NOISE POLLUTION #3
Discussing AI, misogyny, and politics as always
(Originally published January 25, 2025)
NOISE POLLUTION is a print-formatted zine primarily posted on Instagram (@noisepollutionzine), with PDF and print versions available. To better digitize the zine, I am trying out Substack as a way to offer even more accessible reading for metalheads all over the internet. See table of contents below with navigational links, and DOWNLOADABLE PDF AT THE END!
INSIDE:
Click links to navigate individually published pages
1 (THIS PAGE)
2 SINCE LAST RELEASE
3 AI: HUMANITY’S CREEPING DEATH
4 WHY AI HAS NO PLACE IN METAL by ALEX BOSOY
5 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND AN AI AFFAIR
6 HOW TO MAKE ETHICAL ALBUM ART
11 GUEST: NEO!
13-16 ARTIST HIGHLIGHTS!
LISTENING TO:
“Spit Out the Bone” by Metallica - James Hetfield once said of this song: “You know, the heart and blood? It’s in the way of efficiency! We could be a much more efficient race if we just allow computers to help us. And yeah, they are helping us, but how far does that go?" (So What) Even if I find some of my fav frontman’s political opinions questionably sound, he has a point about the over-reliance on technology. With the boom of “AI” (pg. 3), and the prioritization of efficiency over humanity by tech corps. and capitalist elites, the subject of my fav late-Metallica song feels more relevant than ever to our future. Also, just got Hardwired…to Self Destruct on pink vinyls, slay!
“Primitive Destruction” & “God Particle” by Lucid - Auburn local band, LUCID paint an apocalyptic scene of their wildfire-heavy surroundings in the California foothills on their most recent single “Primitive Destruction” for their debut album, The Last of Us. As LA faces some of the most destructive wildfires in US history, it feels like a bad sign for how climate change and the failures of the government and the capitalist system are only going to worsen. “God Particle” on a lighter note gets on the list for having one of the favorite breakdowns and been listening to repeatedly (obsessively). See pg 7-8 for coverage of their album release show and my first in-person band interview!
“In the Wilderness” by Gojira - My friends put me onto From Mars to Sirius, which tackles environmental issues and “the rebirth of a dead planet through a space travel storyline” (Wiki). My fav is the “In the Wilderness”, the lyrics full of powerful imagery, describing landing in a giant forest so formidable that one must “low your axe / and learn from the trees”. In the closing verse, Joe Duplantier’s cries echo: “Planet Earth will overcome / Men destroyed, scorned and killed their lives / But the world is on her way”. Humans have done so much to destroy the planet, and only getting worse unless we seek to change and overthrow the for-profit driven greed and devastation of capitalism.
“Infernal Death” by Death - As I branch out from level 1 bands of the metal iceberg, Death is definitely one I got the hype for. Haven’t explored the full discography, but have a lot of respect for their distinct riffs and vocals. The lyrics of this song from their second album, Leprosy (1988), discuss the morbid sight of a landscape of ashes and mass death, which many of us have now witnessed in our lifetime through the internet. The genocide in Palestine has been one of the most documented in history, and despite the hopes for a true ceasefire, the level of destruction enacted by Israel and its allies in our US government has left irreparable damage and forever altered its image.
“A Better World” by Warbringer - Their newest single that dropped 1/7/25. There’s something shanty-like in the melody (?), don’t have the musical literacy to define it, but the twin guitar harmonies kind of give a patriotic vibe too as vocalist John Kevill vents frustrations: “I don't think a change is something I'll live to see / I'm far more realistic, no longer I dream”. Definitely feel this sentiment as someone getting involved in politics and organizing; it feels like nothing but a cliff of an uphill battle, but we cannot give up. Disappointed by the single cover, pg. 3 (hint: AI)
SINCE LAST RELEASE
New year, new “weeks where decades happen”. Starting the year off with the New Orleans domestic terror attack, and Vegas C*bertruck explosion. Then, a week in, fires broke out in the LA area at a level of decimation likely never seen before in US history. I’m having $4 for each sale of this issue go to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition to support the incarcerated firefighters on the front lines (pg. 18).
Then Trump’s inauguration surrounded by billionaires and loyal cucks to the empire, painting an image of the blatant oligarchy in the American government. A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas finally came to fruition; whether or not it holds—considering Israel’s continued violence before, during, and after—it is only the first step to the freedom of Palestinians as they continue living under forced apartheid.
Another topic on my mind is the boom of AI, not only a dark omen for our beloved metal scene, but within our society and humanity as a whole. Especially with Trump’s coming term. More words pgs. 3-4, featuring an amazing piece by artist Alex Bosoy (pg. 4).
In happier news, just before issue #2 was published, I saw the album release of Auburn band, LUCID, and hit them up for the first NPZ in-person interview (pgs. 7-8)! Alongside another favorite of mine, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT and their new single (pg. 5), I got to have insightful conversations about AI image use, especially for underground bands. I also want to highlight artists in the scene to strengthen the relationship with musicians and artists (pgs. 13-16), so we can stand together, person-to-person, to resist the decay of humanity in art.
I also want to acknowledge and highlight some voices on misogyny in metal, in society, and internally (pgs. 9-[10]-[11]-12). I’d like to expand further on this in future issues too, as there is a whole lot of learning and unlearning to be done when it comes to recognizing and resisting our patriarchal society, and through it, the horrible tilt towards right-wing fascism we can expect to see during the next presidential regime.
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