What is the Appeal of Metal?

[brewmaster]

I have to ask the question. What do all of you see in metal music in general. To me it just sounds like a bunch of power chords thrown together at an insane rate of speed with a hell of a lot of screaming, it doesn't make much musical sense to me. I have difficulty hearing lyrics over music in general, but I cannot understand a bit of metal.

Moreover, when I hear it, it makes me want to smash things, and takes my stress level up about thirty notches.

So what is it?

[The Many]

Obviously it depends on the band in question, but a lot of metal is very, very technical, far from just a bunch of power chords. It is also written in a very "logical" and structured way with a lot of various rhythms and tempos in it, which usually appeals to NTs listening to music; you listen to patterns rather than emotions. Most music I like besides metal, such as classical and progressive rock, also focus a lot on technicality and composition, not only on emotion as pop usually does.

And besides, I love smashing things. Adrenaline is one of the best highs there is. Being "stressed" is nice too. Then again, I am very, very rarely stressed out and I often prefer fast tempos to slower ones, since slower ones bore me (both in music, in conversation and in life in general).

[stasis]

I myself was never really a fan of the metal, and I still prefer synths to guitars in general, but a friend of mine has been gradually changing this view. I would now say I am a fan of black metal. To your specific points:

You mention not being able to understand the lyrics. I'm usually not as interested in lyrical content as I am in the character of the vocals, so that's not generally an issue. My main objection to black metal, for example, is the low-fidelity recording that seems to be traditional. I think Darkthrone would be incredible if the tracks weren't produced to sound so flat.

You mention an insane rate of speed. That, I think, is something that'll vary completely depending upon the subgenre of metal you're talking about. A doom (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) band like Skumring (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) plays really quite slow; in fact, their "De glemte Tider" album is almost a protracted drone. Dark Tranquility (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) in being melodic death (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) is another example of metal being a bit less dissonant about composition than what you seem to be describing. Consider checking out their recent album, "Fiction". It's pretty accessible, although not really my cup of tea.

Finally, you mention the music making you want to smash things. Well, the only problem there seems to be that you find the experience stressful instead of glorious. Do you hate victory?

[Splittet]

I like some metal, but it's mostly progressive. The more simple kinds of metal, either it is power, symphonic, black, death or whatever, often feels quite cliché and lifeless to me. And even though I like quite a lot of progressive metal, I don't like it too technical, again it feels lifeless. Emotional, progressive metal is my favourite kind, like for example Pain of Salvation or Riverside. I also very much enjoy Opeth, but have an ambivalent relationship to their dark side. Tool is another favourite.

[brewmaster]

Obviously it depends on the band in question, but a lot of metal is very, very technical, far from just a bunch of power chords. It is also written in a very "logical" and structured way with a lot of various rhythms and tempos in it, which usually appeals to NTs listening to music; you listen to patterns rather than emotions. Most music I like besides metal, such as classical and progressive rock, also focus a lot on technicality and composition, not only on emotion as pop usually does.

And besides, I love smashing things. Adrenaline is one of the best highs there is. Being "stressed" is nice too. Then again, I am very, very rarely stressed out and I often prefer fast tempos to slower ones, since slower ones bore me (both in music, in conversation and in life in general).

Patterns, interesting. I must not hve been exposed to enough of it to see it that way. Don't get me wrong, I cannot stand anything that could have the word pop applied to it. I'm a Dead head, one of the most overlooked bands as far as technicality in history as far as I am concerned.

I like smashing things too, just a little too much maybe. My life is very fast paced with meetings constantly, lab work, planning high level experiments to nearly the second so that they will hit me at the most opportune time to keep my efficiency level at max. This may be the root.


You mention not being able to understand the lyrics. I'm usually not as interested in lyrical content as I am in the character of the vocals, so that's not generally an issue. My main objection to black metal, for example, is the low-fidelity recording that seems to be traditional. I think Darkthrone would be incredible if the tracks weren't produced to sound so flat.

