tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post9090809599080030942..comments2024-03-28T15:20:35.787-07:00Comments on Illogical Contraption: BROMANTIC INTERLUDE #2: Helm Schools Us On Greek MetalShelby Cobrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-43529455354716752442022-06-18T04:45:15.245-07:002022-06-18T04:45:15.245-07:00Great website, continue the Excellent work!Great website, continue the Excellent work!Xanaxhttps://www.healthcareshopy.com/xanax-footballs-yellow/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-56893992040260354212018-07-16T23:09:45.108-07:002018-07-16T23:09:45.108-07:00To me, this looks like black magic. I am not under...To me, this looks like black magic. I am not understanding what this has to do with yogurt and AA batteries Buy cialis onlinehttp://www.buygenericviagrarx.com/product/generic-cialisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-2299223732807875812012-02-22T12:19:10.302-08:002012-02-22T12:19:10.302-08:00Interesting drawing!Interesting drawing!Viagrahttp://www.kwikmed.com/viagra.aspnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-42444763408478046822011-09-13T21:22:22.776-07:002011-09-13T21:22:22.776-07:00Thanks mate... just dropped by. Will look for BIKE...Thanks mate... just dropped by. Will look for BIKE STN when we get to Seattle. Still in Buenos Airies.acheter du viagra sur internethttp://dysfonction-erectile-pharmacie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-54078328976251854792010-06-05T05:45:04.956-07:002010-06-05T05:45:04.956-07:00Aesop your blog is GREAT.
Helm's artwork and ...Aesop your blog is GREAT.<br /><br />Helm's artwork and write up is very much to my liking!<br /><br />I didnt knew that he had such plans when he asked me for a collection though :-)WOMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-77538017700063975812010-02-12T06:17:00.417-08:002010-02-12T06:17:00.417-08:00An extremely enlightening post. I've been enj...An extremely enlightening post. I've been enjoying some of the featured band for a while & am keen to hear the rest. Cheers!GRK.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03224536268152487570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-16078904156544580012010-02-08T19:15:57.139-08:002010-02-08T19:15:57.139-08:00As far as I can peer into a mind of a bigot I don&...As far as I can peer into a mind of a bigot I don't think NS music *makes* for neo-nazis. I think that neo-nazis seek out and find music that suits their predisposition. Perhaps on a formative level an extreme person looking for a way to brand themselves as extreme might be indoctrinated via NS music into some organization, but I think those people would end up violent social elements either way, it doesn't say much to me if they're going to be cracking heads for Marx or for Reptoid Hitler.<br /><br />Art seems a reflection of past and future, it doesn't lead a society through change because largely society isn't aware of its avant-garde art anyway.<br /><br />That is to say, I'm pretty sure that the heads of nazi organizations in Greece do not listen or perhaps aren't even aware of the specifics when it comes to NS black metal.<br /><br />I hope *some* of the mirror links to the compo work for you.<br /><br />Thank you for the interesting dialogue.Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-29145421795349714432010-02-08T14:45:29.772-08:002010-02-08T14:45:29.772-08:00helm -
Excellent insights! It's good to hear ...helm -<br /><br />Excellent insights! It's good to hear such a perspective on Greek social politics--most of my info has come either from independent news sources interested in demonizing the police state/fascist elements and championing student/anarchist actions as some kind of peoples uprising without any kind nuanced analysis as to how these social elements actually function, or from mainstream coverage which tends to denigrate any kind of heated social conflict as evidence of incivility.<br /><br />As for heavy metal, interesting thoughts about Greece's cultural landscape in a global context. The prevalence of extremist content in metal is, of course, unsurprising. I assumed that the fellows Dead Congregation lay their souls down before the deities of death metal rather than their ancestors, and was more wondering if their dedication to the genre was cause enough for people to associate them with some kind of NS ideals. <br /><br />I suppose my main line of inquiry regarding the music scene is whether if the metal scene's predilection for bigoted/nationalist extremes has an influence on these political elements. In my experience in the United States, hardcore/crust scenes tends to siphon people towards left wing political action more frequently than skinhead/BM does for right wing politics. Although both extremes are generally politically marginalized,yada yada... wondering if this was similar/reversed in Greece. Your response definitely shed some light on the subject.