Ok, quick history lesson…
Back in the 1940’s, Vietnam was having a revolutionary moment, pushing against their own monarchy as well as the Japanese and French occupation in Vietnam. With all the change occurring in the country, Vietnam split in half in 1954 – with the north leaning towards communism and becoming pals with the Soviet Union, and the South leaning against communism, backed by the United States. In typical American fashion, the US escalated by launching air strikes and brought in millions of troops.
The most long-lasting impact was the US’ use of chemical warfare on Vietnam. Earning the nickname agent orange, 11 million gallons of herbicide was sprayed across Vietnam by the US. Exposure to the chemical led to a plethora of cancers, birth defects, and other diseases for the Vietnamese people. Even today, agent orange is harming the Vietnamese people as birth defects continue to show in the children and grandchildren of those initially exposed. Toxicity has also remained in the soil and water, spreading the negative affects to new generations.
As the Vietnamese metal scene is slowly emerging, a new project has found inspiration in this history. Glass Angels Initiative: Code Orange consists of members from Vietnamese metal acts Gai, Windrunner, and Pastgloom. Recently, they dropped two tracks: “Ad Mortem” and “Victus Sum.” Not only do these songs conceptually revolve around the multi-generational suffering caused by agent orange, but all net proceeds will be donated to VAVA (Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin) to support individuals and families affected by dioxin exposure in Vietnam.