Concrete Jungle

In the same vein as "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns'n'Roses, Black Label Society's "Concrete Jungle" is a bleak and rather dark look at life in the big city.  More than that, however, is the look at society and corporate greed and the way it has affected us.

The lyrics throughout the song are fairly simple (and mildly repetitive at times), and illustrate the hopelessness that accompanies the times.  The description that they give is almost apocalyptic in nature, talking of freaks in the streets and rampant death.  The will of the damned is the only thing that matters here, and no one gets out alive.  The visual track that the video takes illustrates the details of the lyrics almost literally, with each phrase being represented.  In this way, the words back up the visuals, rather than contrast them or add a deeper meaning.

This brings us to the visuals themselves.  As I stated before, the video solidifies the lyrics and gives them a visual form rather than enhance their meaning, which is already fairly apparent.  The rhythm and beat is heavily supported, however.  This adds a pounding feel to the experience, not unlike a heartbeat or pulse.

The band themselves are all represented as characters within the concrete jungle.  All take on heavily stylized forms, with exaggerated illustrations abound.  They are also represented as being in some form of bondage, be it a cage, prison cell, or bound in chains.  This is not a representation of real life (I hope...)