As metalheads, is it compulsory that we must hate?

[Gildan Bladeborn]

I don't hate other genres, although I do think most metal bands put more effort and have more talent than say....Kanye West, Or Justin Beaver (Refuse to type real name). And the lyrics are usually slightly more deeper than blatantly saying "I love you baby...and I also love your friend!"

Except when half the lyrics are just talking about graphic violence and/or sex?

I listen to a ton of Metal and I can't even recall one song that was obviously about sex, and graphic violence is likewise conspicuously absent - but then I don't listen to Black/Death Metal. Your comment however makes me think that you don't listen to Metal at all, and have wrongly concluded that the most odious examples from those sub-genres are representative of Metal as a whole - they aren't.

But back to the topic at hand! I honestly can't answer that question, as I am an insufferable music snob, and that aspect of my personality has nothing to do with my appreciation for Metal; I've pretty much always been a music snob, quick to cast aspersions at all the horrible crap other people like for their own flawed reasons.

My actual taste in music is highly eclectic and by no means constrained to Rock's more awesome descendant, though I find myself defending it as a valid musical genre a lot because mainstream audiences invariably don't take it seriously - one of my acquaintances here, lacking any friends foisting metal on her in her meatspace sphere, had just blithely assumed the "angry Norwegians thrashing on guitars while screaming incoherently about Satan" stereotype Metal gets was accurate and universally applicable[footnote]Some Metal is precisely like that of course, the mistake is concluding all of it is.[/footnote]. Had I not taken it upon myself to disabuse her of that notion, she might never have found out that she does in fact really really like Metal; I suspect a lot of people who currently derisively chuckle at the genre would have a similar reaction.

 

[RathWolf]

I don't hate other genres, although I do think most metal bands put more effort and have more talent than say....Kanye West, Or Justin Beaver (Refuse to type real name). And the lyrics are usually slightly more deeper than blatantly saying "I love you baby...and I also love your friend!"

Except when half the lyrics are just talking about graphic violence and/or sex?

Is this metal your talking about, cause I haven't heard many graphically violent songs unless they are just taking the piss, like deathklok.
Haven't heard much sex either.

Well, I'm not much of a metal fan, so most of my exposure to it is through friends of mine. But I'm pretty sure Ramstein is metal, and I'm pretty sure that while in German, almost all their songs are about violence, sex, or violence and sex.

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

Metal snobbery isn't on as high levels as classical snobbery but it is pretty prevailent in comparison with other genres. Is it a good thing? No. But everyone has a right to their opinion.

 

[Levitas1234]

Metal isn't exactly "underground"...

depends on the type of metal

 

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

I don't hate other genres, although I do think most metal bands put more effort and have more talent than say....Kanye West, Or Justin Beaver (Refuse to type real name). And the lyrics are usually slightly more deeper than blatantly saying "I love you baby...and I also love your friend!"

Except when half the lyrics are just talking about graphic violence and/or sex?

Is this metal your talking about, cause I haven't heard many graphically violent songs unless they are just taking the piss, like deathklok.
Haven't heard much sex either.

Well, I'm not much of a metal fan, so most of my exposure to it is through friends of mine. But I'm pretty sure Ramstein is metal, and I'm pretty sure that while in German, almost all their songs are about violence, sex, or violence and sex.

Yeah Rammstein are pretty metal a one might say lol
No you raise a good point there though, they do have the odd song on that. But at this stage it's pretty much down to their sensenof humor and them trying to freak out the "norms" as others might say.

 

[Ensiferum]

I'm a metalhead but my desire to give kesha an oophorectomy with a rusty chainsaw so she's unable to produce any more vapid rich white girl skanks stems not from my love of metal but my disgust for kesha.

 

[DrMetal]

It is not only that, anything that is popular or mainstream, should not be revered.

As in - when it becomes musical INDUSTRY instead of artist creating music, thats when it becomes generic and hard to find anything good... I mean amongs ton of pop today, who ever listent to Thrill Kill Kult? Or Girl's Bomb Squad? And those are 2 amaising pop-jazz-fusion artist! And they are on my playlist muddled up with such things as Darkthrone, Project Hate, Old Man's Child, Balsagoth, cerebian, Gorepriest, Fintroll, Manowar and many others in my humble collection 150gb of MP3's.. And while i consider myself a metal head, i will pass on new metalica album, anything by marlyn manson (or any band being advertised in stuff like Kerrang tbh) in favour of Marilyn Monroe music, because while late is artist, others are just making money, and most of the time, you can hear it through the music.

 

[Johanthemonster666]

I don't hate other genres, although I do think most metal bands put more effort and have more talent than say....Kanye West, Or Justin Beaver (Refuse to type real name). And the lyrics are usually slightly more deeper than blatantly saying "I love you baby...and I also love your friend!"

Except when half the lyrics are just talking about graphic violence and/or sex?

Is this metal your talking about, cause I haven't heard many graphically violent songs unless they are just taking the piss, like deathklok.
Haven't heard much sex either.

