With its booming speakers, shrieking vocals, and ear-crackling guitar solos, it's easy to shrink back in terror after hearing metal for the first time. Punk’s insatiable anger, smashed drum sets, and arm-flailing crowds can be equally scary. However, while the crowd-diving may not appear welcoming at first, many metal and punk bands utilize their musical talent as platforms of progressive activism. After delving deeper into the lyrics and musical compositions, these genres reveal themselves to be incredibly complex and capable of enacting poignant change.

Forged in the aftermath of rock becoming mainstream in the 1970’s, punk became an outlet for rebellion. Many bands spoke out against social and economic issues of their eras, and as time went on, the music itself steadily grew more diversified. However, this also helped foster a male-dominated culture among artists and fans that heavily excluded women from the conversation. 

In response to this testosterone-fueled culture, feminist rebellion emerged as a movement called “Riot grrrl”. One of the pioneers of this movement is the band Bikini Kill. The group promotes a woman-centric atmosphere at every performance, urging them to come to the front of the crowd and push away men that block the stage. Their song “Jet Ski” screams to the listener that: “I’m not your rocket ship/ Or your motorboat/ Your movie set/ or your cartoon show/ Not your fucking VCR/ Not your avant-garde postcard idea.” The lyrics demand the de-objectification of women within the commercial realm and critiques the concept being a social norm in the first place. The band recently reunited, and will tour throughout 2021 to keep spreading their messages of radical feminism and gender equality.

Another incredibly fascinating member of punk history is Ian Mackaye, an artist known for his roles in bands such as Embrace, Minor Threat, Fugazi, and many more. He also works with many artists as a producer, including Bikini Kill. He spoke about how he looks at punk as an open door for artists, saying that to him it is “the freespace, that's my definition of punk rock, it is an area of creative expression that is not dictated by the industry, is not dictated by profit.” He continued to elaborate, saying that it is useful “as a musician, to understand what is right for you, and then think of the industry as perhaps a tool or vehicle, but not as the thing that decides whether or not your work is valid.” He also spoke about the benefits of performing in unconventional places, saying that it helps “continue the practice of having music arrive and sprout up anywhere, because if you’re playing a thrift shop, or the foyer of an old movie theater, those are the places that don’t rely on clientele, so that music is everywhere and everybody can come see it, of all ages.” To this day, Ian and his current band Coriky continue to make music in all sorts of ways, shapes, and sizes, so that the freespace of punk lives on and continues to be an area of expression for everyone to explore and enjoy.

Like punk, metal originated in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as a response to mainstream rock. Defined by heavy distortion and often macabre themes, metal evolved throughout the decades and split off into many different subgenres.

A powerful voice of metal activism is the band Stratospheerius. Formed in 2001, they are a progressive rock/metal band that defies and explores the genres they are classified within. Founding member Joe Deninzon is the lead vocalist and plays the electric violin. Their upcoming album revolves around mental health, and their new song “Imposter” delves into the idea of having a double-life in front of others. He explains, “It's about imposter syndrome, and about how so many people I know that are successful by any standard, can sometimes have crises of confidence, and feel like they’re imposters.” This idea of identity fracture is very relatable, regardless of age or profession, and this expression through music can help others feel like they are not alone no matter what they are going through.

Although they may sound scary at first, punk and metal are genres filled to the brim with activism. Whether it be the radical feminism of Bikini Kill, the unabashed freedom of Fugazi, or the complex melodies of Stratospheerius in support of positive mental health, these bands show how powerful music can inspire powerful change.