Poll: Why do lots of people hate Heavy Metal?

[Tipsy Giant]

I'm so sick of seeing people create threads to defend genres when they only refer to new artists, what about Black Sabbath, Jimi Handrix, Motorhead, this is Metal, nowadays it is just pants in comparison, all the musicality has gone and all the generic bullshit is here to stay yaaaaaaaaaaaay

 

[theriddlen]

People hate Heavy Metal because they know that DEATH METAL IS THE KING!

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

It's a bit hard to hate something when it neither threatens you, or pains you in some way. But I think the reason why many people sincerely dislike hearing heavy metal (myself included) is because more often than not it isn't a melody and singing, it's noise ....

Noise for the sake of making lots. of. noise.

That being said if you like it I'm not going to judge you as something fundamentally flawed just for doing so. Just don't play it so loud on the train and other public places where I have to listen to it.

 

[Cavouku]

Really? I was under the impression that a whole lot of people really enjoyed metal (around here I've seen it a lot).

I'm not a fan myself, I have my own niche. Though what's funny is that my buddy Matt will always tell me the differences between all the types of Metal and Rock. I sorta group most of them under "heavy metal".

Interestingly though, I do like what I believe is "classic rock", dad showed me a lot of Def Leppard, Triumph, I personally think the members of Rush are all extremely talented, some good Eagles songs (though mostly the slower ones like Hotel California and Life's Been Good To Me). The closest thing to metal I listen to is probably The Offspring, and I'm quite sure they don't count as "metal.

So aside from it having a regular pattern of loudness, and sometimes (certainly not all the time) being disturbing, lyrically, I don't mind metal as someone else's taste. A genre itself, I don't believe is ever bad. But individual songs I believe can objectively bad, though the criteria is hard for me to pin down.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Because a lot of people, like me, think that music should be something that has emotion; something that 'means' more than just "fuck life!" or whatever. Hence i don't listen to it because to me, it is too noisy and soulless. BUT music is a very subjective thing, and i understand that people can listen to Metal and say that it gives them all the emotion and "soul" as my music gives me. and that would be true. so if you like Metal: good for you. I don't, but i would never say "you're Wrong!" or anything stupid like that.

 

[BENZOOKA]

It's almost the complete opposite.

In Finland, no one gets hate for listening to heavy metal. It's actually long been the "safety solution" to wear a metal band's shirt and you're the average Joe, who can't be picked on for what he listens.

Actually it's the metalheads who are the most narrow-minded it's incredible.

The one's who listen to mainstream radio TOP 40 music might be thought a bit less of by people who have a more fixed taste. Those who'd never answer "a bit of everything", when asked about their music preferences.

Most of the metal bands are just so bloody boring, I find no interest in listening to them. There are still a few that I like, quite a lot that I don't mind listening, but mainly it's just way too boring.

 

[the-kitchen-slayer]

Ah... This brings back many, many annoyances from my life...

The one comment I vaguely remember went along the lines of banging pots and pans together making better music than Metal, and yet they praised the music they liked (and I, in particular, cannot stand) without even being bothered to think that people don't always like the mainstream.

I, am a metalhead. Ye, may not be. I won't bash your music infront of you, please don't bash my music infront of me, and I'm fairly certain we'll be able to get along.

My two cents have been set down, even though I'm fairly certain they don't add anything to this. It is on page four now anyways. Bah, I'm tired, and apparently going off topic.

I'm going to bed >< and I will happily listen to my sub-genre of metal while I do (Symphonic Metal, I believe that's what Nightwish is, hell, that's what Wikipedia claims they are. But well... Wikipedia ain't known to be accurate)

 

[Sevre]

I guess it's like any other music genre, depends on personal taste and the culture you are surrounded by. I've been in pits for everyone from Mastodon and Metallica to RATM, and I still love top 40 artists and genres which haven't quite broken the mainstream (witch house anyone?).

Metal isn't an easy genre to access, there are days when I cringe at the thought of it, but if you're in the mood for metal, no other piece of music will satisfy that craving.

 

[Hunter65416]

It annyos me when your wrong for listening to anything other than mainstream, its like they have to take the piss out of you because you dont listen to rap or anything like that

I dont mind what you listen to, so why do you have to moan because mines different from yours?

What that guy said (alot of) mainstream music people are assholes.

 

[Hunter65416]

I just prefer the slower paced stuff. Also, more lyrics, less screamo helps.
So long as people don't have a go at me for not liking metal, I got nothing much against it.

