Hello Parrots of the
New Age Sophistry
Many of
today’s top sludge metal bands have cited Black Flag’s 1983 album My War as a primary influence on their
work. Isn’t it strange, then, how many
mainstream music critics have described that album as totally without merit? Don’t worry: as Sludge and its sisters Stoner
and Doom metal continue to rise in popularity and proliferation, the day is
fast approaching when new critics will appear who praise this music and its
antecedents. Just look at what happened
to Black Sabbath. I remember when Tony
Iommi was dismissed as “inept.” I
remember when Ozzy went to Russia
with Bon Jovi and some other lightweights and the Rolling Stone people were stunned to discover that all the Russian
kids cared about was Ozzy and his connection to Black Sabbath. Punk is much more closely related to Metal
than “Garage rock.” One day Black Flag
will be categorized with the metalheads far more than with the punks.
