music Why do people think metal is dumb?

[Jinx 2,292]

People criticize it, because they think it's all mindless drivel. The diversity of the genre is something to behold, and ranges from one end of the spectrum to the other. I used to enjoy a lot of the heavier stuff early on. Now I still enjoy it but to a lesser extent. I've found my niche with folk, power, and symphonic metal for the most part and I won't be looking back. I'm enjoying the more melodic clean lyricists for the past 5 years compared to what I listened to with my early experiences within the genre.

[Lost Profile 644]

I like rock and metal... It's easy to play and you don't need talent what so ever!

 

 

Of corse I don't mean that in a bad way

 

I'm with my band a lot... Jaming to metal... The only problem is that none of them are bronies...

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

@,

 

Okay, I tried listening to the song you mentioned as an exercise, and it's a good example of a song which I don't understand the appeal of. Maybe you can help me. Bear with me as I try to think this out, because I don't have much of an idea here.

 

 

 

What is "awesome" about the instrumentals? Is it that the guitar and bass players can strum notes really quickly? Is it that the guitar player can move about the range of possible notes quickly or that the guitar player can make screaming effects? Is it that the drummer can play a high-tempo rhythm? Is there anything unique about the instrumental track in this song compared to other songs by the group or compared to other metal groups? Do you find the riffs, chord progression, solos, or vocals memorable or interesting?

 

I won't argue that the subject matter of the song is "daring." I did have to read the lyrics, though, because for me, it was very difficult to pick the quickly-spoken half-shouted words of the overall sound of the song. Do you think that the lyrics are an integral part of enjoying this song? Furthermore, do the instrumentals enhance the impact of the lyrics? Is there something unique about the combination of the lyrics and the instrumental track in this song that makes it particularly enjoyable?

 

Any further explanation you can give would help me with understanding the appeal of this song and maybe of metal in general.

 

The emotion put into the instrumentals. The anger that's shown through the music. It sets the vibe for the entire song. There are plenty of instrumentals out there that don't have lyrics, but convey a very clear message, and a very clear emotion. The fast paced lyrics, plus the fast paced instrumentals works for this song. This particular song (Angel of Death) is in the style of Slayer. If Metallica played it it would sound way different. Different metal bands have their own particular sound. Metallica is more for aggressive guitar parts, and the "not-so-screaming" vocals. Like the song "one" this is the style Metallica is, I don't want to say it's softer then the other bands, but it is. The vocals convey a message, and I honestly couldn't understand the first time either. It takes a while to get used to listening for the deeper meaning. This makes it rather hard for many people to listen to it.

Honestly, it's all the things you asked. What makes a good metal song, many bands have different ways of conveying a sound. (as I said before). Slayer is one of the more aggressive bands. They rely on fast guitar solos, fast drumming, screaming vocals, and a dark message. In my opinion the only thing Slayer has in common with Metallica is the genre they are placed in. The "Big 4" Is basically the four founders of thrash metal. Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth. These 4 bands have 4 different sounds. I've already went over the first two so I won't repeat myself. Anthrax is the more trebbally sounding band. They have slower songs then most the other bands, but they represent one of the four branches of Metal. (Yes, in my opinion the 4 bands represent 4 branches) Megadeth combines punk, metal, and a more Metallica sound to get their personal sound.

Metal is a great genre, that is overlooked, because people just scratch the surface.

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

I like almost every type of music and I see this with almost all of them. People are always bashing a genre due to their own ignorance. Metal isn't my favorite kind of music, but I like quite a bit of it and I know many metal musicians are very talented. People bash metal, or any other kind of music for that matter, because they stereotype based on a couple bands or they hear a stereotype from someone else and mindlessly accept it. Either that or they simply can't accept that other people have different music preferences than them.

 

I listen to mainstream pop/rock hits from the '60s-'80s and adult pop/rock hits from the '90s-present, and I must admit, I don't understand the appeal of metal, based on the limited amount of it that I've heard. I think one reason why people think metal is dumb is because non-fans like myself can't see the appeal of it - to me, it seems rather mind-numbing, repetitive, and not particularly pleasant to listen to.

 

Maybe some of you metal fans can elaborate on why you like to listen to metal. Is it because of the lyrics? If so, why are metal lyrics better than the lyrics in other genres of music? Is it because the music is complex/complicated? If so, why does its complexity cause you to like it more than other genres of music? Can "complexity" in and of itself make a good song? Is it because (as I have heard) metal is "cathartic" to listen to?

 

I like the music I listen to because it has memorable riffs, catchy melodies, interesting chord progressions, and/or the ability to draw forth a variety of emotions; furthermore, lyrics to a song are only of secondary importance to me as long as they are "good enough." The metal music I have listened to lacks these things that I look for in music. Maybe the instrumentalists are technically skilled and maybe the lyrics are meaningful, but those things are lost in the mind-numbing repetitiveness and unmemorable nature of the music.

 

Well, I only listen to some metal (mostly from the Eighties), but for me metal music gets me excited and full of energy. Its fast-paced, complex, has some great solos, and gets the heart racing. Also, in my opinion, metal often does have all the things you said you look for in music, and that's part of why I like it. Iron Maiden, Metallica, and many others all have made very memorable songs with awesome solos and catchy riffs and melodies. Most metal brings about negative emotions (either sadness or anger), but you there are many exceptions. For example, "Aces High" by Iron Maiden is about the thrill of being a military pilot.

 

 

Also, repetitiveness is not necessarily a bad thing, and I don't think metal is mind numbing. Of course some metal bands are like that, but you can't judge the entire genre based on just them.

[Tia 4]

I love metal but I think the fans of metal just get generalized as weird or people that lack a certain level of class. I am a huge fan of old school thrash metal and although sometimes the lyrics are silly, I just love the style and aggression.

[Music Chart Fan 819]

I don't know. I'm beginning to think that maybe metal fans just have a different musical philosophy than other people. Almost everyone on this thread says that metal is complex and the players are skilled, but it just doesn't come across to me as being very interesting or impressive. The fact that the musicians can play really fast notes or play across a wide range of notes doesn't mean much to me if the song isn't memorable at all.

 

I guess complexity and virtuosity are not the only things I look for in music. I do appreciate virtuostic playing, but I think I do so better in the service of a song that already has other interesting/memorable/emotional aspects, and I also like a lot of music that doesn't take much technical skill to play. I like music that has hooks, riffs, melodies and/or chord progressions that get stuck in my head, that I can recall later, and that work together to create an emotional impact. Metal for the most part does not have these things for me - while there are chord progressions and riffs present, and these might take skill to play, they are not memorable to me and don't make much, if any, of an emotional impact.

 

A lot of people on this thread are saying things to the effect of "non-fans just don't get metal," and maybe that sentiment is correct, but neither fans nor non-fans of metal should think the other is stupid because they have different reasons for liking the music they listen to.

[Marcato 2,143]

I think some people consider it dumb because a large amount of metal is made up of screaming, growling, negative and/or depressing themes, and because they consider the noises and effects annoying. Personally, I'm not a fan of screeching and screamo, but I like metal because of the instruments. Albeit I prefer symphonic metal over anything else, but I really like the genre for that reason. It has a lot of different styles and varieties.

 

Frankly if people dislike it because of random noise and effects, maybe they should take a look at the modern music that seems to be so popular.

BAAAABAAAWUBWUBWUBEEEEEEEESCHOOOOO

No seriously.

Wat.