Poll: Do you listen to metal?

[kyomi7502]

I was looking for the "Obviously" option.. heh

I listen to most types of metal and I don't bother to sub-categorize it, only about 4300+ songs so far but metal led me to industrial

I don't even bother to try and understand or listen to lyrics in any metal, they are just more of an 'instrument' to me. Anything with some really awesome guitars in it I'll listen to. Especially songs like Dimmu Borgir - Spellbound by the Devil (the end bit is *awesome*), Raunchy - This Blackout is Your Apocalypse and the such.

 

[SonofaJohannes]

Not really. When I was younger I used to listen to a lot of power metal, the fantasy stuff with swords and dragons and all that fun stuff, but these days not so much. Nowadays I listen mostly to other genres, but there are a couple of metal songs I like. Never could stand the more extreme stuff though, anything with growling and burning churches is a big no-no.

 

[TecnoMonkey]

Nope. In fact I hate it. I would say why but CatBus has already demonstrated perfectly my feelings towards that genre of... "music"...

 

[kyomi7502]

Rosetta

I have never heard of them before.. and that song makes some nice background music for doing other things.
Normally I just discover metal by remixes or covers.

 

[Raikas]

I find the people that listen to metal or proclaim themselves "metalheads"...

As I see it, that "or" is actually an important distinction. People's likes and dislikes are diverse, but I'm always suspicious of people who have made being a fan of some particular genre into a major cultural marker.

Personally, I don't listen to metal aside from a couple of subgenres (symphonic metal and dance metal) which generally have equal influences in other genres, but I've certainly known plenty of people who listen to traditional metal who don't define themselves by their taste in music. And realistically, how many people genuinely only listen to a single genre of music? Even the most stereotypically "metalhead" couple I know also go to the opera and check out the local jazz festival, so I'm not seeing how any meaningful

EDIT: I hate untruths, and metal being a good genre is one of the biggest lies I've ever heard... perpetuated only because of the misconceptions people have about their own minds and tastes.

But taste is relative - a difference of opinion is hardly a lie. If someone loves something that I hate and hates what I love, I just learn not to take their advice on which concerts to attend - I don't assume that they're lying to me. That's such a bizarre way of framing something as subjective as taste.

 

[TheTygre]

YES: ALL THE METAAAAAAL.

Would you believe I wasn't a metal fan until I read the epic Avatar fan-comic/atrocity How I Became Yours? It's true. We were story-timing it on /co/ one night, and I saw my brothers in despair. I did the only rational thing a man can do in that situation; I started posting links to Manowar and Rhapsody of Fire alongside Frank Frazetta and Luis Royo pictures. I'd always kind of liked Metal; I started listening to Manowar in high school, and got spurred on by Brutal Legend (which, screw what everyone else says, I goddamn -adore-) and Metalocalypse. But it wasn't until that fateful night reading that photoshopped abomination that I really started to explore for myself.

Preference-wise, I stick to my roots and still lean towards Power Metal. I'm not really a fan of Death Metal, but Symphonic and Melodic are both welcome (WHOO! WINTERSUN!), as well as some Death N' Roll (Check out Helltrain; all their music's free to download!). As a theist, Black Metal took some easing into, but I've found a comfortable niche. Classic Bathory is my poison of choice from the three founders, and Viking Metal by extension. Again, big, big fan of Symphonic Black Metal; Cradle of Filth is one of my favorite bands for their concept albums alone, and I actually like the direction Dimmu Borgir's been taking in recent years. But at heart I'm still a Power/Heavy Metal man. From household names like Dragonforce and Blind Guardian, to the classics like Helloween and Iron Maiden, all the way up to the king himself (DIO!), I find room for everyone in between. To make up for the narrow genre focus, I've made a hobby out of exploring international bands beyond Northern/Western Europe and the United States. I'd have to say that my favorites so far are;

Skinflint (A Ugandan heavy metal band that strongly sounds like early Iron Maiden)
Emerald Sun (A Greek power metal band with a fantastic 80s sound)
Pathfinder (Polish symphonic power metal that sometimes borders on the cheesy, but has all their music for free on YouTube)
VersuS (A growing Mexican band)
Deviant Syndrome (Small but fierce Russian melodic death metal)
Angra (A Brazilian power metal band)
Tengwar (An Argentinian folk metal band that did an entire album devoted to Lord of the Rings)
Dark Moor (Spanish power metal that does great covers of classical music)
Elvenking (An Italian folk metal band)
Kryptos (Indian thrash metal)
Thousand Leaves (Japanese Neoclassical/Prog metal)

And now, sit back, and let Wintersun rock your soul:

 

[solemnwar]

I listen to Power, Symphonic/Orchestral, and "regular" (heavy) metal. There seems to be a really blurring line between what constitutes "heavy" and "normal" metal lately...

I've noticed that the best metal bands tend to be from Europe. What's with that? The only band I have that really bucks that is Kamelot, which is American, but it kind of cheats because Khan (former vocalist), and now Tommy (current vocalist), are both European (Norwegian and Swedish respectively, if I remember correctly). And they seem to be spending all their time in Europe now anyways.

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

I grew up in Metal's golden age. ie: The 70s/80s. Can't really remember a time before I started enjoying Metal of most kinds.

