Anthems of Apocalypse

Popular music is no stranger to apocalyptic discourse.
Whether focusing on biblical or secular apocalypses,
musicians often want to tell us things about the end of the
world we may not have wanted to know in ways we may not
have thought about before. This volume seeks to introduce
readers to some of these messengers and their anthems of
apocalypse.
Roland Boer's discussion of Nick Cave indicates that
references to the portents and monsters of the apocalypse
have been used to refer, not to an age to come, but to the
authorities and demons of the present world. Likewise,
Kennet Granholm's chapter on the vegan straight edge band
Earth Crisis shows that biblical apocalyptic provides a
lens through which to examine environmental politics.
This is also true of the work of Rage against the Machine's
Tom Morello, who, as Michael Gilmour discusses, provides
a powerful socialist critique of capitalism, American
imperialism, new left-activism and identity politics.
Along with these 'secular' uses of biblical apocalyptic are,
of course, the more conspicuously Christian theological
treatments: Mark Sweetnam discusses dispensationalism
in Johnny Cash's music; Marcus Moberg explores
eschatological themes in Christian heavy metal; and Steve
Knowles looks at the uses of apocalyptic imagery in the
music of Extreme. Alongside these are the perennially
popular esoteric interpretations of biblical apocalyptic
thought. These are explored in Rupert Till's analysis of
heavy metal and Srgio Fava's discussion of apocalyptic
folk.