Top 10 Political Metal Bands

Heavy metal has always touched on social and political issues. Metal godfathers Black Sabbath criticized the Vietnam War in songs like "War Pigs" and "Children of the Grave." Ever since then, metal has been both socially and politically conscious. This weeks top 10 list is for metal's best political bands.


System of a Down


While many of the bands songs focus on the Armenian Genocide, the band is not a one trick pony. The band often sings about corruption, the media, and activism.
Notable albums: System of a Down, Toxicity


Rage Against the Machine


The band has always been spitting its' venom at the right-wing capitalists. Favorite targets of the band include the military industrial complex, capitalism, religion and political corruption.
Notable albums: Evil Empire, Rage Against the Machine


Corporate Avenger


Many of the bands songs are about the evils of religion and the English settlers atrocities against the Native Americans. The band also sings about police corruption, and the horrors of organized religion.
Notable albums: Taxes Are Stealing EP, Freedom Is A State of Mind


Death


Although not a political band, Death release an album in 1990 that was primarliy concerned with social issues like execution, abortion, religion, and capitalism.
Notable Album: Spiritual Healing


Look What I Did


Frontman Barry Donegan uses his lyrics in a more subtle way. You need to dig deep to find a lot of the political leanings of the band, but they are there. Barry also pens The Gauntlet's weekly political blog entitled "Dangerous Truths."
Notable Albums: My First Time


Sepultura


No band represents the international metal scene better than Sepultura. Coming from a third world nation of Brazil, the band stands up for the voiceless. Song themes include excessive use of force, police states, bio-technology, ecology and native tribes.
Notable Albums: Chaos A.D.


Lamb of God


The band was motivated by the greed and hypocrisy of politicians. Sacrament was largely a scathing attack on George W. Bush.
Notable Albums: As The Palaces Burn, Sacrament


Megadeth


Having a frontman who describes himself as a political and environmental activist is a plus at getting your band on this list. The band has penned songs pointing out deficiencies in the United Nations for its' many failures to act in times of crisis.
Notable Albums: United Abominations, Rust In Peace, Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?


OTEP


OTEP is a band that preaches self awareness. The band levels a sonic fury at the Bush administration and war machine along with the dismantling of our civil freedoms.
Notable Albums: The Ascension, Sevas Tra

Napalm Death


Inspired by the Anarcho-punk movement, Napalm Death spewed it's toxins at anyone and anything in power. The bands political leanings tend to skew towards the leftist socialists.
Notable Albums: Scum, The Code is Red...Long Live the Code

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Tags:  top 10, politics, political, government, anarchy

Jason Fisher    August 22, 2008