All throughout school and even into my adult years, every time the subject of what music you listen to pops up, I say heavy music. Once those words leave my mouth, 95% of people have the same response, they scream in my face followed by - you listen to this shit?! The second instalment of the More Than Meets the Scream series - Motivational.
In life there are good and bad days, it’s stupid to think that every day is supposed to be perfect, the grass may always look greener, but it’s truly not, but for those days that someone or something has got you down you need motivation to get back on your feet, and yes to your surprise heavy music is full of songs that do just that.
One band that took me by surprise is American Hardcore out-fit Hatebreed; the name does suggest that they breed hate, but I beg to differ, per quota of songs that they have released, they seek out to motivate people listeners to their music to keep their head up. I first discovered this band back in 07’ when they played Soundwave, I waited around because Parkway Drive had just finished yet another amazing set. From the first song into their set, I saw lead singer and lyricist Jamey Jasta as my new life coach, who was screaming at me to do better and to never give up. Now he doesn't go on to say that life is all rosey, he puts it straight, shit happens but there is a way through it. With songs titled such as ‘Facing What Consumes You’, ‘To The Threshold’ & ‘A Lesson Lived, Is A Lesson Learned’ they just breed motivation, but, seeing them live it wasn’t just the music and the lyrics that reached me, it was Jamey and the way he spoke to the crowd in-between songs, he spoke of his own misfortunes and how he has issues each day, but there is always a way to overcome them.
Another band that does this better than anyone is LA hardcore band ‘The Ghost Inside’. Every song they have written in my opinion has always been motivating in one way or another. Whether it’s learning to overcome grief or giving the best you can each and every day. Yet there is a common factor here, the singer and lyricist of the band Jonathan Vigil is so similar to Jamey of Hatebreed, both have overcome challenges in their life, lived to tell the tale and now want the world to know that there is always light at the end of each tunnel. Jonathan connects with his audience better than any front man I have ever seen live, after every song he explains what the song is about and how you can get ahead of life before it gets ahead of you. I saw them play a headline show at The Metro Theatre in Sydney a few years ago, it was a crazy sold out crowd, with mosh pits and people fighting invisible ninjas everywhere. They then played their last song before their encore, that track being ‘White Light’ which is about Jonathan’s late brother Ryan. After they performed the song, the band went off stage, but only Jonathan returned to tell everyone the force behind that song. I have never seen such rowdy crowd be dead silent, it was amazing. He spoke for about 5 minutes, inspiring every single person there; you could hear tears flowing from all round the room.
Now... It's time for a little game of would you rather? Out of the two sets of lyrics below, which would you prefer the youngest member of your family listens to?
1.
It doesn’t matter where I’ve been. Can’t give in, and shut down.
Just breathe in and breathe out and begin.
I shook the hand of doubt so I could sever the lines that he spits from his mouth.
And now it’s time to pull through. Something I must do with or without you.
OR
2.
Have a drink, clink, found the Bud Light
Bad bitches like me, is hard to come by
The Patrón, own, let’s go get it on
The zone, own, yes I’m in the zone
So before you judge, just remember there is more than meets the scream.
-Trent R