Well, I'm not much of a metal fan, so most of my exposure to it is through friends of mine. But I'm pretty sure Ramstein is metal, and I'm pretty sure that while in German, almost all their songs are about violence, sex, or violence and sex.

Not always. Rammstein often parodies popular culture(sex, politics ect) and even parody darker topics like the Austrian guy who locked his daughter in his basment for decades and had children with her.

I like Rammstein, but I obviously wouldn't dream of killing or engaging in any of the things that metalhead are accused of (wrongfully).

 

[2fish]

I have been called a music snob as well as an elitist on subjects such as books, video games, movies. I just think the word is over used as generally I find that many people (inculding myself) are just picky when it comes to what they listen to/play/watch. I listen to many types of music, metal is my favorite, but you only become a snob when you say, "oh pop is not music". You can dislike bands and styles you cross the line when you start excuding people from the club. Also most of the metal fans I know are not metal only music, they actually respect other music. The biggest insults twords other music is against current rap and pop mostly aimed at specific bands.

We metal heads just scare people who don't listen to it/understand the culture. If there can be christian death metal then metal heads can live and let live.

 

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

I've noticed it quite a lot that alot/most metalheads (including myself), are guilty of, well I hesitate to say music snobbery but something along those lines.
Is it because metal had pretty much always been an underground thing that any mainstream medium of music is automatically seen as an enemy of metal?
Like my opinion is that Indy and pop music must die in a big fire, with lots of screaming and laughter but is that just me being, I dunno, pretencious or something?
Or is it because metal itself has always had a soul and a beating heart to it, the fact that a style of music tends to become soul-less and same-ie when it hits the mainstream.

When I see threads written like this, by a self professed fan of anything, I always think of this.

[*snip]

Don't worry, you are a unique and beautiful snowflake, just like everyone else.

Oh jeepers, I'm sorry for finding my own little spot in life where I feel accepted and part of a big family.
Guess I'm just not as cool as you with your outsider persona ad whatnot.
It's your mind what makes you special dde, not the clothes I ware or what music I listin to.

LOL.

I'm not sure what's funnier, the fact you think I was describing myself with that hilarious vid or that you completely misunderstood what I was saying.

I agree in part with your last sentence though, but I have to point out if you've found your crowd and are happy and all that shit, why do you feel the need to

my opinion is that Indy and pop music must die in a big fire, with lots of screaming and laughter

Different strokes for different folks. (Means live and let live)

Just that line after the vid there, I interprited it as you taking a stance above me saying " Hahahaha silly boy following trends, away with you and your opnion!"
If you weren't and I just misunderstood you I'm terribly sorry my friend.

 

[Levitas1234]

The fact is that fans of any music try to promote that genre, in the hopes of encouraging talented artists to join that genre. One method of promoting something is to insulting its enemies.

Since metalheads are stereotypically (though I know this to be amusingly inaccurate) violent, macho types, we're more likely to insult things we don't like than typical pop fans.

Alright I'm going to have to call you on that, metalheads are not violent, were rather passive as a race. People seem to be un nervingly violent twords us, in many case I've heard of metal heads being beaten to death because we dress different to everyone else.
I will give you macho though.

>moshpits = passive
Please don't speak for all of metalheads by making ridiculous generalizing statements like "metalheads are not violent"

 

[DrMetal]

I don't hate other genres, although I do think most metal bands put more effort and have more talent than say....Kanye West, Or Justin Beaver (Refuse to type real name). And the lyrics are usually slightly more deeper than blatantly saying "I love you baby...and I also love your friend!"

Except when half the lyrics are just talking about graphic violence and/or sex?

Is this metal your talking about, cause I haven't heard many graphically violent songs unless they are just taking the piss, like deathklok.
Haven't heard much sex either.

Well, I'm not much of a metal fan, so most of my exposure to it is through friends of mine. But I'm pretty sure Ramstein is metal, and I'm pretty sure that while in German, almost all their songs are about violence, sex, or violence and sex.

Not always. Rammstein often parodies popular culture(sex, politics ect) and even parody darker topics like the Austrian guy who locked his daughter in his basment for decades and had children with her.

I like Rammstein, but I obviously wouldn't dream of killing or engaging in any of the things that metalhead are accused of (wrongfully).

Depends, not every metal head is a hardcore rapist murdurer, but Black metal Sceme, under its second flag in norway, has earned the reputation for burning churches and in-scene murders and suicides... And outside the scene, there is always that gay guy in Lillehammer...

 

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

I don't hate other genres, although I do think most metal bands put more effort and have more talent than say....Kanye West, Or Justin Beaver (Refuse to type real name). And the lyrics are usually slightly more deeper than blatantly saying "I love you baby...and I also love your friend!"

Except when half the lyrics are just talking about graphic violence and/or sex?

Is this metal your talking about, cause I haven't heard many graphically violent songs unless they are just taking the piss, like deathklok.
Haven't heard much sex either.

Well, I'm not much of a metal fan, so most of my exposure to it is through friends of mine. But I'm pretty sure Ramstein is metal, and I'm pretty sure that while in German, almost all their songs are about violence, sex, or violence and sex.

