For Whom the Bell Tolls
and Metallica 
In 1984 the world famous American heavy metal band, Metallica, released a song with the same name as Ernest Hemmingway’s celebrated novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. With major hits such as “Master of Puppets”, “Enter Sandman” and perhaps the most famous of them all, “Nothing Else Matters”, the band is rarely recognized by their deep and meaningful lyrics but rather for their fast pace instrumental mastery. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” however, definitely show signs of a profound and meaningful analysis of the novel.
Metallica manages to describe the war and Hemmingway’s novel in just a few lines. The lead singer, James Hetfield, portrays their dislike in modern warfare by singing: “For a hill, men would kill. Why? They do not know”. War is fought by leaders at the expense of the foot soldiers who rarely see the big picture.
In an attempt to reveal the Fascist’s overwhelming military power Metallica illustrates El Sordo’s last stand in the novel where five soldiers on a hill hold of fascists until they are annihilated by an air-strike. “Men of five, still alive through the raging glow… Take a look to the sky just before you die. It’s the last time you will. Blackened roar, massive roar, fills the crumbling sky.”
The obvious connection between the song and the novel is thoughtful but also interesting thanks to Metallica’s skill when it comes to interpreting as well as displaying the famous novel from 1940 in the form of a song.
/Fredrik Arve
For Whom the Bell Tolls Zine 