Thomas Rid’s friend Samir Puri is a defense analyst in the dark throes of Heshen Obsession. Maiden. Sepultura. Megadeth. Puri contributed an essay to a volume I’ve yet to read bridging his two interests by exploring metal’s depiction of war.

Needless to say I approve of this project! (It so happens that this particular Iced Earth song isn’t about war but it’s still sick, as I believe you’ll agree. Come to think of it, Iced Earth doesn’t write so much about war.) I defer to those more experienced in the Dark Ways, but metal generally takes a detached and clinical attitude toward war than, say, hardcore and punk, even those of the metal-influenced varieties. Discharge makes the difference between crust-punk and metal academic, and they were eager to use the iconography of war to make endless antiwar statements. That’s perhaps the oldest and most venerable crusty tradition and maybe I should write something ponderous and academic about it.