Did you know that we know more about the depths of space than we know about the depths of our own oceans? The fact that the deepest and darkest parts of the seas are still unknown has created a long-lasting mystery that has inspired writers of all kinds, especially the rock and metal songwriters out there.
Today we’re going to explore all the headbangers and rock ballads out there that explore the waves and all the themes that get drawn from it.
The Lure of the Deep
So what exactly makes the sea such an appealing topic? Part of it comes down to the thrill and fear of the unexplored unknown and the danger around it. You only need to look at the success of shows like The Deadliest Catch or movies like the classic Jaws to see how hidden threats lurking in the deep, dark waters draw us in again and again.
Photo by Cristian Palmer on Unsplash
At the other end of the mystery scale are the countless treasures that are believed to lie on the ocean floor, whether that’s gold-laden galleons sunk by storms or perhaps ancient relics. The online gaming world has leaned into this aspect in particular with countless underwater games. Titles like Big Bass Splash and the extensive series behind it have players looking beyond the fish symbols to find treasures, and with these treasures ranging from pirates to Ancient Egypt, there’s plenty for them to work with.
Metal and Metaphor
Surprisingly, when we look at rock and even metal, the vast majority of songs skip around the topic of the ocean directly, instead using the seas as metaphors for some deeper meaning. For example, Led Zeppelin’s ‘The Ocean’ refers less to water and more to the sea of bobbing heads Robert Plant sees from the stage, while ‘Lost Sailor’ by The Grateful Dead is about a man adrift in endless waves, referring to the feeling of directionless and aimless movement in a man who feels lost.
Avast Ye Metaphor
Thankfully, there is one group of artists who take a far more direct approach to their love of the water. Loosely defined as pirate metal, the genre is an eclectic mix of styles but all with a distinctly pirate-y feel. Most well-known are the Scottish group Alestorm, who cover both the danger of the deeps in songs like ‘Leviathan’ and also the hidden riches in songs like the bluntly-named ‘Treasure Chest Party Quest’.
Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash
Beyond Alestorm are groups like Swashbuckle and Lagerstein, as well as the unique ‘heavy mahogany’ group The Dread Crew of Oddwood who only loosely link to metal at all. Pirate metal is not the biggest genre out there, but maintains a solid fanbase and is always good for a stop on the lighter side of the metal world.
So whether rock and metal to you are deep, emotional explorations using the ocean as imagery to represent complex topics, or just a great way to party like you’re on the deck of the Flying Dutchman, there’s something for the whole range.