What sucks is getting older. I still dig most of it, but I catch myself getting a headache if I play it too loud too long. Reminds me of that old saying "If it's too loud, you're too old". And I guess that's pretty much true.

 

[GamemasterAnthony]

Though...my personal guilty pleasure is Dethklok.

I hear that man. I could listen to Dethalbum II on repeat all day.

Yeah...I've got all three Dethalbums. Granted, they ARE supposed to be a parody of metal, but that doesn't take away from how awesome some of the songs sound. *looks up at CatBus's rant* Excuse me one moment...I think I may need to report someone for unlawful stereotyping...

 

[Raikas]

Believing that opinion is above right and wrong is foolish. Some people were of the opinion the world was flat. Didn't make them any less retarded did it? Opinion is only protected to make stupid people feel worthwhile.

Except that it's objectively and observably wrong that the earth is flat. Whether or not some art form is enjoyable is entirely subjective. I've never seen any correlation between intelligence and taste in music - at least not once you factor in things like location and social class, and that's more about access and experience than anything else.

 

[bak00777]

I am not a fan of metal where the singer is making guttural growling noises, but i do love progressive/symphonic and power metal. Bands like Symphony X, Stratavarius (sp?), Kamelot and Nightwish

 

[Ishal]

My favorites genres are metalcore, post hardcore,

The reason I don't identify myself as a "metalhead" or anything is because most of the 'purists' will scoff you away if you so much as mention metalcore or post-hardcore because "They're more punk than metal" and they're my two favorite sub-genres as well.

Progressive metal and instrumental metal are the two closest follow-ups for "real" metal, with everything else coming up behind and then most doom/death/black metal falling into the territory of "Eh, I don't really like the vocals/lack of melody/production values/combination of any of the preceding."

There are certain groups making changes in black metal. This group is prog/black metal and they catch a lot of flak for their production quality being too "good" or "clean", thus, I love them. You might as well.


and something more chill of theirs, with the violin being more pronounced.

 

[Zen Bard]

Yes, I listen to Heavy Metal.

Why? Because it's your one-way ticket to midnight.
(And if you don't get that reference, turn in your black concert tee shirt at once!)

Proud to say I saw Iron Maiden, Soundgarden AND Black Sabbath all this year!

 

[optimusjamie]

I mostly listen to power/prog metal, like Iron Savior and Blind Guardian, but it's not the only music I listen to- Meat Loaf is one of my favourites, and Fallout has got me into oldies.

 

[The Funslinger]

I do love me some classic style Heavy Metal. As well as that, I'm a fan of Power Metal, such as this:

 

[ron1n]

Mostly listen to melodeath, prog, industrial, post metal and assorted djenty stuff. Anything with some melody, a good tempo and/or a catchy groove to it I'll typically enjoy though. Also a big fan of genre fusions and the layering of different sounds be they instrumental or electronic.

Lately though, been really enjoying the resurgence of sludge/stoner metal coming out. Has probably been the USA's best contribution to the wider genre since the golden days of Thrash.

Particularly love stuff like Baroness, The Sword and Red Fang:


Makes for the best in-car music I swear aha.

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

I don't really listen to any particular genre, so answering what subgenre of metal I like is pretty much impossible. Hell I don't even like more than 25% of the songs of most bands I like (with the exception of soad, Cage the Elephant and MAYBE Korn). What particular song I like is basically just random.

But yeah I listen to a few metal bands occasionally. So varied?

 

[MisterGobbles]

I prefer to identify as a fan of "heavy" music, because there's so much that can't really be considered metal that is awesome and heavy (Godspeed, Botch, Converge, Dillinger, Pelican, Touche Amore, etc), and even though my tastes have been drifting towards hardcore and post rock and such, it still feels like the same spirit of "metal" that I've been listening to forever. There are bands that aren't really that heavy that still are a large part of what the scene listens to and loves (Nine Inch Nails, Karnivool, Deftones, etc), progressive bands that don't really sound like traditional metal at all (Scale the Summit, Animals as Leaders, Periphery, Protest the Hero, Corelia), the overall inclusion of the post-hardcore scene in the whole thing (At the Drive-In, Letlive, Glassjaw and Coheed and Cambria being bands many metalheads love) - so even though most of my listening may not be strictly metal, I still feel connected to the whole thing. And of course, I love me some metal - I'm jamming some Revocation right now.

 

[Eddie the head]

Nope. In fact I hate it. I would say why but CatBus has already demonstrated perfectly my feelings towards that genre of... "music"...

Considering he used faulty logic, factually untrue statements, and an aggressive tone, you might want to demonstrate your feelings better. You know so you could call it anything more then an appeal to emotion.

 

[TecnoMonkey]

Nope. In fact I hate it. I would say why but CatBus has already demonstrated perfectly my feelings towards that genre of... "music"...

Considering he used faulty logic, factually untrue statements, and an aggressive tone, you might want to demonstrate your feelings better. You know so you could call it anything more then an appeal to emotion.

Ehh, I know he was kind of a jerk about it, might have exaggerated when I said that he demonstrated my feelings "perfectly" but still some of what he said clicked with me.