Metal...why do they call it that? Maybe the weight of most metals being high density and weighing a lot of lbs? Maybe stoners used the term "that's heavy man", or some guy in some movie or book or song used the term. No one knows why it's called Metal or Heavy Metal, but it exists....thank god.
A lot of people have asked me "why do you listen to that crap?" I've been a Hard rock/Heavy Metal fan for the majority of my life. When I was a little booger I listened to my share of Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, and The New Kids On The Block. But then I developed a taste for something more.
Now I got pretty into the whole "grunge scene" in middle school. I wore my flannel shirts like everybody else, and I became a fan of bands like The Offspring, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and the everlasting Nirvana. Now these weren't Metal bands, but they're significant because they're part of the revolution against the ridiculous joke of Metal bands in the 80's. The hair bands of dudes that looked like chicks. They were a heavier sound. It wasn't until late middle school that I was introduced to Metallica. I consider them my gateway band(meaning they are the band that turned me over to the darkside, i.e. metal genre.) Soon after, the grunge sound just wasn't heavy enough anymore. I liked it, enjoyed it, but it wasn't enough. Metallica filled the void, and introduced me to how amazing a concert can be. Their live shows are known as one of the best in the world. Hard not to draw in an adolescent male.
But after a couple years THAT wasn't enough either. I had heard a band called PANTERA earlier in my grunge days and didn't appreciate it. But as years went on I found myself craving a heavier sound and they quickly became a favorite. Now I listen to even heavier bands, particularly I favor the "Metalcore" genre, which is defined as: a fusion genre incorporating elements of hardcore punk and extreme metal. Right now is a very exciting time for this style of music, a lot like the classic rock rave in the late 60's and early 70's. They're calling this era the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. The NWOBHM back in the 60's included bands like Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath, the two supposed founders of the "metal genre". Now you have a wave of metalcore bands majorily from the United States, particularly the upper-east coast/New England area. If I had heard these bands earlier in my lifetime I would not have enjoyed it, but now I can't see how I lived without it.
Underground: Metal prides itself on NOT being a part of pop culture. It's difficult for many metal bands to sustain a long and successful career in part because the financial rewards and popular fame and recognition is difficult to reach with a heavy, loud, distorted sound. "Selling out" is a term in reference to a band that changes their sound and their musical approach to appeal to a larger market. By doing this they gain more fans, get more radio time, hope to sell more records, do music videos, sell more singles, etc. This is looked down upon many hardcore metal followers as the metal community is very set on being against the grain, with the grain being popularity. Bands included in the "Nu-Metal" genre are criticized of this on a more continuous basis as their sound incorporates grunge, alternative, funk, and hip-hop elements in addition to heavy metal influences. In my opinion: I don't give a fuck who listens to it, and I don't care who likes it, or how much radio time it gets. If I like it, I'm puting it on my ipod(now iphone) and listening to it. If you want to judge me, or anyone else for that matter, by what they listen to, then you have serious problems. This is one of my biggest pet peeves of metal fans: many are unable to respect other people's preferences in music and are highly critical, yet these same people are hypocritical in the fact that if you claim to like their preferred music they get very hostile and defensive. Many of these same people only claim to enjoy this type of music for their own personal internal insecurities or rebellious motives.
The big question: "How can you listen to that shit? Isn't it all screaming and devil worshiping music?" These types of questions only lead me to generalize you as a person and define you as ignorant.
Really? Do I look like I worship the devil? Who does that, really? Metal is tough to define because there's so many levels and genres, subgenres, and fusion genres that it's just too damn hard to label everything. However, one of these sub-genres is Black Metal or Black Death Metal. These bands tend to originate in Scandinavia, particularly Norway. Norway is a very strict catholic nation, and unlike the US Constitution they do NOT separate church and state. So if you were to rebel against a government and demonstrate your adversity like so many do in this country, you would choose the opposition. In Norway's case, they worship satan and burn churches. Do I listen to them? No. Black metal tends to lack melody and I can't relate to the lyrics, especially since I don't follow any religion, especially satanism.
Screaming: Think of a guitar. The metal sound includes a heavy bass, constant bass kick beats, and distorted sounding guitar riffs. The screaming, growling, whatever you want to call it, is the vocalist's way of distorting their voice to mesh with the metal sound. Fun Fact: Many metalcore vocalists can sing clearly just as well as anyone, if not better, and many of them do in some of their songs, or during the chorus of their songs.
Tolerance: I wasn't a fan of some of the vocalist's screams or vocal styles when I first started listening to the metalcore genre. In fact, I would just block it out through selective hearing and focus on the guitar melodies and drum rythms. Eventually I was desensitized to the vocal style, I was able to look past it, appreciate it, and now in some instances I even prefer it.
Lyrics: It's easy to assume metal is all about killing, murder, satanism, anger, whatever negative thoughts you associate. I've already covered satanism, but killing? Not so much, at least not what I listen to. Maybe there's references to death or taking a life out of madness or anger, but more of the music I listen to is emotionally influenced. Metal also tends to depict a certain story or event. Example: Creeping Death by Metallica. They were watching the movie "Ten Commandments" and it inspired them to write a song about the movie. An example of an emotionally focused band would be Killswitch Engage. I don't know how they came up with the name, but this band sings a lot about love, lost relationships, and other emotional themes. I just find it hypocritical and funny when people accuse Metal as this terrible genre as only negative and destructive music. What's rap music then? I don't punch bitches, pimp hos, carry a piece so I can bust a cap, and sling dope to my homies. The difference: social acceptance. PART of the hip-hop genre (not making the same mistake others make about metal, knowing only a group of hip hop artists lyrics include "supersoaking hos".) is socially accepted because they GLAMORIZE the negative themes. Treating women with disrespect, drug use and trafficing, and shooing people with guns is made to look cool. At least metal is raw about it their negative themes...there's no glamorizing.
Short answer: Metal is a such a broad scope of music that it's tough to define or generalize an entire genre or group of artists to a single description of screaming devil worshipers. Music is an art form, like anything else, it's open to interpretation, and should be allowed to be enjoyed by any who wish to do so. Metal is very misunderstood, and you can't blame anything but the genre for it, as it likes it that way. So, if you want to broaden your scope, listen to some heavier bands, check out a metal concert. If not, no one fucking cares, just don't talk about things you know nothing about.
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