10 Reasons Why You Don’t Like Metal - And Why You Should
Metal music gets a lot of crap. The music and its listeners are constantly stereotyped and have to often correct a lot of misconceptions about the music (and sometimes ourselves). As a metalhead, I often find myself in a position where i have to defend what I listen to which is a shame. Of course, I never mind doing it! I feel that a lot of people who don’t like metal because of various misconceptions are truly missing out on a diverse genre of music that they could get to like.
So here I present: 10 Reasons Why You Don’t Like Metal - And Why You Should.
1. I don’t like Metal because… It is the music of the Devil.
You should like metal because… Black Sabbath were constantly greeted with Church protesters at their gigs and condemned for their “satanic” lyrics. There are some bands such as Gorgoroth and Mayhem who ARE actually Satanists, a lot of more mainstream bands such as Slayer and Black Sabbath merely use imagery to garner attention and make an impact. Just like more than half of commercial female performers sing half naked.
2. I don’t like Metal because… The lyrics are always so angry.
You should like metal because… Often times people dismiss Metal because they believe that the lyrics are grotesque and constantly angry. Is there any other kind of music out there that conveys the feelings of the despair of soldiers, the destruction of wars, sadness of a depressed person, anger over the death of a friend in such a way that moves you? Commercial songs cover these topics, but never to such a great and detailed extent that makes you sit back and truly take it all in.
3. I don’t like Metal because… I just like music to be fun!
You should like metal because… There are some metal bands out there that you should never take seriously and just have fun with. Cannibal Corpse makes me laugh. Their lyrics are so over the top, it’s clear that they’re having fun themselves. I can’t honestly believe that people take them so seriously. Then there is the more lighthearted side like Static-X and Rob Zombie - horror/industrial metal that is more fun to dance around to and never take seriously. It’s not just the music, but the scene is fun too!
4. I don’t like Metal because… People who like Metal are serial killers/druggies/drunks/FREAKS.
You should like metal because… Once on my way to a Suffocation gig, a couple moved so far away from me on the pathway they were practically walking on the road. Just like any other niche in society, we have our dunderheads and our barbarians. But on the most part, metalheads are the friendliest bunch of people you will ever meet. There are plenty of gigs and clubs I have gone to where you are free to start talking to anyone you choose without that person giving you a look. We are like a huge family - so don’t let the excessive black fool or scare you. But we do like Jack Daniels (some of us).
5. I don’t like Metal because… The music is way too loud! There’s no rhythm.
You should like metal because… Some have argued that Metal is heavily influenced by Classical music. Solos have been likened with masterpieces in Classical history. Black Metal is highly melodic. Progressive metal has mixed rhythms - bands such as Meshuggah are known to use more than two time signatures in a song at any given time. Death Metal is a difficult genre to enjoy as it may sound unmelodious at first, but can turn out the most melodic songs in the broad genre. Metal contains one of the most broad collection of subgenres that can cater for any tastes whether it be fast/slow/loud/quiet.
6. I don’t like Metal because… It makes kids kill themselves or each other.
You should like metal because… Any decisions you make in life, are yours and yours alone to make. Someone has to be incredibly mentally unstable to have a metal song influence their behavior to act out violently against one another. Society constantly looks for a scapegoat and often times, Metal is that scapegoat. It always has been since 1969 (or.. earlier?). People kill people - not metal.
7. I don’t like Metal because… It makes people depressed.
You should like metal because… Metal music is aggressive and empowering. People do not listen to metal to feel helpless or more alone - they listen to it to feel empowered. Metal music has helped me in many times of need and I can safely say that I am not alone. It’s a short therapy session that you can’t get from listening to your favourite songs on the radio. It understands that life is not just a field of ignorant rainbows and oblivious lollipops - shit happens and metal is always there to make you feel empowered and pumped up again.
8. I don’t like Metal because… I can’t be bothered listening to it.
You should like metal because… Metal music doesn’t gloss over the pretty things in life. It’s a lot more complex and diverse than meets the eye. You can write it off, but only because it’s easier than peering inside and seeing the thousands of layers that make up metal. Just like exploitation films were labeled trash, metal music leaves a lot more to be uncovered. A rare feat of metal is that you can listen to a song a hundred times and sometimes never even scratch the surface of the structure of the lyrics and the composition.
9. I don’t like Metal because… Metal seems like a very niche genre.
You should like metal because… Metal is ONLY and ALL about the music. Unlike the indie music crowd where people look down on you for what you’re wearing or what you look like, we don’t care about those things! We don’t care if you don’t have long hair, we don’t care if you’re not wearing black. Metalheads don’t respond well to posers and much prefer for people to just be themselves. Metal is all about having fun and not being pretentious.
10. I don’t like Metal because… It just seems like really simple music.
You should like metal because… A lot of bands such as Emperor, Meshuggah, Immortal and Cannibal Corpse are a bunch of talented musicians. It takes a lot of practice to be able to sing and play their instruments like they do. Musicians like these are always overlooked by record companies and the public in general which is sad. If you ever come to a time where you listen to one of these bands, you will soon understand that metal music is not just a simple type of music at all.
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10 Reasons Why You Don’t Like Metal - And Why You Should | Metal Music Blog
[...] discovered this post from MetalMartyr.Com who again found the original source in Zeozombie.Com. I am going to do the same as Scott of MetalMartyr.Com and I let you to read the whole post in its [...]