You mention an insane rate of speed. That, I think, is something that'll vary completely depending upon the subgenre of metal you're talking about. A doom (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) band like Skumring (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) plays really quite slow; in fact, their "De glemte Tider" album is almost a protracted drone. Dark Tranquility (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) in being melodic death (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) is another example of metal being a bit less dissonant about composition than what you seem to be describing. Consider checking out their recent album, "Fiction". It's pretty accessible, although not really my cup of tea.

Finally, you mention the music making you want to smash things. Well, the only problem there seems to be that you find the experience stressful instead of glorious. Do you hate victory?

First to the lyrics part. I don't really pay attention to lyrics is one of the reasons I cannot hear them (unless its Dylan). I am more concerned with the music.

Interesting on the slow stuff, I was unaware.

Do I hate victory? not at all. My urge to smash things is great enough already that I need to stay away from things that will actually lead to it. I deal with so much shit on a day to day basis, the music I listen to needs to be mellow. Metal stresses me because it does not suppress the kill impulse.

From the answers so far it seems that I have not been exposed to enough of the good stuff to have developed a favorable view.

[HackerX]

You mention not being able to understand the lyrics. I'm usually not as interested in lyrical content as I am in the character of the vocals, so that's not generally an issue. My main objection to black metal, for example, is the low-fidelity recording that seems to be traditional. I think Darkthrone would be incredible if the tracks weren't produced to sound so flat.


I listen to a lot of black metal. A lot of it I can't stand, because it's black metal for the sake of being kvlt or similar sheep crap. For a lot of albums I might agree, but there are certainly albums where this works, and creates the right atmosphere. For instance, there's no way Burzum's Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, or Filosofem would be half as good if they were produced any better (i.e. at all. Though if you want to hear a decent version of what it might sound like, look up Reverend Bizarre's version of Dunkelheit).


You mention an insane rate of speed. That, I think, is something that'll vary completely depending upon the subgenre of metal you're talking about.


Some of my favourite metal is the lower tempo, doom and/or ambient varieties. Where it's all about the patterns/layers, the atmosphere.

Some of the "grey" metal bands popping up would probably suit what you're looking for, which have a lot of the aspects of black metal, but with better production etc. Naturally, I'm going to recommend Agalloch's - Ashes Against The Grain as being a prime example of this.

If you're looking for an idea of what I mean:
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check out my first post, and have a listen to those songs and see if it changes your perception of metal.

[lowtech redneck]

Heh, I don't pretend to have a reason, I just like metal. For me, its like trying to find the reason I enjoy vanilla milkshakes.

[HackerX]

A doom (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) band like Skumring (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) plays really quite slow; in fact, their "De glemte Tider" album is almost a protracted drone.

I'm listening to this right now, and I'm rather liking this first song. Cheers for the recommendation.

[Nomad]

I get exposed to all sorts of things, and I've heard quite a bit of metal music. I don't really care for it. I recognize the considerable talents on many of the musicians, but my whole life has been extraordinarily fast paced and for an American who is not a career criminal, has been remarkably violent.

As a musical genre, it just stresses me out unnecessarily.

That being said, metal was frequently played just before we went to bad neighborhoods to do bad things to awful people. Black Sabbath, Metallica and AC/DC were popular, as was Queensryche, but Queensryche isn't really metal, I don't think. This is going back to the eighties and nineties.

Got us pumped up.

I listen to mostly Blues and I'm a devout Parrothead. I like the attitude conveyed.

-Nomad

[radioactivez0r]

This probably won't be very useful, but anyway...when I first got into metal, I said pretty much the same thing. I listened to some classic Cryptopsy and couldn't figure out what the hell was going on or why anyone would listen to it. Unfortunately, I can't tell you when or why it "clicked" and one day the speed and rhythms made sense. I had a lot of input from people whose opinions I respected on the matter, but in the end I was the one listening. It's funny that you mention wanting to smash things - that is easily the one common response I hear from people about the music I listen to, but oddly, it doesn't do that to me at all. It's a stress reliever sometimes, not a stress builder. I also listen to many different kinds, for different reasons I suppose - sometimes it's the intensity, sometimes it's the mind-blowing precision or technique, sometimes it's the whole.

