Reverberations of Revelation

Though metal music forms part of the global reception history of John’s Apocalypse and influences the eschatological conceptions of millions of listeners, it has received limited attention in standard textbooks and previous studies. Drawing on L. Cushing Stahlberg’s analytical framework and terminology, this article examines the retellings of the book of Revelation in the lyrics of Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen,” Megadeth’s “Blessed be the Dead,” and Testament’s “Seven Seals.” The analysis highlights both common and distinctive features of these songs in relation to their approach, stance, and filter. In addition to addressing this under-researched material, the article argues that these—and other Metal—retellings of Revelation are not only interesting and significant as innovative and idiosyncratic reinterpretations of the biblical text but also contribute to broader discussions on the formation of contemporary ideas about eschatology.