- Aesthetics of Hate
Infobox Single
Name = Aesthetics of Hate
Caption =
Type = Single
Artist = Machine Head
alt Artist =
Album =The Blackening
Published =
Released =March 27 ,2007
track_no = 3
Recorded = 2006
Genre =Thrash metal
Length = 6:35
Writer =Robert Flynn
Composer =
Label = Roadrunner
Producer = Robert Flynn
Chart position =
Tracks =
prev = "Beautiful Mourning"
prev_no = 2
next = "Now I Lay Thee Down "
next_no = 4
Misc = "Aesthetics of Hate" is a song by heavy metal band Machine Head from their sixth studio album "The Blackening ". Written by Machine Head vocalist and guitaristRobert Flynn , the song is a retaliation to an article written by William Grim. Grim wrote that late guitaristDimebag Darrell was "an ignorant, barbaric, untalented possessor of a guitar", among others. After reading the article, Flynn wrote "Aesthetics of Hate" as a "fuck you" to Grim and a tribute to Dimebag."Aesthetics of Hate" was recorded at Sharkbite Studios, in
Oakland, California . Rough demos of the song were penned in February 2005 and November 2005, although they contained what Flynn described as a "totally fucking lame 'Angel of Death' rip off". The song received mixed critical reviews withBlabbermouth.net ' s Don Kaye describing the track as "literally breathtaking", while J.D. Considine of "Blender" thought "calls for biblical vengeance just sound silly." The song was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the50th Grammy Awards .Background
"Aesthetics of Hate" was written by Machine Head vocalist and guitarist
Robert Flynn . Written as a retaliation to an article by William Grim for the conservative web site Iconoclast, the article praisedDimebag Darrell 's murder byNathan Gale , while Darrell was performing with the bandDamageplan onDecember 8 ,2004 . Titled "Aesthetics of Hate: R.I.P. Dimebag Abbott, & Good Riddance", Grim wrote the article stating Darrell was "part of a generation that has confused sputum with art and involuntary reflex actions with emotion", "an ignorant, barbaric, untalented possessor of a guitar" who looks "more simian than human".cite web
title=Aesthetics of Hate by William Grim / Robert Flynn’s Reply / MachineHead Lyrics
author=Rob
publisher=quickrob.com
date=2007-07-06
url=http://www.quickrob.com/weblog/?p=1074
accessdate=2008-08-10]After reading the article, Flynn was furious and wrote "Aesthetics of Hate" as a "fuck you" to Grim and Dimebag detractors. He wrote a message on the band's forum expressing his friendship with Darrell and spoke about Grim:
Quote|What would YOU know about love or values? What would YOU know about giving to the world? All that you know is teaching prejudice, and your heart is as black as the 'ignorant, filthy, and hideously ugly, heavy metal fans' you try and paint in your twisted, fictitious ramblings. It's because of people like YOU, that there are
Nathan Gale s in this world, NOT the Dimebags and metal musicians who work to unite people through music.cite web
title=Machine Head's Robert Flynn: "Long Live Dimebag Darrell In The Hearts Of Us All"
author=Flynn, Robert
publisher=Blabbermouth.net
date=2004-12-20
url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=30543
accessdate=2008-08-10] |Robert FlynnRecording
In February 2005, Machine Head had penned a rough version of "Aesthetics of Hate". A 13-track November 2005 demo featured the song, although it contained what Flynn described as a "totally fucking lame 'Angel of Death' rip off. I hated it every time we played it so I was glad to see that part go!"cite web
title= Machine Head|publisher=Midwest Metal|url=http://www.midwestmetalmagazine.com/interviewmachinehead_2.html
accessdate=2007-08-21] The band entered Sharkbite Studios, inOakland, California onAugust 21 ,2006 to begin recording. Production duties were handled by Flynn with assistance from Mark Keaton, and mixing byColin Richardson .cite web
title= Machine Head Frontman: "I Can't Remember Ever Being This Excited About Recording"|publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2006-08-22 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=56862
accessdate=2007-08-18]Critical reception
"Aesthetics of Hate" received mixed reviews from music critics.
Blabbermouth.net 's Don Kaye described the track as "literally breathtaking" and said that the song "channels its title emotion into a blazing volcano of pure speed and furious guitarwork from Flynn and Phil Demmel."cite web|title = Blabbermouth Review - "The Blackening"|author=Kaye, Don|publisher = Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=1066|accessdate=2007-12-02] Reviewing for France's "Hard 'N Heavy" magazine, Anthrax'sScott Ian felt that the song is "a riff-o-rama showing off Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel's killer guitar work."cite web|title = Hard N' Heavy Review - "The Blackening"|author=Ian, Scott|publisher = Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=70735|accessdate=2007-12-02] Thom Jurek ofAllmusic felt "the intense dualarpeggio s between both guitarists -- Flynn andPhil Demmel on 'Aesthetics of Hate' (as just one example) are among the tightest ever".cite web
title=Allmusic - "The Blackening"
author=Jurek, Thom
publisher=Allmusic
url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5kd5vxnva9lk
accessdate=2007-08-03] However, J.D. Considine of "Blender" commented that the song "cuts from screaming guitars to an ominously whispered, 'May the hands of God strike them down'. Without oversize hooks, calls for biblical vengeance just sound silly."cite web
title=Blender - The Blackening
author=J.D. Considine
publisher="Blender"
date=2007-04-17
url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4497
accessdate=2007-08-03]"Aesthetics of Hate" received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the
50th Grammy Awards . The ceremony took place onFebruary 12 ,2008 , with Machine Head being beaten out bySlayer 's "The Final Six".cite web
title=Best Metal Performance
publisher=Grammy.com
url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_Show/list.aspx#04
accessdate=2007-12-07] Flynn commented on the nomination, "We are completely blown away, and honored by this. It's incredible that the anger of this song has connected with so many people. It proves to Dimebag's detractors the positive impact he had on his fans and fellow bands alike."cite web
title=Machine Head frontman comments on Grammy nod
publisher=Blabbermouth.net
date=2008-01-08
url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=88025
accessdate=2008-01-24]On August 8, the song was confirmed to be as part of the "Roadrunner Records" pack in
Rock Band .cite web
title=DLC Week of August 12th: Roadrunner 6 Pack
publisher=RockBand.com
url=http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69720
accessdate=2008-08-08]References
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