Minor Key Monday 44: Joyless – Isn’t it Nice?

I always have to stop myself when I say I like “all kinds of music”.  Because, honestly, that just isn’t true, there is really only one kind of music I like.  No, not [just] Black Metal, I’m talking about music in a minor key.  I mean, I’m a pretty happy guy, but there is something about sad, sad songs that just does it for me.  I don’t dislike Vivaldi’s “Spring” and “Fall”, but I far prefer “Summer” and “Winter” (guess which seasons he writes in a minor key).  “Satisfaction” is a fine song, but I’d rather listen to “Paint it Black” any day…you get the idea.  Basically, it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that sting [of soul crushing sorrow and sadness]

This month on Minor Key Monday I talk about a style of music that is kind of like rock music, only more depressing:

I covered the black metal band Forgotten Woods on MMMM last week, so today for Minor Key Monday I figured I would do the other side of their music, the so-called “death rock” band Joyless.  They are basically exactly like Forgotten Woods except with a slightly cleaner guitar tone and clean sung vocals.

Of course, as I discussed, Forgotten Woods was always basically just a rock band at heart anyway, so their progression to the “non black metal” Joyless seems pretty natural to me.  The addition of female vocalist Ida Hellebø was also a nice touch, as her gothy yet unaffected vocal tone fits the music quite well.

It’s simple stuff, like most black metal, but one of the things I love so much about music like this is how it initially feels almost happy, but then you are like, “nope, minor key, this is actually pretty sorrowful, awesome!”  Being able to make out the lyrics helps too, as the ironic title gives way to some really gleefully depressing lyrics:

I am lost
And I feel so alone
And it really doesn’t matter
There ain’t a thing I can do

Judgment day
Let me know when you are here
I want to see
The world go down

Drag me deeper down
I don’t care
Down here there is nothing
Nothing but myself

Judgment day
Let me know when you are here
I want to see
The world go down

Point a gun at my head
Do you think I care?
Point it at yourself
And pull the trigger now

Could you give me a reason to celebrate?

It’s not exactly great poetry, but I think the lyrics work very well here.

I think my only issue with this song is that it seems to walk a fine line between whatever genre it is, and some kind of genre that starts with the word “post,” but I’ll try not to let my prejudices against hipster black metal fans and the music they love keep me from enjoying a song that really is right down my alley.