Over the weekend, a new hardcore band out of San Jose, CA named Reformers released a track called "Intolerance," ohgodherewegoagain.
The song sounds like a Hatebreed/The Acacia Strain derivative with some of the lamest lyrics I've ever heard:
Truth is truth, not only is this song terrible, but it seems like it's preaching homophobia. The basic premise of the song seems to be that America's Christian values have been compromised to the point that Christians are now the rebels who are being untolerated. It's something I see in the comments on here all the time when I write about Dave Mustaine: "Freedom of speech!! I have the right to my opinion." Yes, you do and I have to right to criticize your shitty opinion.
And if you speak your mind.
Truth for humankind.
It's called judgement
They'll say it loud.
You're such a bigot.
LEAVE THE BIGOTS ALONE EVERYBODY!! Let them free to judge. If you think it can't get any worse, just scan to the 1:43 mark for the "clean vocals" where the lyrics go:
We've been lost and confused
Twisted the truth
We've been conflicted.
Yea.
We've been conflicted.
We've been concerned with pleasing everyone.
But I'm done with running from
Confronting sin in love.
Here's what really bothers me about these lyrics and the song, and the current crusade against same-sex couples. How is it any of your business? Okay, your God says its a sin. So what? How does two people living their lives have any affect on you? Gay marriage is an abomination? So what?! Gays want marriage to be legal so that they can get the same tax breaks as straight married couples. Marriage can be legal and still not accepted by the church. This is strictly a legal issue, why is it becoming a religious one? You think being gay is an abomination – that's fine, don't be gay then. Leave everybody else alone!
Naturally, this sparked outrage in the metal community, so much so that the frontman of the band had to issue a statement saying the song is not homophobic but calling out everybody's sins:
Wait, so what about these lyrics then, Andy:
You don't get to pick and choose what's right for you
Truth is truth.
Infidelity.
Twisted sexuality.
Has become our reality.
Put Christ on the cross
There must be a cost.
What's your response?
Seems like you are condemning "twisted sexuality" and "infadelity" here to which again, I ask, what is it any of your business?
For their part, Mediaskare Records is feeling the heat and decided to release their own statement on the matter:
“Mediaskare Records is a platform for music as an art form. Neither pro or anti anything. Just art.
Art is there to invoke feeling, thought and debate. It’s not supposed to be liked by everyone, nor just sit in the background. It’s supposed to make you feel, one way or another.
One persons or groups opinion is merely that, the opinion of that person or group and in no way reflects on our own personal opinions or views. We might not personally agree, but we believe in the right for you, them or anyone else to have the right to say it.
When you start censoring art you become the problem and part of an ideology. All views, whether political, religious or otherwise are represented on this Mediaskare Records. We have Christian bands preaching the love of god, we have atheist bands preaching otherwise, we have political bands from all spectrums. Not once do we steer, interfere or advise artists in what their content should be.
If your canvas is silence and you paint with sound, if we like it, we put it out. If there is meaning, hidden meaning or has no agenda at all just doesn’t come into the equation because art is relative to each person and is extremely subjective.
And just like our artist, we respect our friends and family’s views. You don’t like a band or their message, we understand. That’s your opinion and you have every right to air it.I hope you understand that we feel art is the one place politics, religion and social ideologies should be aired and expressed freely and without censorship, no matter what end of the spectrum it comes from."
Mediaskare is certainly within their right to release whatever they want, but they can't backtrack when people reject the hate that's being spewed in this song. What if the song was about how black people or women were an abomination? I don't think they would be screaming "but it's art" would they?
I guess if nothing else this terrible band sure is getting a lot of publicity.
I eagerly await the high-brow comments that will ensue because of this post.
