Most foundational elements of metal music can be found in the rock n’ roll music that preceded its birth in the early 1970’s. This also includes classical reception. In 1967, Eric Clapton and his band Cream released “Tales of Brave Ulysses,” inspired by the epic wanderings of Odysseus (Ulysses to the Romans) as told in […]
Classical reception by Italian bands most often takes the form of recreating the glory of imperial Rome before it fell to the malignant forces, as they see it, of the modern world. Yet some artists, such as the folk/black metal band Selvans, look even further back in the past, to a time before the Romans […]
In the early history of Rome there is no clear boundary between myth and historical fact. What we have left from the ravages of time are legends of heroism that serve to inspire later Romans to remember what values made them glorious. One such legend is about a Roman named Gaius Mucius Scaevola. In the […]
Today we reflect on the contributions of black musicians and songwriters to the metal genre. Among them are Terrence Hobbes and Mike Smith of Suffocation, Cammie Gilbert of Oceans of Slumber, and before all of them, the bands Sound Barrier and Black Death. Also among these we remember the late, great Al Morris III, guitarist […]
The historical record has not been kind to Messalina, the Roman empress and wife of the emperor Claudius (r. 41-54 CE). The historian Tacitus recounted at length her orgiastic infidelities committed behind the back of a clueless emperor whom she kept under her beautiful spell, while the satirical poet Juvenal painted her as the representative […]
The emperor Diocletian ruled the Roman Empire for over two decades, between his successful bid for power against rival generals in 284 CE to his voluntary abdication to peaceful retirement in 305. To Roman historians, he is best known for a series of reforms that transformed the Roman imperial system. Emperors presented themselves as semi-divine […]
Kronos, one of the Titans, became king of the gods after castrating and overthrowing his father Uranus (the sky personified). To prevent the cycle from repeating, he swallowed all of his children he had with his Titan sister Rhea. However, she hid away her last born, Zeus, replacing him with a stone that Kronos swallowed. […]
Metal is often drawn to themes both of violent rebellion against the reigning establishment and to charismatic and physically capable warriors who champion not only the idea of one against many, but also of a minority wishing to reclaim from the majority a lost sense of identity and culture. Steel Assassin, a traditional heavy metal […]
2019 promises to continue, grow, and develop the reception of classics and ancient history in metal, starting with this sneak peak track from the German death/thrash metal band Protector‘s forthcoming album Summon the Hordes. The band now resides in Sweden, but this track is a testament to their German roots. The song “Three Legions” is about […]
Canada produced some of the most classic heavy metal bands since the 80’s with acts like Exciter and Razor, and continues to this day to contribute to the heavy metal renaissance with bands such as Gatekeeper and Smoulder. Not to mention the Quebecois black metal scene (see previous post on Spectral Wound). But back in […]
Heavy Metal Classicist 