<br /><br />Although I find myself far to the left of the political spectrum, I'm not looking avoid any bands based on their ideology (currently listening to Arghoslent...)<br /><br />Thanks again for enlightening an ignorant American! Looking forward to hearing this mix you posted, if only i can get this thing to download...meastupidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08746345733259341621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-37372107268104808712010-02-08T10:40:12.770-08:002010-02-08T10:40:12.770-08:00danraslin (Dan Raslin?), thank you for the kind wo...danraslin (Dan Raslin?), thank you for the kind words.<br /><br />There are certainly enduring ties between the Greek neo-nazi organizations and the government. They're certainly the favorite sons of the police. They're a tool of the 'para-state' (I'm not sure how well this translates, something like "The abberant state" or "The other state") a shadow government that uses illegal ends to carry out the means of the legit government, I'm pretty sure this is a common enough concept. <br /><br />They are used to weaken reactionary (or sometimes not) political left-wing movements through diffusional straight-ahead street conflict during riots, often with the help and protection of the police. Sometimes there's acts of provocation staged by them and then left on the doorstep of the left-winged parties. Pitting the comfortable middle-class worker against the more extreme left-wing aspects is the main focus of these provocations. <br /><br />The neo-nazis themselves are only a symptom of a larger disease, sadly a lot of the more trigger-happy left-winged elements that enjoy the violence and conflict as much as the skinheads do tend to focus on 'how to destroy the neo-nazis' instead of focusing on how to subvert the power structures that lend credibility and support to them. Again I am sure this is a very common thing in any country with social unrest.<br /><br />There has been a discrete rise of nationalist sentiment in Greece in the last ten years, with all the cultural paraphernalia such a rise usually brings, like a lot of sub-literature about Ancient Greeks Being The Most Awesome (and/or coming from Alpha Centauri) and of course there is a reflection of all of this in Heavy Metal, itself given to extreme notions and some times ideologies. I would not say however that this rise adds up to very much in purely political pressure, but on communicational terms they have a lot of influence because they are very loud. <br /><br />Greece is usually ten years too late when it comes to borrowing cultural movements from abroad, so we are now seeing the rise of 'hatecore' (or NS black metal or whatever) with organizations that try to use this sort of music as propaganda. It's almost like the Greeks saw American History X and thought 'man, a subculture based around hate music seems cool, let's do it!'. Legion of Doom were distinctive in that they were *very early*, even in international terms.<br /><br />I can tell you that there's certainly a way to get a whole bunch of people to listen and promote your band for free if you are loudly NS, and that's the secret behind all NS scenes around the world really. <br /><br />There are crusty anarchist bands that champion the opposite politics, yes.<br /><br />As to a divide in a music scene, keep in mind that I personally do not belong to any scene so I can't really answer. What I can tell you is that by-and-large, Heavy Metal is the domain of extremists (or sometimes extremists-only-in-talk-not-action) in Greece, so there's a very strong racist/bigoted aspect to it, and some volatile neo-Marxist aspect to it, both of which I generally find unfortunate because HM doesn't lend itself well to ideology (as it is an exploration of the inside, not the outside world) so I find all of these social games and diversions from what HM is trying to do to a listener.<br /><br />Dead Congregation are not visibly and loudly part of any fascist or leftist movement, I do not know their personal politics and the little I've talked with Anastasis he seemed like a very driven man as far as death metal goes, but I do not know anything about his positions on immigration or Greek ancestry. If such things as not listening to music by bigots matter to you you're probably safe with Dead Congregation. But they do seem to hate Christianity, or is that a benign hatred that we're all used to now because we've listened to HM for so long?Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-62044516698561068402010-02-08T09:22:33.953-08:002010-02-08T09:22:33.953-08:00helm -
