Continuing the History of Metal through short (trivia packed) chapters and accompanying playlists.
Thanks for all the support of Part 1 of these ongoing series! You asked me for more, here it is :)
Work in progress, will be posting irregularly (but...
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Over the years 'Combat Metal' has been used as a term to describe a myriad of bands and genres.
Legendary Dutch Metal magazine 'Aardschok' coined the term for special CD re-release boxsets in the 90’s that came filled with unpolished records that provided a perfect soundtrack to demolish your local pit. Agnostic Front's 'Cause For Alarm', Exodus' 'Good Friendly Violent Fun', Megadeth's 'Killing Is My Business', you name it.
Those limited-edition boxsets have now become ultra-rare collectibles.
In more recent times, the term Combat Metal has been used to describe bands who at some point have made war, armed forces, or combat their theme. Artwork, lyrics, stage shows, you get the point.
Especially for 80's Thrash bands that imagery came almost natural, as the genre often used nuclear holocaust and apocalyptic themes. In the 90's, as Death Metal become very popular, more bands used the war concept. Legends Bolt Thrower and more recently supergroup Hail Of Bullets are prime examples of bands playing Combat Death Metal.
Important to note is that Combat Metal is very different from the Bestial Black Metal that is often called War Metal. First of all, Combat Metal bands don't play Black Metal. Secondly, the bands on this playlist will either discuss historic facts, praise the bravery of fighting men and women, but often protest the uselessness of war. You will not find the nihilistic and overtly blasphemous lyrics that praise wasting human life that are the backbone of War Metal.
The very first real Combat Metal band has to be English institution Tank. The band around Algy Ward created a Punk-infused Power Metal with heavy N.W.O.B.H.M. influences. Tank made the war and combat imagery their own with their 3rd release 'This Means War'. Unfortunately, the band saw many line-up changes and broke up by the end of the 80's. Although they reunited years later, they eventually fell apart and now there are two Tanks struggling to be relevant: Guitarists Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans enlisted top singer Doogie White for their band, but Doogie's voice is quite different from Algy's more gritty vocals. Most die-hard fans will therefore only consider Algy's band to be the true Tank. It's a bit of a mess.
Not to worry, another Power Metal band has stepped up to fill the gap, and become the world's biggest Combat Metal band: Sabaton.
Where traditionally Combat Metal is very rough around the edges, the Swedes' polished Power Metal definitely stands out on this playlist. Nevertheless, it is hard to argue that any other band has been more successful at owning the whole war concept. So, without further ado, bring out the camos, man your battle stations and prepare for death in the shape of a panzer battalion!