The screaming type stuff is only a sub-genre for example most of what i listen to is 70's and 80's metal the screaming and loud noise is quite a common stereotypical misconception of what metal is as a whole

 

[lolstain]

I love heavy metal to be honest, legends such as Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, beneath those lyrics and instrumental genius is pure emotion, you can hear it in their voices and there play and its unlike anything else, you just dont get the same today with all this autotune non-sense but i dont discrimate to just metal, i love rap and hiphop aswell, Ice T and eminem etc

 

[.Ricks.]

I like every genre of music. Heavy metal I love but I have only one request when people ask me to listen to their favourite bands/song etc, it's that I can understand what they are saying and that it's more than simple screaming all the time. For instance I like Metallica, Rammstein, Slipknot yes those are mainstream but I like others like Avenged Sevenfold, Children of Bodom etc.

 

[DazBurger]

Hate on metal? Metal is pretty main stream over here.
But perhaps thats just Scandinavia...

 

[Lucifron]

Metalheads should want people to hate metal, because the genre works best when it is an utter counter-culture. I mean, look at the eighties and nineties and compare them to today. Metal is too close to mainstream, the genre needs a rebirth before it stagnates to nothing.

 

[jaketheripper]

It's exactly what I'm saying. I love metal so why do people have to say I'm abnormal for listening to it. I may not be conformist or a perfect person but that shouldn't be based on music preferences.

Quote when replying

Its just a common courtesy here my friend.

And I have no idea why I'm supposed to judge you by your choice of music. Does the fact I listen to jazz, techno, latin and classical music make me abnormal?

Humanity, always looking for stereotypes. I try to break them but I'm just one man.

Sorry about that. I think one of the worst stereotypes is that we worship satan. Some metalheads do but I'm pretty sure one rapper or two does it too. I try to break them to. I'm italian and I've have people tell me "Your italian, you people don't like metal". One of the wierdest statements I've ever heard.

What amuses me about the satan thing is that there are christian rock and metal bands. Im pretty sure they dont worship satan

lmfao i heard someone say that as i lay dying worships satan. Due to the fact that they are a christian metal band, i had one of the most intense facepalms... EVER!

 

[DTWolfwood]

Here i thought this was about the Magazine Heavy Metal. All i knew was i had very "fond" memories of that book when i was hitting puberty

No one ever hates Jazz. 1930's-1950's Jazz. You may not love it but you never object to it playing in the background. the Saxophone is like the most neutral instrument in history XD.

Heavy metal has a bad image. from their crazy concert to the crazy costumes they wear.

the music is in most part is too loud or nonsensical to me to like the particular genre. But i don't hate on it, just not my cup of tea. Though with some context, some heavy metal is awesome sauce.

 

[Nadlice]

A quick google search yields the information that screamo is not metal and is in no way affiliated with metal. I would go so far as to say subgenres using vocal techniques closely resembling those utilized in screamo, such as metalcore, are not in fact metal. Yes it has metal in it's name. That, surprisingly, does not make it so.

For people who are unable to tell subgeneres apart and have a genuine intrest in learning more about metal, I would direct you to Metal: A Headbangers Journy. Tackles many aspects of the culture and music.

OT: Lots of people don't know metal exists, so not many hate it. Many people hate both things they have not been exposed to before and things that are abrasive. For most people, metal is both of these.

Too lazy to scroll up to find a qoute but, mysterious person above, I too am perplexed about the volume of these hate threads. It's not a new, nor very confusing phenomenon that people seem to be jerks when you present yourself as different.

To people saying metal sucks or is the only good music: kindly broaden your horizons and stop validating your tastes on an internet forum. I did that for a while too, and please trust me when I say you'll regret being a ponce in front of countless strangers over something as silly as music preferences.

To those saying anything about metalheads as a group in general:..... really? You dislike a form of music because the fans you have been exposed to at this point have been dicks? You assume, because of this, that all are dicks? It's obviously your opinion (and as such I have no business trying to change it), but I wish you'd at least reconsider talking to the next group of casual metalheads you're exposed to. No, not the "AX7 is the best" group (or whatever entry level group is big wherever you are), but the person who happens to listen to. That guy who enjoys the music, but doesn't feel the need to yell it, or even talk about it that much. That guy is awesome. You should exchange bands with him and have a genuine conversation about things both of you are new to.

 

[Stephanos132]

Depends what you call mainstream, the UK has several major festivals pretty much are for Heavy Metal and the like.

I would say being mainstream would not require you to be involved in the culture as much, since it is everywhere. You highlight the case of festivals, but you'll likely need to be involved in the metal scene in order to know about the relevant fests (donington, bloodstock etc), otherwise you'll like only hear of reading, leeds and glastonbury, the mainstream ones popularised by the media.

The same applies to the music itself. Watch/listen to the charts, nary a mention of metal for the most part. Only when you wait for the right time or channel/station will you get your metal fill.

That's how I see it at least.