[L30]

There are many flavours of metal. One can easily like some types and hate other types. I usually listen to power metal and similar/derivated genres. Manowar, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody are among my favourites. True metal is a philosophy of life. See some quotes by Joey DiMaio (Manowar's leader).

[stasis]

For a lot of albums I might agree, but there are certainly albums where this works, and creates the right atmosphere. For instance, there's no way Burzum's Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, or Filosofem would be half as good if they were produced any better
I'm certainly no expert on black metal and I'll readily defer to you on the example of Vikernes' material. I can also immediately agree that there is such a thing as overproducing a visceral performance. At the same time, what you say about the patterns and layers, the atmosphere in the sound, is probably a good description of one of my core interests in music in general. I am usually much more interested in musical spatiality and its patterns than I am in any arithmetic technicality to the piece. That's what I find so frustrating about the low-fidelity: it literally 'flattens' that spatiality.

Then again, sometimes this actually works to further unify the instrumentation into a cohesive piece. There are many examples in many genres of rough or bootleg live performances where such is undeniably the case. But an (excellent) album like Filosofem isn't all that low fidelity to begin with. I was thinking more along the lines of Under a Funeral Moon.


I'm listening to this right now, and I'm rather liking this first song. Cheers for the recommendation.
I'm glad you liked it. I think I prefer the second song on the album (the title track), but the first was also quite good. I'm not so hot on the third, though.

[Amaranth]

Metal is the only genre that doesn't bore me. There's a whole lot of crap to sift through, but there are some nuggets in there by some musical geniuses that just blow me away. Death's Design by Diabolical Masquerade and Secret of the Runes by Therion come to mind. Some other favorites: Anything by Hollenthon, Virus by Hypocrisy, Hating Life by Grave, World Demise by Obituary. When I'm not listening to metal (which is rare) it means I'm in a simpler mood, and at those times I listen to old jazz pieces (like At Last by Etta James) and reggae (a la Marley). I don't like power metal all that much (which is aggravating because that's where all the innovation is these days), and I can't stand that repetitive dance club music, or *shudders* pop.

[The Many]

Patterns, interesting. I must not hve been exposed to enough of it to see it that way. Don't get me wrong, I cannot stand anything that could have the word pop applied to it. I'm a Dead head, one of the most overlooked bands as far as technicality in history as far as I am concerned.

I like smashing things too, just a little too much maybe. My life is very fast paced with meetings constantly, lab work, planning high level experiments to nearly the second so that they will hit me at the most opportune time to keep my efficiency level at max. This may be the root.

Well, if you start off listening to death or black metal you will have problems getting into it since the genres are so extreme. For me personally, I got into Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Hammerfall and heavy/power metal bands like those when I was 14 (I am 19 now), and those bands were a good start. Granted, I don't like most of them now (especially not Hammerfall) - it is way too simplistic and the lyrics are cringeworthy, but it opened my mind and made me able to progress further and get into more brutal and challenging stuff.

I probably wouldn't be able to appreciate classical music today if I hadn't "learnt" music through listening to metal, which lead to me picking up the guitar, and so forth. Of course, me being synaesthetic (hearing music in colours just as much as in notes/rhythms) probably helped me getting into this more structured kind of it.

As for the stress though, metal and its adrenaline usually pumps me up a lot and gets me more prepared to deal with things, so it may have different effects on different people. I mean, I spent last year getting approximately four to five hours of sleep a night due to being busy with school, and I certainly didn't get stressed out the way many others did.

[Lucid]

Moreover, when I hear it, it makes me want to smash things, and takes my stress level up about thirty notches.

Sometimes I enjoy feeling like I want to smash things. Sometimes I already feel like I want to smash things, and have found that metal is the perfect musical accompaniment for such moods.

