It is true that sex sells and that metal has always been a male dominated genre.  With Femetalism I want to prove that this does not mean women can't enjoy metal, that women can't be talented and hugely successful as artists in metal and most importantly that liking a particular genre of music does not define you - you can like metal and not fall into one of the stereotypical pigeon holes that seem to exist.

Enjoy Femetalism.  Love pink.  Adore metal.  \m/