Death Metal: sushi for the ears

Do you remember the first time you found out that people eat raw fish? The revulsion was immediate and strong. If, like me, you thought of school cafeteria fish stick served raw, it is understandable. Regardless, the initial idea of eating uncooked seafood is a shock to the system. Eating sushi for the first time can be a bit of a shock as well. The textures and flavors are unlike anything you normally find, especially in American cuisine.

The first time I heard a death metal growl, I thought Satan was speaking. It sounded horrible. It sounded evil and decidedly unmusical. It was laughable that people considered it good music and frightening that albums were actually being recorded and purchased and that bands were being booked and concerts attended.

I was able to finally try sushi as an adult. I didn’t enjoy it, but I didn’t hate it. Time passed and opportunities came here and there to dine. Finally, on trip to Shanghai, our hosts treated us to 15 courses of fine, fresh sushi and I found it interesting, refreshing and exciting. Food rarely does that to an old man like me.

I was on Amazon browsing some of the latest offerings by Stratovarius and Dream Theater and noticed the sidebar Listmania about progressive metal and started reading. A band mentioned with a great deal of enthusiasm was Opeth. The author had unbelievers me in mind by including the following warning and helpful framing, “Opeth is a death metal band, but a progressive band first. They use both clean lyrics and traditional growls. Do not be quick to write these guys off. Their music is remarkable and if you think growling is not a talent, try doing it for a 2 hour set every night.”

I had sushi recently at a cool, new restaurant. The food blew me away. Every bite was so good that I could hardly concentrate on anything else. It moved me. The combination of flavors and textures were perfectly combined in an assembly of culinary ecstasy. The presentation, with the exacting cuts and colors, displayed with precision was a joy to the eye. I had found my new home.

At first I would listen to Opeth for the shock value on my cubicle mates, but the music won me over. I was able to get passed the prejudice of the growl. I learned that a sound, on its own, can be neither good nor evil. Like the distorted guitar, a growl is an instrument that most use poorly but some use so well you wonder how you ever enjoyed music without it. In fact, music without at least an occasional death rattle, sounds feminine and poppy and lacks the testicular fortitude of real music.

A lot of growling bugs me still. The strained, high pitched screaming while different from the growl is similar in that it often sounds horrendous, but if done right can add to the overall song. But Mikael Akerfelt and Johan Hegg… move me.