Why do people like metal so much?

[JokerCrowe]

I don't listen much to metal, but I think it CAN be great. And I (sometimes) really like the music. I guess it appeals to certain people more than it appeals to others, just like with every genre of music. I'd like to ask why (most) people who listen to metal don't really listen to anything else?

 

[Valkyrie101]

You've been listening to the wrong kind of metal. It's a very diverse genre: you've got growling death metal, which I can't stand, but there are plenty of other kinds. I prefer heavy/power metal, because it has the amazing epic feel of metal, but cleaner, comprehensible and usually more intelligent vocals. Hammerfall is a good example, as is Rhapsody of Fire. Iron Maiden also fits this category.

 

[NeutralDrow]

For the most part, I love all of the instrumentals in any sort of metal song I hear. It's loud, energetic, and just has a sort of ummph to it. The only probably I have with this is, that the vocals to most of these songs sound like the vocalist is possessed(which might be the point sometimes) or that they need cough syrup or something, and it kind of ruins the whole experience for me.

Power metal and symphonic metal tend to have clean vocals. There are exceptions, of course (the male singers of Epica growl, and Hansi Kursch of Blind Guardian does everything with his voice you can think of), but those are the ones most likely to.

...well, maybe some classic metal stuff, too. Late Queen, Black Sabbath, some glam stuff like Warrent...

The only metal band that I have seemed to find that suits my tastes(I'm not sure if they are even metal), is Hammerfall. They seem to have exactly everything that I want out of metal. Kind of how like Queen has their rock opera take to rock & roll, Hammerfall to me kind of sounds like the metal equivalent, so...metal opera??

Power metal. I like the band, too (I'm addicted to "<url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWnaGqt7PWs>Way of the Warrior" at the moment).

So in ending, why do you like metal so much? and also, can you recommend any that is more closer to my tastes?

Metal tends to feel more emotive and bombastic, to me. Even the slower, ballad-type stuff does that (like Blind Guardian's "Skalds and Shadows" or Dragonforce's "Dawn of a New World"). I can't get enough of it, for the most part. I don't usually go for the really heavy growling vocals like you get in a lot of death and black metal (unless I'm feeling really upset, when it fits), but in certain amounts, like Finntroll or Ensiferum (viking metal), it's pretty good.

Still, if you like Hammerfall, you might want to give Rhapsody of Fire a listen. They're much more overtly symphonic metal, but they tend to have clean vocals (barring the odd one out, like "<url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHgUVc8Q7bQ>When Demons Awake") and uplifting melodies. Hell, it was one of the geek highlights of my life when I got up in karaoke and led a room full of drunks in a rousing rendition of "<url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOWIiRGw2kw>Pride of the Tyrant," though I could have easily done "<url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30UxS3aioLw>Eternal Glory" instead.

Other ones...Dragonforce is always worth a listen, and you might want to look up a couple of Blind Guardian pieces on youtube (especially stuff from <url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=320Te91vWnY>Nightfall in Middle Earth or <url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj-QLcJndg8>A Twist in the Myth).

 

[malkivar]

No idea if anyone else raised this point because I really couldn't be arsed to read through the whole thread, but there are like just under twenty sub genres of metal that I know of myself, metal is about as varied a genre as exists in music. Harsh vocals is just ONE part of metal, mostly death metal. I mean, Nightwish is widely considered metal, and damn, no harsh vocals there (before the new singer i mean, the recent vocalist is a dog, and not in a good way). So I think people should just try to stop making the blanket assumption that all metal has growling voices and rough vocals even if it is a semi-common theme.

 

[cookieXkiller]

what i personally would say are great songs
the berzerker - evlovution
the black dahlia murder - statutory ape
rammstein - engel
NIN - hurt
the ghost inside - unspoken

 

[notsosavagemessiah]

i'm so happy you used amon amarth as an example, as i was going to use them to point out to you why i like it.

First off, i like metal because it's lyrics are deeper then anything found in mainstream music and usually has much more meaning both to the writer, and to the listener. The growling or screaming in metal is merely a way of communicating the feelings involved in writing the pieces they have assembled, as all singing is.

Second, in metal, you tend to find a virtuosity to the instrumentals that simply isn't found anywhere else. Period. In no other kind of music can you find such detailed and complex guitar riffs, drum rythms, and bass work. All of which gets blended seamlessly (unless the band sucks) with glorious (sometimes painfully beautiful) song writing and fierce vocals strike the finishing blow, afterwords i simply say, "how can people NOT like metal?"


I'm sure people will dispute my claim that metal song writing can be deep or potent, to which i will simply respond with this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foOH5ka-LRg

Lyrics:

I feel a chill in my heart
Like lingering winter cold
I and my son are torn apart
He was just 6 winters old

My first-born was he
And the last of my kin
The last one to carry my name
Death smiled at him its deadly grin
There is no one for me to blame

The fate of Norns await us all
There is no way to escape
The day to answer Oden's call
Or walk through hel's gate

I carry him to my ship
He seems to be asleep
But the deep blue colour of his lips
Is enough to make me weep

No man should have to bury his child
Yet this has been my share
The tears i shed run bitter and wild
It's a heavy burden to bear

His body feels so light in my arms
His skin is pale as snow
Yet his weight feels heavy in my heart
As my sadness continues to grow

Allfather!
What fate has been given me?
Why must I suffer?
Why must I feel this pain?
Allfather!
LIfe has lost it's meaning to me
I think I'm going insane!

