Music and Counterculture

 Those celebrating a winter holiday around this time know that this time of year is filled with much celebration. And a common best friend of celebration is chaos, especially as preparations, festivities, and whatnot fill each day with something to do. It is without a doubt a hectic season. That being said, your writer needs a few weeks off of research and cohesive thoughts as she dives headfirst into the days of carols and lights. But I don't want to leave you with nothing. [By this point, Christmas day proper may be over, and the new year may be almost here, but there are still holiday movies left to watch. And for some, it is only the 7th Day of Christmas.] As a little belated Christmas gift, I would like to share with you a few tunes that I frequently play around this time (whilst attempting to keep the commentary to a relative minimum). And of course, staying within the theme of the blog, the songs will more or less stay around the subcultural/countercultural realm. Abney Park...

Over the years, numerous Native Americans have embraced the metal genre as a source of self-expression, a reflection of heritage, a release of tension, and an amplified voice calling for change or recognition. Some have been there since the beginning, helping to shape the high-energy genre we know today, while others take part in creating new subgenres that display their soul in unique ways.  Although the metal subculture encapsulates an incredibly diverse array of backgrounds with fans from all walks of life, it's clear that the face of metal, especially to outsiders, is, unfortunately, noticeably white. But under the surface, an unmistakable Native American presence flourishes, waiting for the world to recognize its vitality.  In honour of Native American Heritage Month, I've decided to gather together a few articles to share with you, hoping to give you a little look into the Native American metal community. A little Show and Tell, if you will (as I recover my wits from the...