Why does everyone on the Escapist love metal so much?

[Doclector]

It seems, in my experience that metal is generally popular among internet users. Why, I'm not sure, which really only replaces the question with another one. Bugger.

 

[Spacelord]

Now, right off the bat let me tell you, I'm not trying to bash metal here.

Does nobody in the gaming community care about anything other than sub-par lyrics masked by the Open E and power cords of metal?

I see what you did there.

 

[bushwhacker2k]

I wasn't aware everyone at the escapist only listens to Metal, news to me.

Other than my hate and prejudice against rap, country and R&B, I tend not to judge by genre. The reason I DO judge rap, country and R&B is because from my experience they are almost all alike, with some rare exceptions.

I'll undoubtably be flamed out of chair seconds after posting this, but hey, it's the escapist, hooray for honesty and freedom of speech and blah blah.

 

[BonsaiK]

Now, right off the bat let me tell you, I'm not trying to bash metal here. The only music threads I've seen here are all "what metal bands do you like" and they're all the same handful of bands. What happened to people liking varied types of music? What happened to Classic rock? What happened to Alternative? What happened to Punk rock? Does nobody in the gaming community care about anything other than sub-par lyrics masked by the Open E and power cords of metal?

WARNING: actual serious possible answer to the question follows.

A lot of people who get into metal do so because it's powerful music, sonically. Whether loved or hated, it's more powerful than most styles when it comes to the sheer force and energy of noise coming out of a speaker. This resonates with a desire for power and control over one's own life. This is why many people who like metal are from poorer neighbourhoods or fairly bleak home and social environemnts. It's a way to feel in control over your life when so many other aspects and options are out of reach. You might not be able to change the fact that school or work looms, but you can put on some headphones and listen to Slayer or Pantera, and feel the strength of the music. Metalheads live a more powerful existence vicariously through their music.

Many (but certainly not all) people get into computer gaming for a similar reason. Gaming allows a gamer to explore worlds over which they have the ability to affect changes on a much greater level than in the real world. Your character is usually the hero, but even if not (like in an MMO or an online FPS) you're still usually a more important person in the game than in your actual life, with a lot more power to do things and a lot less reason to fear defeat. Gamers experience a more powerful world through the games that they play, and this can often make gamers feel better about not having realised a "heroic" existence in reality. You may have to spend much of your life going to school or work, or you may not have enough money or influence to realise your dreams, but you can get lost in a computer game and pretend for a while that you're the star of the movie, that you're in the driver's seat of your own life and that external forces have less power.

Therefore, as computer gaming and listening to powerful music such as heavy metal tend to appeal for the same reasons, so it is logical that a lot of gamers would also be into heavy metal.

 

[sam344443]

It seems that people who spend time on forums and games alot like metal. Not everyone, but most.

 

[Sigel]

I demand a higher quality thread from the Escapist.

Then get off your pedestal and make one.

Oh snap!!! So true.

Topic wise-I also listen to all types of music, but metal just has a special place in my brutal, blacker than the pit heart accented by blood and wicked explosions.

 

[sneak_copter]

I like Metal, but I also like Rock, Heavy Rock, Britpop, Nu-Metal, Alternative, Also some Rap.

Hahhah!

 

[SultanP]

I'm just going to answer the thread title, so here goes:

Because it appeals to the taste of the individuals that like it. What do you want?!

 

[Spadly]

I don't like metal, the closest thing I like is post metal, like post rock with metal influence.

Main genres I like are punk/post punk and pop music.

Metal is for n00bs

Amen! I used to listen to JUST metal 3/4 years ago when I was a total noob. Now I like metal sometimes, but I listen to and enjoy almost everything I hear now. Except BrokenCYDE, but that's total comedy.

 

[LiftYourSkinnyFists]

I don't like metal, the closest thing I like is post metal, like post rock with metal influence.

Main genres I like are punk/post punk and pop music.

Metal is for n00bs

Amen! I used to listen to JUST metal 3/4 years ago when I was a total noob. Now I like metal sometimes, but I listen to and enjoy almost everything I hear now. Except BrokenCYDE, but that's total comedy.

BorkenCYDE you mean?

They are hilariously bad.. as for music now? I listen mainly to punk and some metal(not proper metal).

I out grew all the genres of metal when I was like 12, heh.

 

[A random person]

First of all, how many of these metal threads have we had?

On topic, the people who go to the Escapist are probably the kinds who like metal. I'm not the biggest fan (Queen and Journey for me, thank you), but I like it.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

[
True, a lot of the best bands defy typical genre categorization. But I all was attempting to convey was that genres exist for a reason and you shouldn't misplace bands. I mean, really, all I was trying to say was that the Foo Fighters aren't metal and only using metal riffs doesn't make it metal. Look at Radiohead; they use lots of keyboards, but nobody really calls them electronic. But they're incorporating an element.

Ok I get what you're saying now... sorry. Flew off the handle a bit there...



.

I don't like metal, the closest thing I like is post metal, like post rock with metal influence.

Main genres I like are punk/post punk and pop music.

Metal is for n00bs

Amen! I used to listen to JUST metal 3/4 years ago when I was a total noob. Now I like metal sometimes, but I listen to and enjoy almost everything I hear now. Except BrokenCYDE, but that's total comedy.

BorkenCYDE you mean?

They are hilariously bad.. as for music now? I listen mainly to punk and some metal(not proper metal).

I out grew all the genres of metal when I was like 12, heh.

Brokencyde are the worst thing to happen to humanity since smallpox.