Rock and metal have always been styles with political undertones, whether for freedom, a particular lifestyle, or partisan beliefs. Many issues that have only gained prominence in recent years were already present in the songs before reaching the broader media debate, as is the case with racism .
The defense of the environment and sustainability is a topic of growing urgency in today's society and has also always been recurrent in rock and metal compositions, often more than once in the discography of the same band, with fierce criticism of human greed in the face of the destruction of our planet.
In this TOP 11 , Wikimetal has selected some of the best songs on the subject to promote reflection on our habits and the importance of listening, once and for all, to the voices that rise up (and sing) for the protection of life on Earth.
11. Gojira – “Amazon”
The death metal band has ecological issues and the condition of human life as central themes throughout their discography. In "Amazonia," part of the album Fortitude , they protest against the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and advocate for the demarcation of indigenous lands.
Music becomes even more important with the recent recognition by the United Nations (UN) .
10. Nuclear Assault – “Critical Mass”
Founded in 1984, the thrash metal band has had a political approach to various themes since the beginning, with the environment always present in their lyrics. On the 1989 album Handle With Care , the group's biggest commercial success, the warning to society begins on the cover: planet Earth appears with the warning that gives the project its name (Handle with care, in Portuguese).
In “Critical Mass,” the extreme weight of the sound gains even more intensity with the objective lyrics. “Toxic waste destroys the seas / While poisonous gas pollutes the air / A waste of life, while nobody cares / The earth becomes a giant tomb / Critical mass will be reached / And ruins will be all that remains.”
09. Pearl Jam – “Do the Evolution”
Part of the 1998 album Yield , "Do the Evolution" addresses the destruction of planet Earth from the perspective of human arrogance. In the lyrics, Eddie Vedder presents himself as this small, limited, and sometimes pathetic human being, ignorant of his own condition and irresponsibility.
“I’m advanced, I’m a man / the first mammal to wear pants (…) / This land is mine, this land is free / I do what I want, but irresponsibly / That’s evolution, baby,” the lyrics ironically state.
08. Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators – “Beneath The Savage Sun”
Can you imagine a world without elephants? The question impacted Slash and Myles Kennedy , who wrote "Beneath The Savage Sun" for their 2015 album World on Fire , from the perspective of an animal whose entire family was murdered by poachers and who vows revenge for losing everything in the name of the ivory trade. That year, the vocalist also tattooed two elephants on his chest.
07. Sepultura – “Guardians of Earth”
In “Guardians of Earth,” Sepultura makes a powerful appeal for the protection of forests and indigenous peoples. Released in the context of the pandemic, the track received a striking music video, contrasting stunning footage of life in the forest with the sadness of deforestation. The impact of COVID-19 on these peoples was also remembered in the video's final message: “To those who invade our land, cut down our forest, spread disease, destroy our world (…) For our children and for your children, fight for planet Earth.”
06. Black Sabbath – “Children of the Sea”
In 1980, Black Sabbath released the album Heaven and Hell . With Dio as the band's vocalist at the time, the track "Children of the Sea" speaks about ecology in a poetic way, like the reflection of fallen angels who finally realize their own misfortune and ruin.
“Every time I tried to write about something that I thought could change people’s attitudes, it never made much of a difference, they don’t understand,” Dio lamented in an interview with Toazted in 2006. “A long time ago, I wrote my first song with Black Sabbath, called ‘Children of the Sea,’ which is about ecology and how we try to run before we learn to walk, we do things too fast. Let’s enjoy what we have and, if we’re calm, maybe this planet won’t explode (…), but nobody listened.”
05. Atreyu – “Stop! Before It's Too Late And We've Destroyed It All”
With a title that perfectly summarizes the group's message ("Stop! Before it's too late and we've destroyed everything"), Atreyu predicts a sad end for the human race, with a legacy of death and devastation, unless something is profoundly transformed in our collective behavior.
04. Bad Religion – “Modern Day Catastrophists”
Bad Religion songs that criticize human greed and inattention to the world, especially on the 1993 album Recipe For Hate , "Modern Day Catastrophists" has one of the most direct lyrics: "Listen to the warnings / Check all your fears / There's a world out here / About to explode / And it's all our fault."
03. David Bowie – “Five Years”
Ziggy Stardust persona was his initial goal of encouraging planet Earth to protect its natural resources and avoid complete catastrophe. Like David Bowie who strayed from the path by succumbing to rock, "Five Years" narrates how the planet received the news of the end times caused by the destruction of nature.
02. Disturbed – “Another Way To Die”
With a disturbing click that juxtaposes scenes from everyday life with the current devastation of the planet, Disturbed invites us to reflect on the inevitable consequences of human action and a future in which "Mother Nature will show a darker side."
01. Iron Maiden – “Total Eclipse”
Iron Maiden has fantastical narratives in their lyrics, but some seem more plausible than others. A bonus track from the classic album *The Number of the Beast* , the song "Total Eclipse" is one of these. Reflecting on the course of civilization, the band also predicts the unprecedented fury of Nature against humanity in an apocalyptic scenario, without the sun's warmth bathing the creatures and before a shadow that will "crush everyone like flies".
While many bands on this list might be dismissed for their constant activism or for addressing the topic with lineups different from those considered classic, this Iron Maiden song from one of their most well-known albums certainly gets the message across to those trying to avoid reflection.
READ ALSO: Heavy Metal and Sustainability