Honestly, I'm not sure it's possible for people to describe to others why they like a particular music (or food or color, for example). I like a lot of industrial and my best friend is a die hard punk. He can't stand most of my music. I can't understand how he couldn't like it, he can't understand how I can. We've spent the last 10 years of our friendship arguing about this point and trying to instill in each other an appreciation of the other's opinion. In 10 years we haven't really made any progress.
Although one of the few genres of music we agree on is metal. :thumbsup:

Personally, my favorite metal band (and one of my favorite bands period), is Acid Bath. My impression is that they are less known, but if you have the opportunity give When the Kite String Pops a listen. :)

[Drayakir]

There are many flavours of metal. One can easily like some types and hate other types. I usually listen to power metal and similar/derivated genres. Manowar, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody are among my favourites. True metal is a philosophy of life. See some quotes by Joey DiMaio (Manowar's leader).

*throws up horns*

Yeah, I'm a power metalhead too. To clarify to those who don't know what it is it's... elves and wizards and dragons, with a speed metal beat, and generally very good, almost operatic vocals.

I'm also a fan of symphonic metal, especially with groups that cross over with power metal, such as Nightwish, Sonata, and Dark Moor.

And then there's the old good stuff- Metallica (pre-Cliff dying), AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Helloween, etc.

[AresX9]

I'm Thrash/Progressive. The heavier it can get, the better.

I'm also against the Death Metal screams, I find them completely ridiculous.

Favorite bands (In order)

Symphony X
Megadeth
Testament
Metallica
Anthrax
Black Label Society
Slayer
Dream Theater
Dragonforce

[The 10th Plague]

I think there is no way of citing "metal" as a whole, as there are many different metal-genres. From ultra-slow, to ultra-fast. From the most atmospheric, to the most technical.

In my humble opinion, metal just has more emotion than pop music. Metal focuses on many more different emotion, than pop music. Pop music only focusses on love. Metal music, can contain love, but surely isn't limited to that. Even a single song can inherit various emotions, varying from happy love, to death, to euphoria, to misery and so on. I think that the emotion of metal is what is sets apart.

Also, many metalbands use atmosphere a great tool. Pop music contains much less atmosphere. This also makes metal special.

And ofcourse, there's the technical part. I could write a complete essay on the technical part of metal, but I don't think anyone would wish to read that:p so here's a short version: Whereas pop music almost solemnly uses the "verse-chorus" makeup of songs, metal doesn't use that much. Metal music can be divided in to sections, but real "verse-chorus"-songs are much less common than in pop music. Also tempo-changes are pretty common in metal music. Key-changes also are common. Key-changes are rarely used in pop, and if it's used in there, most of the time it's the last chorus going a half tone higher.

Putting all this together, metal is much closer to classical music than pop does. So, if you really really really don't like classical music, you'd probably don't like metal as well.....

[Drayakir]

Wow. I never thought about linking metal to classical music. I even thought they were sort of opposites of each other (despite me loving both types).

[The 10th Plague]

Wow. I never thought about linking metal to classical music. I even thought they were sort of opposites of each other (despite me loving both types).

Well, I've been raised with classical music, and I have above average musical knowledge (I'm not being arrogant in here :p ), and I only see connections between metal and classical music. When we look to history Metal even derived directly from (bombastic) classical music like Wagner, and Mozart. Ever payed attention to how heavy metal (and power metal) is song? Than you see that the way for instance Bruce Dickinson sings is directly taken from an opera-style (I can't remember the name of that style :( ).

Also, metalhead tend to like classical music much more than pop-people. Visa versa is also the case (someone with a classical background will like, on average, metal much more than pop).

[HackerX]

I'm Thrash/Progressive. The heavier it can get, the better.

I'm also against the Death Metal screams, I find them completely ridiculous.


Ever heard any black/grey metal where the vocals are seeminly as just another instrument in the mix. When done well like that, it comes across as appropriate.

As for classical though, Symphony X for example is reknowned for it. Half the songs you wouldn't know until you're told the actual symphonies, then it clicks. Romeo does it very well.

Took me a while to find this old thread but:
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[Winden]

I used to be a die hard metalhead. Leather jacket, long hair, studs. I really believed in it, I took it as a lifestyle more than a simple musical genre, it almost became a spiritual experience, something a la Manowar.

Then one day I realized that the kind of Metal I enjoyed (NWOBHM, Thrash), had pretty much faded away by the late 80's. It took me about six years of headbanging, but I eventually got tired of listening to Maiden, Priest, Saxon, Dark Angel, Exodus etc. Mind you, I still shred on my air guitar and headbang mindlessly whenever I put on something like Screaming for Vengeance, Wheels of Steel or Darkness Descends, but I don't listen to that music that often any more.

