I'm on my op-ed grind at the minute, not only because there's no new music out at the moment, bar the Pierce the Veil cover of Karma Police that I'll write a review about soon and the new Taylor Swift album I'm not touching with a ten foot pole, but also because I quite like writing little opinion pieces here and there talking about the big issues in music today. And this one ladies and gents is a juicy one. Is rock and metal becoming all about the style and not about the substance? The thought came to me today as I sat writing another article about music burnout, that a lot of the bands I like tend to have some sort of gimmick when it comes to their appearances. I mean Slipknot, Sleep Token, even the stylistic choices of Swollen Teeth and GWAR, all bands I enjoy or know about second hand, but also that have a deciding factors in their appearance - either masks or costumes or some other defining feature. It got me thinking, is there a culture shift at the moment? Is the future of metal more unknown masked rockers?
(Image courtesy of Louder Sound)
I think, for some part, yes it is. Bands like Sleep Token are a credit to the fact that if you inject a band with enough mystery and cloak and dagger storytelling you can interact with your audience on a whole new level. I mean, we haven't even heard Vessel's actual voice beyond his insanely deep singing voice for crying out loud. Plus, they're appearance is, on all accounts completely badass. The production quality is through the roof, with all of them having, now in the new era at least, custom made masks of insane quality. They also have custom outfits that are insanely detailed and add to their overall stage personas. If we want to look at the serious extremes of these themes, look at GWAR, a band known for wearing the most insane costumes whilst they play their gigs. Their legacy has lasted since 1984, and have seen each member rocking their own disgustingly brilliant latex masterpieces on stage every night, along with some more insane stage pieces like bodies that spurt fake blood on the audience. This stuff works because more and more we expect a show when we go and see live music. It's one thing to go and see your favourite band, but the added mysticism and showmanship that goes into these bands behind costumes and masks adds another mysterious element that arguably is keeping modern fans engaged.
(Image courtesy of Sleep Token)
I mean if you need proof, look at Slipknot. Those guys have had a niche and stuck to it over the years, and although haven't been around as long as GWAR, Slipknot has arguably made more of a mainstream impact. Ever since the band was playing basement gigs in Iowa, they've worn their masks, and even now after forming in 1995 it's still something they continue to do, updating and revamping their style over and over. Members like Clown even have multiple variants of the same mask they wear on any one night, and others like Sid Wilson have masks that evolve and shed over the course of a live show. Ever since their conception they decided to strip back modern day glam rock aestheticism and subvert the modern rock ideologies of glitz and glamour, but as we see it more and more, is a little bit of that masked up charm beginning to rub off?
Put a gun to my head and ask me to reel of bands that wear masks, I could probably talk at you for hours. If we're talking a bit more retro, look no further than Mushroomhead - want something more recent? Well look no further than Ghost and their troupe of Nameless Ghouls, or the eastern European monsters in Slaughter to Prevail. Need more? Well Mudvayne have always paraded around in various degrees of makeup and masks, Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit fame has been known for his odd appearances at concerts ranging from insane alien face paint to chin prosthetics and so on and so fourth. Hell, even Kiss fit into the bracket, along with the crimson ghoul from Misfits. I won't go on, but in terms of breaking new ground, masked bands are nothing new. The market is quite literally saturated with bands that in one way or another look different from those around them - it's become a bit of a craze in recent years, and some people on the internet have a bit of a problem with it.
(Image courtesy of Slipknot's Social Media)
When masked bands started out, it was the mystique that really made them what they are. Not only that, but the culture that sprung out of this aesthetic trend is palpable on Facebook and Youtube. Content creators like AJ Goode at The House of Masks is a perfect example of someone who loves a masked band. There are replicas of Slipknot masks rolling around online, some terrible, but others that are so insanely well made that they'll set you back hundreds of pounds. People like Lani Hernandez started off as Slipknot mask enthusiast who made latex props and replicas for fun, and later on ended up making those brand new masks for Sleep Token. The culture of it all is insane, but some people are saying that it's gone from being mystical to just being a bit of a gimmick.
Some argue that actually, with a mask on, you can't connect with the musicians you're watching. When you go and see someone like Metallica for example, you're there to connect with the four guys onstage. You can see their faces, really watch them play and sing and scream their tracks, really connect with that undeniably human experience. Others reckon that actually, due to the weird internet culture we have today, the para-social relationships between fans and masked singers actually cause their anonymity to be in more danger than if they never wore it at all. The mysticism causes people to dig, and when they're fans who for some reason take things way too far, it can end up with another Sleep Token leak online, and people making some very invasive discoveries.
(Image courtesy of LiveWire)
As subject matters go, this one really does divide people. Where do I stand on it? Well, to be honest, the aesthetics, although cool, have never been a deciding factor in how I enjoy my music. The reason why it works for Sleep Token and Slipknot isn't because it's some huge fad that they've ridden out over the years, but because they make good music irrespective of the way they present themselves onstage. Ultimately as long as it in no way interferes with the art, then why shouldn't they? Sure, it's not an original idea, and people have done it and will continue to for years and years to come, but for some the mask can be a reassuring way to keep yourself and your stage persona separate, or to even overcome nerves when performing live. I owned a couple of Slipknot mask replicas for a while, and loved owning a little bit of that culture to display. Although they've been sold on now, I still think that it's all a cool add on for bands to follow with the masked trend, just as long as they have the musical chops to back it all up with.
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