A couple of weeks ago I read the news that shocked some metal scene, specifically the metalcore musicians and fans.
A German company, blegh.de, trademarked the word blegh for clothing and accessories usage. This brought as a consequence that other stores and creators that sell merchandising with that word in it had to get them out of their online shops or they had to see that the online store did it themselves.
But… What is blegh?
The term refers to a sound made by a metalcore vocalist that shows an intense feeling of disgust or nausea during a song, usually during the breakdown. It’s typically a very low and or slow moment so the singer crowns it with this sound. A very satisfying sound, also for us, the fans.
In deathcore, metalcore, and hardcore not only exists this sound but also some variations like BREEEEE or Arf, Arf.
The creation of the term is not clear but its popularity is attributed to Architects vocalist Sam Carter. Also, Chris Motionless of Motionless In White does it very frequently in his songs.
Sam Carter replied to this polemic by saying, “The blegh is for the people!”.
Meanwhile, U.S.-based brand Forbidden Alchemy trademarked “blegh” stateside, pledging to never limit its use among bands, artists, and merch creators. “We will never pursue legal action against anyone using it for merch, music, or promotions,” they stated, clarifying that their trademark is meant to protect small creators rather than restrict them.
In my personal opinion as a lawyer, it’s ridiculous to trademark an onomatopoeia (a word that represents a sound like “crash” or “boom”). It should be free for all to use because it’s a simple and common word.
Whether it’s legal or not, it’s a very non-metal thing to do that affects a specific group of people and community that has that word ingrained in its blood. Which I’m also a part of.
Will the metal community manage to reclaim its battle cry? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the blegh will never be silenced!
A couple of “blegh” examples:
Minute 0:12
Minute 2:56