excellent write up, i'm very excited ...helm - <br /><br />excellent write up, i'm very excited to give this a listen.<br /><br />your write-up on Legion of Doom reminds me of something I've been rather curious about, and I'm wondering if you can shed some light.<br />For the past year or so, I've been reading news from Greece concerning all sorts of student/anarchist/anti-fascist conflicts. In the English-speaking, anarchist oriented news that I read, much has been made of a burgeoning fascist/anti-immigration wing in Greek politics, many organizations having ties to influential politicians and police departments, etc.<br />I'm wondering if and how these apparent political divides are reflected in the music scene. Clearly have been bands such as Legion of Doom that affiliate themselves with right wing political organizations, and no doubt there are legions of anarchist crust bands championing the students...<br />is this still (or has it ever been) a meaningful divide in the greek music scene? are well known metal outfits like Dead Congregation completely unassociated with politics? is there any punk/metal unity? Am I completely off the mark here? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.<br /><br />PS, I thoroughly dig your blog a-sides b-sides. it's lovely.meastupidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08746345733259341621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-54504065149999718362010-02-02T00:56:43.293-08:002010-02-02T00:56:43.293-08:00Love to filosophize on that topic: the cultural di...Love to filosophize on that topic: the cultural differences in black metal - norwegian/french/greek/polish...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-8125031619229837652010-02-01T17:27:01.507-08:002010-02-01T17:27:01.507-08:00Shit, this is awesome. Many thanks!Shit, this is awesome. Many thanks!atanamarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17369207355770059506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-32050619192431836902010-02-01T14:33:43.690-08:002010-02-01T14:33:43.690-08:00Haha, that's hilarious, especially the bit abo...Haha, that's hilarious, especially the bit about the yogurt. No surprises about the double A batteries, Max Cavalera talks about doing the same thing in the early days of Sepultura on that <em>Global Metal</em> doc...Shelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-22488759338628592362010-02-01T14:21:28.997-08:002010-02-01T14:21:28.997-08:00Oh and it's hard to make out, but that bullet ...Oh and it's hard to make out, but that bullet belt is made out of AA batteries. It all photocopies the same in stark black and white anyway. True story.Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-20740000074406683762010-02-01T14:20:14.184-08:002010-02-01T14:20:14.184-08:00Yes I am responsible for the cover art.
On the to...Yes I am responsible for the cover art.<br /><br />On the top it says GREEK BLACK METAL, in greeklish.<br /><br />The off-panel voice says "Pano, come eat your yogurt!" and Panos replies "not now mom, we're doing the photo shoot!"<br /><br />And below it reads "A Blaze in the Pagrati Sky". Pagrati being in downtown Athens, I guess a similar thing is the name of the old blog "A Blaze in the New Jersey Sky", just emphasizing the absurdity of it all.<br /><br />I am not making fun with the cover in a mean-spirited way, it's funny because it's true is all. I have taken part to similar photo shoots in the forest with fake guns pointed at stray dogs and whatnot. Tender memories.Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-86702219566892855682010-02-01T14:06:31.831-08:002010-02-01T14:06:31.831-08:00dies = doesdies = doesShelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-37649531992379572922010-02-01T14:05:55.661-08:002010-02-01T14:05:55.661-08:00All credit goes to Helm on this one, dude.
Great t...All credit goes to Helm on this one, dude.<br />Great tunes and epic imagery. I was especially stoked on the prospect of swarthy black metal fisherman and reptoid Hitler influencing the minds and songwriting of impressionable Greek metal youth.<br />2 questions for Helm: Are you responsible for the cover art? Also, what dies the cover say? My Greek is a little rusty.<br /><br />PS Aesop: You're on my list to do one of these things eventually, too.Shelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-70496953649967317772010-02-01T13:55:19.179-08:002010-02-01T13:55:19.179-08:00Depends on which era of the classic Greek bands re...Depends on which era of the classic Greek bands really. Kawir *do* sound like Varathron, just not the early Varathron or to say it in a different way both Kawir and late Varathron sound like Norwegian bands which is the problem.Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-55821930690965976812010-02-01T13:20:38.395-08:002010-02-01T13:20:38.395-08:00Awesome, thanks. To me Kawir sound like an updated...Awesome, thanks. To me Kawir sound like an updated take on the classic Greek bands, but obviously my ears aren't as trained as Mr. Helm's in such matters of Hellenic darkness. Thanks, Helm, for this great piece, and thanks Shelby for hosting it.Aesophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00990490489634243519noreply@blogger.com