In the latest installment of my new On Tyranny series for New Noise, I caught up with Abzy, a metal and rock musician from Kuwait, and chatted with him about what life was like for artists when Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq.
Archive for the On Tyranny Category
On Tyranny: Kuwaiti Metal Artist Abzy Calls Hate ‘A Black Hole’
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny with tags Abzy, Dusk, Meshari Sangora, On Tyranny on 03/20/2025 by Kurt OrzeckOn Tyranny: Hungarian Black-Metallers Sear Bliss Lost ‘Freedom’ In Orbán’s Autocracy
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny with tags Donald Trump, On Tyranny, Sear Bliss, Viktor Orban on 03/19/2025 by Kurt OrzeckHungary’s longest-running band, Sear Bliss, recently spoke with me about what it’s like living in a country ruled by a despot who happens to be good friends with Donald Trump. Get a glimpse of the serious threats American artists are now facing at home, where the Trump regime is now disappearing dissenters, in the latest edition of New Noise‘s new series, “On Tyranny.”
On Tyranny: Necrofier Frontman Wonders ‘Is It Going to Be Like ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’?’
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny with tags Christian Larson, Hell's Heroes, Necrofier on 03/17/2025 by Kurt OrzeckWhen we recently chatted with Christian Larson about his upcoming Hell’s Heroes festival and what his band Necrofier is up to, we also had to pick his brain about what the hell is going on in the United States of America.
On Tyranny: ‘People in America Have Blinders On,’ Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe Says
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny with tags Lamb of God, Randy Blythe on 02/25/2025 by Kurt OrzeckAs part of The Bad Penny‘s new series called On Tyranny and focusing on how artists deal with living under authoritarian regimes, we’re dusting off an interview with Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe conducted on December 23, 2007.
At the time, Blythe—known more as a deviant class clown than a philosopher—was one of the only vocalists in metal or punk screaming unabashedly about the Gulf war and the crimes of George W. Bush.
Check out the prescient words of one of metal’s greatest frontman in this interview, originally published in unparalleled graphic novel/ rock magazine Royal Flush and now presented online for the first time.
Check out these related stories:
• “‘On Tyranny’: Musicians Living Under Authoritarian Rule Speak Out” (2.24.25)
• “Thy Catafalque Mastermind Talks About Meaning of Life, Living Under Dictator Viktor Orbán” (12.10.24)
• “Malist Creator ‘Exhausted’ By Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine” (9.7.24)
• “Moscow Metal Band Malist Voices Opposition to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine” (5.15.23)
• “Faith In Metal: Orphaned Land Push For Peace In The Middle East” (9.28.10)
• “Steve Earle: ‘It’s Very Dangerous To Be Ignorant Of Islam’” (9.8.10)
Also related: “My Friend Neamah And The State Of Our Country” (9.21.24)
On Tyranny: Musicians Living Under Authoritarian Rule Speak Out
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny with tags Malist, Orphaned Land, Steve Earle, Thy Catafalque, Timothy Snyder on 02/23/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
With the U.S. now unquestionably (pun intended) operating as an autocracy, The Bad Penny is launching a new feature series called On Tyranny, consisting of conversations with artists who are current or former residents of countries ruled by dictators (other than the U.S. and per the nonpartisan World Population Review). After more than a week of reflection, it became apparent that taking action and initiating this modest effort seemed like a healthier idea than giving up and obeying in advance.
On Tyranny, inspired by Timothy Snyder‘s book of the same name, is not intended to foster policy debates but rather facilitate artists who have lived under authoritarian regimes to educate artists who have not. With any luck, maybe some will discover ways to prepare, strategize, cope or simply find a sense of camaraderie as America’s new dictatorial regime targets artists, always one of the first groups to be assailed during times of right-wing political upheaval.
While we assemble our first proper installment of On Tyranny, here are some related articles that might catch your interest in the interim:
• “Thy Catafalque Mastermind Talks About Meaning of Life, Living Under Dictator Viktor Orbán” (12.10.24)
• “Malist Creator ‘Exhausted’ By Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine” (9.7.24)
• “Moscow Metal Band Malist Voices Opposition to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine” (5.15.23)
• “Faith In Metal: Orphaned Land Push For Peace In The Middle East” (9.28.10)
• “Steve Earle: ‘It’s Very Dangerous To Be Ignorant Of Islam’” (9.8.10)
Also related: “My Friend Neamah And The State Of Our Country” (9.21.24)
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