Not always. Rammstein often parodies popular culture(sex, politics ect) and even parody darker topics like the Austrian guy who locked his daughter in his basment for decades and had children with her.

I like Rammstein, but I obviously wouldn't dream of killing or engaging in any of the things that metalhead are accused of (wrongfully).

I think it's quite unfair what we get accused of. Okay so one guy burns down a couple of churches and murders people, not our fault that everyone in Mayhem is a fucking nut.

 

[DrMetal]

The fact is that fans of any music try to promote that genre, in the hopes of encouraging talented artists to join that genre. One method of promoting something is to insulting its enemies.

Since metalheads are stereotypically (though I know this to be amusingly inaccurate) violent, macho types, we're more likely to insult things we don't like than typical pop fans.

Alright I'm going to have to call you on that, metalheads are not violent, were rather passive as a race. People seem to be un nervingly violent twords us, in many case I've heard of metal heads being beaten to death because we dress different to everyone else.
I will give you macho though.

>moshpits = passive
Please don't speak for all of metalheads by making ridiculous generalizing statements like "metalheads are not violent"

Because we totaly drag innocent bystanders into the moshpits, or better yet, bring people who dont want to be there and throw them into moshpits... Metalheads = passive, we keep stuff like moshpits, between ourselves... I accidently broke guy's nose in a moshpit during Kampfar gig.... You know what he did? He laughed and bought me a beer! Because Moshpit iunder such invluence of music and screamin, is by all means, better state of euthoria, and knowing that (both of us), I probably was more worried about breaking his nose then him.

 

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

The fact is that fans of any music try to promote that genre, in the hopes of encouraging talented artists to join that genre. One method of promoting something is to insulting its enemies.

Since metalheads are stereotypically (though I know this to be amusingly inaccurate) violent, macho types, we're more likely to insult things we don't like than typical pop fans.

Alright I'm going to have to call you on that, metalheads are not violent, were rather passive as a race. People seem to be un nervingly violent twords us, in many case I've heard of metal heads being beaten to death because we dress different to everyone else.
I will give you macho though.

>moshpits = passive
Please don't speak for all of metalheads by making ridiculous generalizing statements like "metalheads are not violent"

Well it's not like were inherently violent or anything. Moshpits aren't about deliberatly trying to knock the shit out of someone, it's just a bit O fun. As a whole I am correct to say Metalheads are not violent, some individuals among us most certainly are, but not everyone.

 

[RathWolf]

Not always. Rammstein often parodies popular culture(sex, politics ect) and even parody darker topics like the Austrian guy who locked his daughter in his basment for decades and had children with her.

I like Rammstein, but I obviously wouldn't dream of killing or engaging in any of the things that metalhead are accused of (wrongfully).

I never said, or even meant to suggest, that metalheads were violent. I was just pointing out that saying that metal is a genre with entirely "deep" lyrics might be a false claim.

I don't hate other genres, although I do think most metal bands put more effort and have more talent than say....Kanye West, Or Justin Beaver (Refuse to type real name). And the lyrics are usually slightly more deeper than blatantly saying "I love you baby...and I also love your friend!"

Except when half the lyrics are just talking about graphic violence and/or sex?

I listen to a ton of Metal and I can't even recall one song that was obviously about sex, and graphic violence is likewise conspicuously absent - but then I don't listen to Black/Death Metal. Your comment however makes me think that you don't listen to Metal at all, and have wrongly concluded that the most odious examples from those sub-genres are representative of Metal as a whole - they aren't.

You're right on that point. I don't listen to much metal. As I mentioned, most of it that I have heard is due to the influence of my friends, and for all I know, they could only be into black/death metal.

 

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

Not always. Rammstein often parodies popular culture(sex, politics ect) and even parody darker topics like the Austrian guy who locked his daughter in his basment for decades and had children with her.

I like Rammstein, but I obviously wouldn't dream of killing or engaging in any of the things that metalhead are accused of (wrongfully).

I never said, or even meant to suggest, that metalheads were violent. I was just pointing out that saying that metal is a genre with entirely "deep" lyrics might be a false claim.

Are you quoting me there mate cause nothing I've typed is there, or is this just a mistake on your part?

 

[DrMetal]

coming back to origina point of "likely to insult things we don't like", becauise metal is more of culture, more of, QFT - "the (only) way to live", nad this particular culture does not teach us to sit passivly and tolerate things we dont like (hence burning churches, some murders, again, some killings, like one done by Bard Faust in Lillehammer, from metal heads point of view was totaly justified), however, since most of us have some kind of live's we want to care about, we havent completely yet given up on, we voice our concernes, we openly hate anything which we dont like, and do not like things that we naturally neutral to.

 

[Sephychu]

I don't hate on popular music because I see it as the enemy. I don't hate on it at all. I just don't like it. I'm a fan of classical music, Jazz and plenty of Funk.

The thing about going mainstream is that the underground 'hardcore' fans feel as though the things that they assumed they deserved like being part of an 'exclusive' fan base are being taken away from them, and they no longer feel special. If a band can keep their sound going in the mainstream, good on them.

Progressive metal should tell you that music has no enemies, and that music can synergise at any time.