It's all Kurt Cobain's fault.

[radioactivez0r]

Personally, my favorite metal band (and one of my favorite bands period), is Acid Bath. My impression is that they are less known, but if you have the opportunity give When the Kite String Pops a listen. :)

I like Acid Bath because they are different from every other record I own, and Dax's (?) voice is intense. Of course, my favorite song on that disc is Bones of Baby Dolls. That reminds me, I also like them because I think the song titles are absolutely OUTSTANDING. Have not heard Pagan Terrorist Tactics yet...recommendation?

radioactivez0r added, 1 Minutes and 42 Seconds later...

I'm Thrash/Progressive. The heavier it can get, the better.


Dragonforce

Not to chop up your post, but I would love to find more bands in this vein - the over the top speed with serious chops. It's great workout music but I'm ignorant on the whole when it comes to that style (my knowledge ends around Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, and Angra).

[Lucid]

I like Acid Bath because they are different from every other record I own, and Dax's (?) voice is intense. Of course, my favorite song on that disc is Bones of Baby Dolls. That reminds me, I also like them because I think the song titles are absolutely OUTSTANDING. Have not heard Pagan Terrorist Tactics yet...recommendation?

Pagan Terrorism Tactics isn't as metal-ish as When the Kite String Pops. It's more mellow, but I still enjoy it quite a bit.
I think Bones of Baby Dolls is one of my favorite songs too, but Jezebel is definitely ranked higher imo. One of the reasons I like Acid Bath so much is the lyrics, quite frankly. It seems rare to find a metal band with lyrics like theirs.
Have you tried Agents of Oblivion? More of an acquired taste I think. But it's all the members of Acid Bath except (of course) the bassist (who's dead now :()
Dax has another project called Dead Boy and the Elephant Men that I keep meaning to try. And some of the other members are in Goatwhore now I think.

[HackerX]

Not to chop up your post, but I would love to find more bands in this vein - the over the top speed with serious chops. It's great workout music but I'm ignorant on the whole when it comes to that style (my knowledge ends around Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, and Angra).

Not exactly in the same vein, but if you're not already listening to them, you should be:
Blind Guardian - the kings of speed metal.
Iced Earth - BG's sister band, listen to anything pre "The Glorious Burden" (things went downhill after Barlow left)
Symphony X - I'd be suprised if you said you've never listened to them.

[radioactivez0r]

Not exactly in the same vein, but if you're not already listening to them, you should be:
Blind Guardian - the kings of speed metal.
Iced Earth - BG's sister band, listen to anything pre "The Glorious Burden" (things went downhill after Barlow left)
Symphony X - I'd be suprised if you said you've never listened to them.

BG - for some reason, I do not have anything prior to Somewhere In Time, and I think I prefer the faster, older material. Tokyo Tales showcased it all, and yet I have none.
IE - To me, Barlow was IE. Yes, Schaffer is the founder, but Barlow's vocals were so perfect for the sound that when he left, I essentially stopped listening to them. I like a couple tracks on the Gettysburg disc, but that's it.
Of course, I also have both Demons & Wizards CDs :)
I've got 4 or 5 Symphony X CD's...but none of the above bands are as damn fast as Dragonforce.

[Drayakir]

For me, Guardian's best album was Nightfall in Middle Earth. Although that's more epid metal than power metal, actually.

Iced Earth, yeah, I forgot about them. They're good, obviously, although I didn't listen to too many of the songs. My favorite as of now is Fiddler on the Green.

[slut poacher]

i dig metal in a big way,but the barking dog vocals have got to go.the members in the band also have to be highly skilled players.intj's are strong with pattern recognition and i very much enjoy fast paced technical music.i find it relaxing and enjoyable to dissect it note by note. i am enjoying quite a bit of the newer heavy stuff but it all started with RUSH for me. i recommend watching Metal: A Headbangers Journey. it is absolutely fascinating to metalheads and regular citizens alike.