Sludge groove metallers KARATE STEVE confront mortality, gentrification, and the slow burn of anxiety on “Time Under Tension” – IDIOTEQ.com

Analysis of “Time Under Tension” in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The album “Time Under Tension,” released independently on October 24 by the Boston-based band KARATE STEVE, presents a thematic exploration of contemporary societal issues. This report analyzes the album’s lyrical content through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting its commentary on health, urban development, and institutional integrity. The album was recorded with Alex Allinson and mastered by Carl Saff, resulting in a cohesive, groove-oriented sound that serves as a vehicle for its critical themes.

Thematic Alignment with Specific SDGs

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

A significant portion of the album addresses challenges related to mental and physical health, directly aligning with the objectives of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• “Martyr”: This track confronts the issue of alcoholism and the pursuit of accountability. It directly relates to SDG Target 3.5, which calls for strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
• “Time Under Tension”: The title track examines the experience of anxiety attacks and insomnia, reflecting widespread mental health concerns. This aligns with SDG Target 3.4, focused on promoting mental health and well-being.
• “Suffer To Survive” & “Brothers”: These songs explore themes of mortality, grief, and the preservation of memory following the sudden death of friends, underscoring the profound impact of premature mortality on community well-being.
• “Sleepwalker”: This closing track discusses the psychological toll of seasonal depression, further emphasizing the album’s focus on mental health challenges as a barrier to overall well-being.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The album critiques urban development practices that threaten cultural sustainability, a key concern of SDG 11, which seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

1. “Gentrifier”: This song provides a direct commentary on the effects of gentrification in Boston.
2. The lyrics address the displacement of artists and the closure of small cultural venues, a phenomenon that runs counter to SDG Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”
3. By highlighting the erosion of the city’s artistic infrastructure, the track questions the sustainability and inclusivity of current urban development models.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Several tracks offer a critique of institutional failures and societal instability, aligning with the aims of SDG 16 to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

• “Dopamine”: This song posits that governments utilize mass distraction through social media to obscure systemic failures and destructive global activities. This theme critiques the lack of transparency and accountability in institutions, a central concern of SDG Target 16.6.
• “Third Kind Of Fucked”: The track uses a hypothetical extraterrestrial encounter to explore humanity’s potential for self-annihilation, reflecting a deep cynicism about the current state of global governance and its inability to foster peace and prevent conflict, which is the foundational goal of SDG 16.

Conclusion

The album “Time Under Tension” by KARATE STEVE functions as a cultural document reflecting anxieties tied to core tenets of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through its lyrical focus on personal health struggles, the consequences of unsustainable urban growth, and a perceived lack of institutional accountability, the record highlights critical areas where progress is needed to achieve a sustainable and equitable future. The work demonstrates how artistic expression can serve as a powerful medium for commentary on global development challenges.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Based on the lyrical themes of the album “Time Under Tension” as described in the article, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article highlights themes of mental health and substance abuse. It mentions songs about “anxiety, mortality,” “alcoholism,” “anxiety attacks and insomnia,” and “seasonal depression.” These topics directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article discusses issues of “urban decay” and gentrification. The song “Gentrifier” is explicitly about “the never-ending wave of gentrification that is sweeping through Boston, making it impossible for artists to stay here, or play here, as the smaller venues continue to die.” This connects to the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The theme of government accountability is raised. The song “Dopamine” is described as being about “the government distracting us… while they quietly burn the fucking world to the ground,” which implies a critique of institutional effectiveness and transparency.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The article’s content points to several specific targets within the identified SDGs:

1. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The album’s focus on “anxiety attacks and insomnia,” “seasonal depression,” and the overall “psychological toll” directly relates to the promotion of mental health and well-being.
   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. The song “Martyr” is explicitly about the vocalist “trying to take accountability for my alcoholism,” which is a core component of substance abuse treatment and prevention.
2. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The article’s mention of “smaller venues continue to die” due to gentrification can be interpreted as a threat to the local cultural heritage and infrastructure that supports artists.
   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. The song “Gentrifier” discusses how gentrification is “making it impossible for artists to stay here,” directly addressing the issue of housing affordability in cities.
3. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The lyric about the government “distracting us… while they quietly burn the fucking world to the ground” is a direct critique of the perceived lack of accountability and transparency of institutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several qualitative and thematic indicators that reflect the status of the identified targets:

• For Target 3.4 (Mental Health): The prevalence of “anxiety attacks,” “insomnia,” and “seasonal depression” as described in the songs serves as an implied indicator of the state of mental well-being within the community depicted.
• For Target 3.5 (Substance Abuse): The lyric about “trying to take accountability for my alcoholism” is a personal, qualitative indicator of an individual engaging with the first step of treatment and recovery, reflecting progress towards addressing substance abuse.
• For Target 11.4 (Cultural Heritage): The rate at which “smaller venues continue to die” is a clear, implied indicator of the erosion of local cultural infrastructure in Boston, as described in the article.
• For Target 11.1 (Affordable Housing): The statement that it is “impossible for artists to stay here” serves as a qualitative indicator of the lack of affordable housing and workspaces for specific communities within the city.
• For Target 16.6 (Accountable Institutions): The perception of the “government distracting us” is an implied indicator of public trust and the perceived accountability of institutions. A high level of such sentiment suggests a lack of faith in the transparency and effectiveness of governing bodies.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: idioteq.com