Why do people like metal so much?

[Aggressor and Usurper]

*scrolls through blah blah screaming sucks blah*

Yeah, whatever.

OT: I love metal. Absolutely adore it. It's pretty much the only genre I listen to. If you're a metalhead, you'll know there's a lot of diversity in the music. If you're gonna tell me this
sounds the same as this
and that those two sound the same as this

Then no offence, but you're a fucking idiot. Metal is an extremely diverse genre, and just because it has screaming doesn't make it not music. It's not an accessible genre, I have no problem admitting that. It's challenging, and that's what makes it great, if you ask me.

 

[Quid Plura]

I think it's not that "people" like metal a lot. It's more that gamers like metal a lot. Most of my friends that game listen to metal, and most of my other friends don't. I don't have an explanation for this though.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

The only metal I've ever really liked was Vodka by Korpiklaani. I'm more into older stuff myself.

 

[DJDarque]

Musically, it's a train-wreck. I think it's more so a genre built off of a belief system, not the music itself, I think.

Then you're listening to the wrong metal.

Dream Theater is considered metal and they are some of the most talented musician's I've ever listened to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7b_DaILYiQ

Even much the much harder, faster, darker black metal is musical.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEVodXzNmPM
Dark melody, precise drumming, and strong emotions. Far from a train wreck.

 

[NoNeedCaptain]

Well I noticed that the main issue (i mean at least 75% of the time) that people have with the metal genre is the vocals and whether or not they're screeching/screaming/yelling/gutterals etc etc or just singing with a little bit of edge to their voice. Perhaps its because people can't understand them, or they just don't like the sound of it vibrating against their ear drums I guess.

I for one, goddamn love metal music. Most of the genres too (minus the really ridiculous ones like porngrind and deathcore and other such frivolities that populate the sub genres of metal). And it was merely a matter of getting to appreciate the screaming as you would a normal vocalist. Your favourite pop radio band's singer sings a ridiculously high note, and my favourite metal band vocalist screams out a long winded 15 second screech. You try screaming for 15 seconds straight, its damn hard.

Point is that there are bands you can listen to that would sort of ease you into the screaming/screeching/gutterals/growls. One I would recommend would be Protest the Hero. They're singer can do the crazy high stuff, a pretty fantastic scream and sing like nobody's business. Check out "Sequoia Throne" by them or "Spoils" or even "Palms Read". They also do pretty fancy fretwork and the whole band is pretty technical in general.

I would also recommend Alexisonfire. The song "This Could be Anywhere In The World" is a good way to ease into the genre. Nothing like Hammerfall, but still great.

Perhaps even A Day To Remember. They have some pretty catchy tunes,(Try "I'm Made of Wax Larry, What are You made of?" and "The Downfall of us all") but aren't the power metal like Hammerfall. Much more different sound.

And if you're feeling saucy, look up Every Time I Die. Specifically the song "Wanderlust".

I know the bands i just posted aren't much like Hammerfall but they're the bands that made the genre switch from "the stuff i heard on the radio" to "the metal people can't stand" much easier.

 

[Guffe]

I think Hammerfall is either Power Metal or Folk Metal?!! correct me if I'm wrong. The thing with Metal is that it has about 40 (or more) sub genres which makes it very difficult to say "This is Metal", I like Hammerfall, Maiden, Black Sabbath and this kind of Metal/Rock. One of the things I have to have is that I can hear what they are singing, this is why I don't enjoy Death Metal even if many of my friends say they can clearly hear what they are singing in this type of metal. Maybe I just haven't listened enough to it?! I don't know. Metal to me is something that has a meaning (not in every song) and at the same time gets my blood pumpin'!!!!!!! Also every riff and solo and the fact that these bands can perform live and sound exactly like they do on the albums.

 

[TheMarkedOne]

I think Hammerfall is either Power Metal or Folk Metal?!! correct me if I'm wrong.

Power Metal
Nowhere near Folk metal, big difference there <_<


Anyway, a band I haven't seen being recommended to you is Blind Guardian

And you might consider using last.fm, I find it great to discover new artists which are related to the ones I like.

 

[Guffe]

I'm not... I prefer Indy music or punk rock. Even a little rap here and there. I don't understand the popularity of the metal genre... Not really my taste. I guess it's personal taste and opinion. The problem I have is that most of the metal fans here seem to have something against people who consider rap or pop good music.

The thing with people seeming to have something against other people who don't share they taste is just because some people don't seem to understand that every human has their own taste and the fact that someone else can't like the same thing as I like is obscure!!!
NOW GO AND DIE YOU FREAKIN' RAP/POP IDI.....
uhm I mean I respect your taste in music ^^

No I really do, out of my best friends I am the only one who really enjoys all kind of Metal and Rock while a few are "rappers", I have one friend who listens to absolutely everything and then the ones who go for R&B and techno and one Death Metal fan, so I am used to the fact that when we gather we listen to all kinds of music, I just close my ears when something really painful starts, this is something people should learn/understand to do.

 

[Guffe]

I think Hammerfall is either Power Metal or Folk Metal?!! correct me if I'm wrong.

Power Metal
Nowhere near Folk metal, big difference there <_<

Alright thanks ^^
I had forgotten which of these they belonged to and I am no big fan of knowing that this belongs exactly here. Maybe that's why school isn't my strong side -.-
Good song you posted by the way!!

 

[TheMarkedOne]

Alright thanks ^^
I had forgotten which of these they belonged to and I am no big fan of knowing that this belongs exactly here. Maybe that's why school isn't my strong side -.-
Good song you posted by the way!!

No problem.
Can happen, although knowing what belongs where helps to find more of it ;o
So better start working on making it your strong side ^^

And yeah, it's one of my favourites, was thrilling to see it live. Although not there in the video, but on Graspop Metal meeting.

Edit:
Thought of another great lesser known Power Metal band

And a more known one

 

[MattyDienhoff]

I've moved on from metal since then anyway. I'd much rather listen to afro-beat, funk, soul, funky-soul and soul-funk now.

Nice. I'd like to get into those genres, do you have any recommendations for me?

 

[DJDarque]

...and my favourite metal band vocalist screams out a long winded 15 second screech. You try screaming for 15 seconds straight, its damn hard.

If you want to hear some really good metal screams you should check out Anthelion. They're Taiwanese melodic black metal. The song Snake Corpse has a couple really good ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1X097Hmw1I.

 

[DJDarque]

I think it's a phase for most people. Around the age of most the people on this site (high school) is when people are into metal. They'll grow out of it.

A real fan doesn't grow out of the music s/he likes.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

That's funny, I always thought Hammerfall was shit. Maybe it's the lyrics.
And they're certainly not the only metal guys who don't scream the entire time.

 

[Scarecrow]

Because it sounds nice. I think that's all that matters.

 

[DJDarque]

As for me I think it's the the nature of it. It's emotion in a natural, raw state. It's anger, hatred, pain, sorrow, joy, life, love and death unbridled. It can be polished, or it can be rough. It can be ugly, or it can be beautiful. It can be dark, it can be bright, it can be haunting, and sometimes in the strangest of ways it can be soothing. It is one of the most diverse genres of music around.

That is why I love it.

 

[RandomWords]

...because its not pop.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I don't like metal. Not that I won't tolerate a song or three; its just not my thing. My genres are very old fashioned.

I like classical, jazz and latin/salsa music.

[sub][sub][sub]I sometimes feel I'm the only one of my generation who has these particular tastes.[/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Audio]

I think some transformation happens when guys grow too much hair