Sabaton, for instance, have written a song that recounts the famous battle of 189 Swiss guards who defended the Vatican in 1527.
Demanding peace and showing empathy are moral arts. But in order for morality to truly exist, action are required as well, something which best death metal songs about war do.
1. War Pigs by Black Sabbath
“War Pigs,” Black Sabbath’s iconic opening track from their 1970 album Paranoid, can hardly be overstated as an influential song that not only helped define heavy metal music itself but also altered an entire genre. Boasting civil defense sirens over an instrumental intro and lyrics likening politicians who lead us into war to witches, the song stands as one of the most essential songs ever written and continues to remain relevant today regardless of generational differences or political landscape.
Although the Cavalera brothers boast an expansive catalog of anti-war anthems, none match “War Pigs” for its unbridled anger and fury. An epic of demons fighting back against war and power through every instrument on record and listener alike – this song stands as one of death metal’s most effective songs about war.
Black Sabbath wrote “War Pigs” during a time when conscription was widespread in both America and Britain, leading young men terrified of enlisting unwittingly for combat to use this anti-war anthem to express their outrage and express their frustration with corrupt officials for their war crimes against innocent civilians, drawing parallels between them and secret gatherings of satanic priests or witches that occur secretively – hence its original title “Walpurgis”. The song itself was recorded just before Christian feast honoring Saint Walpurgis who battled pests, diseases, witchcraft among other forms – making this antiwar anthem an antiwar anthem anthem against its lyrics to express anger and express young men outrage and frustration at being sent against their will into combat without their consent – this song provided an outlet to vent their feelings.
It was an indictment of more than just violence; it highlighted wealth disparities among those forced into battle by showing that wealthy individuals could hire others to fight instead of serving themselves. Even today, people continue to identify with this message from death metal music and its lasting relevance remains evident.
2. Disposable Heroes by Metallica
Metallica, one of metal music’s premier bands, has long addressed issues of war through their music. Disposable Heroes by Metallica is an eye-opening and thought-provoking song which explores themes of dehumanization, manipulation, and psychological toll of war. Disposable Heroes’ lyrics depict soldiers becoming desensitized to gunfire as part of war’s brutality while discussing loss of life and personal identity for those sent into battle – it should be essential listening for anyone wanting to understand more about its impact on humanity! Listening is essential if anyone looking for more insight into war’s effects on humanity!
Rock ‘n’ roll has long been associated with its message of peace-loving positivity; so it should come as no surprise that metal has an equal commitment to nonviolence. This can be seen through heavy metal bands writing classic songs about war; some being anguished anthems against military industrial complexes while others reflecting upon personal struggles that accompany serving our nation in battle.
Metallica’s Disposable Heroes song explores how soldiers are being reduced to mere soldiers by manipulation into fighting causes that don’t benefit themselves or their communities. James Hetfield uses soothing spoken words at first to ease audience nerves before delving deeper into the harsh reality of war – while machine gun riffs and expressive guitar solo splatter reflect this intensity within its music.
This song’s lyrical content makes it clear that Metallica does not support war against innocent civilians and highlights societal expectations placed upon soldiers to conform to an image of bravery and heroism. Finally, Hetfield asks people to be more responsible when confronted by war, calling on the military not to profit from war as a business venture.
Though not traditionally death metal, this song still deserves to be included on a list of best metal songs about war. The track mourns Native American genocide which is frequently ignored in other thrash and metal songs; further adding power as an antiwar protest against violence against innocents. Furthermore, its track features spoken voice recording from George H.W. Bush adding even further impactful protest message against unjust violence against civilians.
3. War Pigs by Motorhead
Walpurgis is one of the most influential death metal songs about war, written in 1970 by Black Sabbath and initially named Walpurgis (referring to Samhain), when written. This harrowing anti-war anthem conveys all the terror of warfare through imagery and lyrics depicting military commanders as sinister figures who orchestrate destruction; its lyrics also criticize those who profit from war as well as politicians who start conflicts without taking responsibility for its consequences.
Ministry is perhaps best known for their song, “First Gulf War”, which uses both lyrics and samples from that conflict to make its point, including excerpts from speeches given by George H.W. Bush and Dennis Hopper’s character in Apocalypse Now to make an angry critique of U.S. foreign policy that still resonates strongly among fans today and propelled Ministry into the mainstream music scene.
Song like this one served as a catalyst for many death metal bands to address real world issues through their music. It’s an example of how death metal music has become an avenue for social commentary while continuing to shape metal music with its raw power.
The Cavalera brothers never forget their roots, and are adept at channeling political injustice’s anger into an impactful track like this one from Slayer’s catalog. Few other tracks do it as efficiently or effectively as this one does.
Napalm Death were an unparalleled political metal band, combining hardcore punk with death metal violence to highlight institutional abuses and injustice. While most of their contemporaries focused on writing about Satanism or corpse fucking instead, Napalm Death used their music to champion oppressed peoples’ rights through advocacy through music. Unfortunately they are no longer with us but their legacy lives on through its powerful songs.
Though most songs on this playlist deal directly with warfare, this track from Megadeth’s “Rust in Peace” album offers an anti-war message through its catchy chorus and timeless chorus line. An ideal companion piece to other war-themed tunes from that era.
4. The Trooper by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden have long been one of the premier heavy metal bands. Their songs often depict violence and war; yet this doesn’t indicate they glorify it in any way; rather they often criticize leaders who start wars; this can be seen through “The Trooper,” an iconic battlefield song inspired by the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava during the Crimean War.
Iron Maiden’s most memorable song features memorable riffs, catchy choruses and galloping rhythms that make this piece unforgettable. It serves as a reminder that heroes don’t back down when faced with enemies – yet its lyrics reveal a more cynical view of being a soldier, with references to scenes and nightmares experienced while serving in the Armed Forces.
Iron Maiden are known for their epic songwriting, drawing heavily from mythology as source material for many of their most powerful tracks. One example is their interpretation of Daedalus and Icarus by using Geezer Butler’s lyrics that draw parallels between Satan and warmongers – making their message clear about their feelings towards Western involvement in war.
“You Suffer,” from Anthrax’s iconic Among the Living album, is another popular death metal song about war that resonates deeply. This track chronicles longstanding injustices suffered by indigenous Americans at the hands of European colonizers; its message resonated powerfully during an era racked by anger at such injustice and helped galvanize movements for social justice.
Metal music stands out as being uniquely political in its lyrics and message, taking an aggressive stand against war with every note it plays. Combining punk energy with heavy metal aggression, bands such as Black Sabbath and Motorhead have created some of the most effective protest anthems ever heard – especially with so much armed conflict happening worldwide today. Listening to metal is now more vital than ever to hold our governments accountable for their actions!