I lay him down on a pyre
A burial worthy a king
And as I lie down by his side
I hear the weaving norns sing

The fate of Norns await us all
There is no way to escape
The day to answer Oden's call
Or walk through hel's gate

The fate of Norns await us all
I know this to be true
It's time to answer Odens's call
My son, he calls for me and you

I recommend you read this while listening to the song.

Before i forget, i simply will leave you with one band recommendation: OPETH

they are the end all be all for truly talented musicians in my eyes. They can do it all, soft low tempo songs, to hardcore balls to the wall geniunely scary metal, and then mesh them all in the same song.

 

[bobknowsall]

Well, I guess it resonates with some people more than others. I'm not a huge fan, but I'm not going to denigrate the music taste of people who are a fan of the genre.

I did like it a couple of years ago, but then my music tastes mellowed out and expanded.

 

[blankedboy]

I find that anything more hardcore than Evanescence has a too high noise:music ratio, so I'll stick to my Eric Clapton, Royksopp, Crossfade, and the like.
Even though those three are completely different. Seriously, listen to these.
Eric Clapton - Bad Love
Crossfade - Killing Me Inside (can't wait for teh new albumz)
Royksopp - What Else Is There

Yeah, I've got some strange tastes.
Still, those are pretty close to my three favourite songs.

 

[Nazulu]

Probably because we live in such an angry and violent society anymore, so it fits right in with the Status Quo.

That is exactly what I was gonna say. This is for rap as well with all the guns and hoes.

I literally listen to all genre's of music but rap and metal are what I want to listen to when I'm in that mood, I have no problem with it.

I agree with you OP. I listen to a lot of metal bands with the screaming but I never really liked the screamo style. It's nowhere as interesting as singing and it's really difficult to make out what they're screaming about.

I like to listen to classic metal the most, the riffs are more powerful and they have more variety. Stuff like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth and Ozzy Osbourne. So yeah, try them all out.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

I don't really like much Metal that's popular and stuff, but in video games, especially GUILTY GEAR, heavy metal guitar rock is brilliant.

High-emotion music works great with high-emotion games. Playing something like Guilty Gear against a competent opponent with I-No's theme rocking away in the background is like a pure adrenal rush to the brain.

 

[Calico93]

I love metal as I love alot of different styles of music, but yeah sometimes the "singing"/moaning voices can get a bit .. I don't know I feel as if your going to put the moaning deep URGH voice in it you've gotta try and hit some notes with your voice
Like Slipknot, mega URGH screaming but Corey Taylor can seriously sing and sing WELL
But yeah I love metal, just not as much with the seriously deep groaning vocal style when its used all throughout the song - can get a bit boring

 

[Volkade]

I can't quite put into words what I enjoy about death growls or screams in metal. Something about feels much more raw than you get in other genres. It's a refreshing change from all of the auto-tuned artists you see these days. Perhaps refreshing isn't the right word, but it's a change I personally find quite pleasant. Also I don't quite see harsh vocals as lyrics, so much as another instrument entirely. Just like someone who listens to and truly appreciates violin can hear the notes, with me I feel that same way with vocals and the lyrics.

I dunno, that's just me anyways. Each to their own.

 

[Vhite]

For the most part, I love all of the instrumentals in any sort of metal song I hear. It's loud, energetic, and just has a sort of ummph to it. The only probably I have with this is, that the vocals to most of these songs sound like the vocalist is possessed(which might be the point sometimes) or that they need cough syrup or something, and it kind of ruins the whole experience for me.

If you want good vocalist that doesnt sound like possessed then try old Nightwish with Tarja (new one isnt that bad either).
Anyway, I would say that Metal is fast food of music, its good but anyone can make it, theres just so much metal bands (or am I wrong?).

 

[Flamezdudes]

Why do people like Rap so much? Why do people like Pop so much?

There is a thing called...ah what was it... OPINIONS!

 

[pliusmannn]

everyone has their own taste in music/arts, i personally like black metal

 

[Hazzaslagga]

I can understand why some people do not like metal but i find it is the most diverse and most intresting genre(in my opinion). It can range from soothing to RAAAAWWWWW! On another note on the growling aspect. some people like it, others don't, simple. I feel that growling/screaming in many case is just more suited to the song and may not really work with clean vocals. My last point is that metal is fucking awesomeness, incarnate, on fire with boobs and cake. now reread this line until it sinks in.

 

[octafish]

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?

For afro-beat it's hard to go past Fela Kuti and Tony Allen, for the rest, the Australian band The Bamboos and just about anything on Daptone Records, but particularly Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, if you ever get the chance to see them live, take it.

 

[veratixx]

because it's much more fun breaking stuff while listening to metal than mainstream pop/r&b/....

 

[Closet Superhero]

Watch 'Fight Club'. Replace fighting with metal music.

It's a boys club where you get to express aggression in response to the rest of your productive, socially responsible, anesthetised life.