Howl of the Underdogs
The idea of the “tortured artist” is romantic to think about, but is ultimately bullshit. As Agnete, the lead singer of the Norwegian metal band Madder Mortem puts it, you don’t need to have had a hard life to make great art, but if you have, you can call on that for inspiration. When I was starting out as a composer, I certainly bought into the tortured artist concept, until- as I got older- I just realized I was screwed up with emotional and mental issues, and sometimes, I called on that to inspire my music. In “Howl of the Underdogs,” we get to know Madder Mortem as a band, and some of the members as individuals, and it’s hard not to see something of myself in them.
Sustaining any sort of creative endeavor for 20 years is difficult, especially when the success is on the modest side. But, Madder Mortem has found sustainability over the years, and a following for its distinct metal sound. Part of that is having a female lead singer in Agnete, but there’s also a more melodic sound to their songs that is unlike most metal artists. We learn about the band’s history, how they got started, what their life in Norway has brought to their music, and the struggles they’ve had internally and externally.
At this point, with the internet and social media, I feel like, if you are comfortable with being honest about yourself, you should be. Agnete and Mads, their drummer, are very upfront about their personal health issues- Mads, with mental health struggles that cause him to miss a tour, and Agnete, with body image issues that led to surgery, and has resulted in a lot of body-shaming of her- and those interviews are poignant and insightful. If you’re in the public eye- regardless of what that looks like- embrace that platform to talk about issues important to you. We get the impression from Agnete and Mads in these interviews that this discussion matters, and I think it endears them more than if they were just trying to keep the discussion about the music. But these aren’t 20-somethings trying to maintain a “mystique,” but grown adults who have lived, struggled, and found a way to channel that into an outlet. Because I’m one of those grown adults, I think that’s a big part of why this film speaks to me so much.
“Howl of the Underdogs,” directed by Randy M. Salo, is building up to a concert where members of the band over the years are going to join the current lineup, but it’s more about just sharing Madder Mortem with a larger audience, and showing the impact they’ve had on a community, on their fans, and on each other. That’s always worth celebrating in a film like this.
