Hard Vision |
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DEATH METAL: A DOCUMENTARY Well, let me start off by saying that I'm not really into the whole death metal scene. That style of music doesn't exactly float my boat and, for the most part, I think it sucks the unholy goat. But, don't worry, I won't let that fact cloud my mind when it comes to writing this review. I can be honest. Anyway, Michael Moore this isn't. Nope...wouldn't exactly call this a documentary. It's more like an explanation. I guess I'll have to clear that one up for those of you who are a few upside down crosses short of a satanic ceremony, huh? Well, okay, here we go. You see, a documentary (usually) has more focus. That's not to say that this release is lacking in that department, because it isn't. I have a documentary on the Titanic. You know, that big ship that went belly up because God himself couldn't sink it and he decided to show people that he could, in fact, sink a ship. Now, if you watch this release from start to finish, you get information on the company that built it and why they built it and so on and so forth. Then you get into the story about the ship. The few days it spent above water, the sinking, the people who lived, the people who died, the expedition that found the ship a few decades later. In other words, you get the big picture, from start to finish...and then some. With this release...you're not really getting the big picture. What you do get is part of the big picture from some of the people involved in this genre of music. You get an explanation about what the music means to them, why they play it, what it takes to play it, stuff like that, which is cool. It's the people who make the music, talking about the music. In other words, it's death metal explained. It's that simple. It's the artist themselves who go into detail. It's not some journalist saying, "Okay, so, why did you make this album?" Like I said, I'm not too fond of the music, but, I was able to sit through this release without getting bored because it was interesting...and I think it's because it shows that death metal people aren't any different than any other people. They're simply artists doing what they love to do. I'm not a big fan of Peter Steele, who seems to be the most well known person featured here. But, he comes off like the kind of guy that I could hang out with, kickin' back a few beers and shooting the shit. Actually, everyone who was interviewed here came off that way. On top of that, there's some video clips thrown in here and there to give it a little more flavor. Can't talk about the cake without having a little bite to eat now, can we? At the end of this release, there's a trailer for a movie called "Dirtbags," which was created by the same guy who put this release together. When I found out who that way, it was quite a shock to my system. I have, in my basement, a copy of a fanzine called The Grimoire of Exalted Deeds. It's the very first issue, which was really "underground" so to speak. I knew this cheap little publication eventually grew into a full blown magazine...I have an issue or two of the "improved" version, which kick ass I might add. Anyway, enough ass kissing...the man we're talking about is the one and only Bill Zebub. Yeah...wow...I know, uh, well, knew...somebody famous. Now he's making DVD's and home movies...well, I knew about the home movies. I think I still have one of his early ones. Funny stuff. It's good to know he's still at it...and doing better than ever it seems. So, now that I left the cat out of the bag, hopefully, some of you will check out this release. I guess you really have to be into death metal to appreciate it. But, even if you're not, it's worth checking out if you can because it will give you a better understanding of the music and the people who make it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for church. Yeah...right! |