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BloodHag, Loud and Really Out There
By Kelly Hoffman
This is perhaps one of the strangest and at the same time
one of the most innovating ideas to hit the music scene. What
exactly is it that this band BloodHag
is trying to do. It is simple, they want to get listeners
excited about reading and using their mind.
BloodHag is a speed/death metal band out of the Seattle area
with a message for their listeners. And they deliver that
message with a punch. The consider themselves edu-core which
came from a desire to show music fans where their favorite
bands and artist got their inspirations and ideas for some
of their favorite songs. And that blossomed into the idea
"that rock fans need to be smarter". With that they
set out on their mission to do just that.
Their songs and lyrics are meant to inspire young people
to pick up a book and read and in doing so opening their minds
to a whole new world of learning possibilities. Bloodhag is
loud and full of energy, but getting their point across might
not be that simple. While listeners can certainly feel their
passion for the science fiction authors they are singing about
they may not always pick up the lyrics (but that is easily
taken care of with a short trip to their website, www.bloodhag.com
-- there you can find the lyrics as well as brief biographies
of the authors who have inspired those songs.)
Don't live in the Seattle area but want to hear what these
guys are all about. Well they have plenty of stuff available
including a video of their 2000 tour "Read Free Or Die"
which features them playing in a local library to some very
enthusiastic young folk (and some not so enthusiastic adults).
During their performance they reinforce their literary stance
by throwing books out into the audience to get the recipients
to read. They also have a 7" vinyl record and CD available,
plus some downloadable MP3s.
Wanna know what they are singing about? Well here's a list
of some of the authors they use in their music.
Ursula
K. LeGuin
Octavia
Butler
Isaac
Asimov
Roger
Zelazny
Philip
K. Dick
James
Tiptree Jr.
Ray
Bradbury
And here is a list of recommended reading material directly
from the band:
Alfred
Bester...The Demolished Man
Ray
Bradbury...Farenheit 451
Michael
Moorcock...Dancers at the End of Time
John
Brunner...The Sheep Look Up
Philip
K. Dick...Ubik
J.R.R.
Tolkien...The Return of the King
Edgar
Rice Burroughs...At the Earth's Core
Jules
Verne...From the Earth to the Moon
Joanna
Russ...The Female Man
James
Tiptree Jr....10,000 Light Years From Home
Harlan
Ellison...I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
Ursula
K. LeGuin...The Dispossessed
Roger
Zelazny...The Lord of Light
William
Gibson...Neuromancer
Arthur
C. Clarke...Childhood's End
Isaac
Asimov...Foundation
Octavia
Butler...The Parable of the Sower
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