Like much metal, Metallica's tone is very angry, and very anti- authority, without much materialist analysis. In fact, most of Metallica's music ends up as political nihilism--the philosophy that says political structures are corrupt and should be destroyed, period. This disc points to the degeneracy of the Amerikan war mentality and the Church, but it provides no options, instead focusing on the continuous oppression of people by some unnamed socializing force. The heavy metal phenomenon serves the interest of the Amerikan superstructure. It fosters the notion that free speech is free to flourish, because "anti-government" heavy metal acts are allowed to become millionaires. It allows a great number of people to be critical of politicians and capitalists without being analytical, or without taking steps to eradicate this degenerate capitalist society. Almost everybody in this country knows that "the rich" have all the power, just as everyone can say all politicians are corrupt. What does this mean? Absolutely nothing. Most Amerikans, including the labor aristocracy, benefit from maintaining an exploitative system, and therefore in a global context they are "rich" too.
Music like Metallica's allows people to be critical, yet never look for solutions. Would-be revolutionaries are told, through this music, not to do anything. It is easier to give up than to fight for justice. It is easier to be critical of a system than to propose an alternative, and make that a reality. MIM realizes that it is necessary to criticize the current power structure, and expose it for the bloody regime that it is. We also realize that fundamental change will only come through revolution, guided by Maoist thought. Music is frequently a tool that is used to oppress and fool the masses. Revolutionary music does not come from the bourgeoisie, but from the oppressed masses. We must look to the music of the oppressed masses throughout the world, and create our own revolutionary music. -MC59