Right on! Well said. You’ve just been added to my blogroll and I’ll be linking back to this post from Metal Martyr. This deserves to be seen! Thanks
Well, this just gave me more ammunition for those metal haters i know!
Possibly the smartest thing i’ve read all day.
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Anybody who says metal can’t be melodic clearly isn’t listening.
I’m personally a big fan of female vocals in metal. Lacuna Coil, Otep, In This Moment.
hey, great article!
and btw, last Korpiklaani album is tons of fun too ^^
Hey, this is really a great post! Metal is the music for the things that are worth thinking about, it is really very well said - it is not for posers, but for people that feel freedom inside.
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i totally agree with all that shit and i hope someblody will read it and change their mind about metal…cuz in all honesty, i dont get mad at metal haters, i pity them for the fact that they’ve never experianced the sensations and liberations of this amazing form of expression
To put it simply, metal is for metal lovers, such as myself, my friends, and thousands of thousands more. If you dont like metal, why waste about 15minutes of your time to listen to cannibal corpse, not like it, and leave negative comments and/or, believe it or not, lawsuits. As for me, and to all you metal lovers, ill catch you in a mosh pit.
\m/ metal 4 life \m/
awesome article, very true!
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I think I love you. =] Great post I totally understand, but I’m not great with words, so thanks for doing that =] Cannibal Corpse are fucking hilarious
I needed this right about now. Everyone I know is condemning me because of my love for metal. I was just listening to The Black Dahlia Murder and it got me so pumped up! I can agree with some people though. Some metal does suck, like the songs that sound the same throughout an album and the same drum pattern is used over and over again. I don’t like that. But once you hear stuff like Emperor, Belphegor, August Burns Red, As I Lay Dying, Carnifex, Arch Enemy, (i could go on for days), You have to appreciate the complexity and and rhythm these bands work so hard to achieve. Honestly, I could not tell you what I would do without metal! I, as a musician, (drums, guitar, and vocals) do enjoy most kinds of music except for country and rap. Those two I cannot stand! I respect those who like that kind of music, but it just isn’t for me. But like i said, i enjoy all kinds of music. Heck, I’ll pull out some Bob Marley or the Beach Boys every once in a while. But metal truly is the only music that really gets to me. It has the most emotion. And to the people who thinks metal is about death, drugs, and morbidity, read the lyrics to Metallica’s Master of Puppets. It’s about being hooked on drugs and how they ruin your life. Some of the utmost respect goes to Metallica, in my opinion! I honestly don’t see how you can like metal and not like Metallica! It’s almost impossible! ALL HAIL METAL!
Oh yeah, I also dress in American Eagle and Aeropstale type clothing. It’s funny to see people looking at you as you have The Black Dahlia Murder blasting out your stereo!
Correction: Mayhem WERE satanists. before they all killed each other.
But other than that i completely agree with you
Nicely done. I have been having this discussion with people for years.
Great article, but Its not these technical details that prevent an individual from listing to metal music, or any other sort of music. Simply put, I don’t listen to metal because it sounds like shit to me. I respect metal as a genre as any other genre. It’s simply matter of taste.
These were all very good reasons, but I still don’t like a lot of metal. Not because it’s a niche genre or because it’s too simple or what you want to call it. I just find that every single time anyone has ever recommended a single metal band to me, they’ve sounded bland and repetitive.
There are a selective few metal bands I enjoy out there and even they suffer from the same drawbacks from time to time. It might be the same as indie music (which by the way you seem to stereotype heavily as well) in that a lot of the well-known bands are very similar in structure, but with more exploration, better work can be found.
But thus far, I can’t see any of that showing up. And I hate to mass label it, but so far everything I have heard has either been classic rock, colloquially called “metal” because there was a guitar solo in it, or modern day metal that thinks that screaming, reverberating arpeggio solos and growling are the only two things anyone should ever do in order to make a song sound “heavy”.
I’d be really eager to hear something labeled as “metal” that actually took a new approach for once. If the vagueness of that descriptive term was applied to the music itself, there might be more innovation in the genre. Something other than pounding double bass and overmixed guitars. And I mean, there’s no doubt it exists. It’s probably just hard to find, just like good pop music or good rock. It just doesn’t seem to exist in the mind of the popular fan.
It just all sounds like screaming to me and most of the time you can’t understand the lyrics at all. My brother listens to metal and yeah I realize it’s not all satanic and some of it is melodic, but I could never get into it. Listening to music I like makes me happy, and I just don’t think I could really feel happy listening to metal, but hey, listen to whatever music you want I have no problem with that. Well thought out arguments but the bottom line is certain types of music clique with certain people which is why some like rock, some like rap, some like classical, some like everything. If it doesn’t clique with a person, no argument is gonna get them to like it (although if their only reason for not liking it is that they think it’s satanic, then maybe this could work). Still, nice job.
Totally agree with this Metal Kicks Ass. I like Metal cause it best heard loud and love guitar solos. Screw everything else just give me Metal and I’m happy. And besides when ever I listen to it I get reallly pumped and want to hit something. Plus its good to listen to when your working out.
What’s with number 8? Can’t be bothered? Then fuck right off.
I couldn’t not comment on how fucking amazing this was. Bravo!