Guitar Gear Forum

So I was thinking of how many people I know respond to a lot of the metal I listen to.
“It’s so angry” “Doesn’t listening to music like this make you angry” “this is just WAY too intense for me” ETC

I’m sure many of you have received the types of comments I’m referring to.

Anyway my question for you guys is what are your emotional responses and associations to metal music?
I’m not talking about the lighter styles like hair metal I mean the darker sounding stuff.

For me it’susually one of two things positive aggression (that I’d frame as almost the opposite of anger) and relief/release.
I actually usually feel much more calm and collected after exposure to heavy music in general (punk included). This goes for a workout, a concert, or even just blasting in my car.
I estimate it’s that way for most but wanted to see if it’s the same for you guys.

Thoughts?

"They" used to tell me I was listening to the devil's music when I was growing up in the 80s. I listened to a lot of that music - not the hyper-speed stuff, but all the classic metal and a lot of the thrash that was coming out. I loved the intensity and aggression. Made me feel great. Got me pumped up.

Most of that stuff is practically considered "classic rock" by today's standards. I have a hard time getting into the modern metal, but some of it's ok. My brother is a singer (screamer) in a pretty hardcore metal band right now, and I like their stuff, but it's about as far as I'll go. Not too much emotional positivity about most of it. It's just too oppressive for me to enjoy for any length of time.

Man I am right there with you.

For me, when I am working, especially on reporting or budgets, atmospheric black metal is GREAT! A bit droning, not necessarily intelligible vocals all make a good soundtrack that actually keeps me focused and productive.

Stuff like Swedish DM, Brutal DM, Heavy Thrash are great for lifting and especially running for me. I can kind of tune in to kick drums and use that to keep pace when running plus when I actually know the lyrics it gives me a lift like a damn pre-workout drink!

It's weird, real heavy stuff even when I am driving takes a lot of my negative energy and frustration and gets it out whether I am singing loudly (windows up! LOL!) or tapping beats on the steering wheel.

The kind of music in this Amazon commercial is far more aggressive and hateful than any metal. Severe, exaggerated emotional response every time.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDMY_iBIQmU[/video]

Admittedly unpopular response knowing this board: I want to like metal, I really do. I appreciate the heaviness, the technical ability of the players, the skill, the speed. However, it just doesn’t really move me. To me, it doesn’t sound ‘musical’ for lack of a better term, and I find myself shutting it off or changing it up to something else.

Here’s me putting on some metal...
[video]https://youtu.be/_t-pSzDdeOM[/video]

Flamesuit, engaged.

Greg...

itchyfingers wrote:Admittedly unpopular response knowing this board: I want to like metal, I really do. I appreciate the heaviness, the technical ability of the players, the skill, the speed. However, it just doesn’t really move me. To me, it doesn’t sound ‘musical’ for lack of a better term, and I find myself shutting it off or changing it up to something else.

Here’s me putting on some metal...
[video]https://youtu.be/_t-pSzDdeOM[/video]

Flamesuit, engaged.

My emotional response to metal is probably the same as yours. An unenthused combination of curiosity and indifference. My flamesuit is buttoned up tight as well.

There's so much different stuff out there, and I react differently to all of it. I did describe Meshuggah as "exquisitely angry", but I actually calm down from the poly-rhythmic, complex stuff. It's like my brain just needs a bunch of conflicting but musical stimuli to quiet it down.

Makes me drive fast as fuck and bust mad beats on my steering wheel

It just makes me happy

In high school, it was categorized as "kill your parents music". A girl uttered that at a house party I threw when AIC - Would? was on. I face palmed so hard.

Metal gets me pumped but I mostly listen to metalcore which generally has a massive hook that sounds triumphant which can be considered "happy".

Thrash and speed for getting out aggression
Power metal (the good stuff like Helloween, Dream Evil) to scratch that "soaring, happy but powerful and majestic as f" feeling
Traditional metal for that "almost bring a tear to your eye" nostalgia for the old school
Death and black metal for that pummeling, bellowing evil vibe that only those genres can bring
All sorts of other stuff that touches on multiple genres can scratch a lot of these individual itches as well.

mortatone wrote:

itchyfingers wrote:Admittedly unpopular response knowing this board: I want to like metal, I really do. I appreciate the heaviness, the technical ability of the players, the skill, the speed. However, it just doesn’t really move me. To me, it doesn’t sound ‘musical’ for lack of a better term, and I find myself shutting it off or changing it up to something else.

Here’s me putting on some metal...
[video]https://youtu.be/_t-pSzDdeOM[/video]

Flamesuit, engaged.

My emotional response to metal is probably the same as yours. An unenthused combination of curiosity and indifference. My flamesuit is buttoned up tight as well.

How old are you Mort? 40s? I think metal has to hit you when you are young for it truly sink in. It is a young man's game, at least from my perspective. That could be that sh!t started getting real as I grew up and evolved during that time frame?

I love the orchestral aspects of metal — and a well crafted piece can definitely move me emotionally.

But ... and I know it’s a damned cliche, but being cliched is just part of who I am ... when it comes to the Cookie Monster thing, I just cannot get past those “vocals,” no matter how hard I’ve tried. My emotional response at that point becomes laughter — I just can’t take it seriously.

I do apologize, sincerely. I know a lot of y’all really dig that stuff, and for many folks it ain’t heavy music unless it’s got that kind of growling/snarling/screaming going on. I’m not trying to insult anybody, honestly. Just trying to describe my emotional response, per the OP.

JiveTurkey wrote:Thrash and speed for getting out aggression
Power metal (the good stuff like Helloween, Dream Evil) to scratch that "soaring, happy but powerful and majestic as f" feeling
Traditional metal for that "almost bring a tear to your eye" nostalgia for the old school
Death and black metal for that pummeling, bellowing evil vibe that only those genres can bring
All sorts of other stuff that touches on multiple genres can scratch a lot of these individual itches as well.

Helloween!

draelyc wrote:

JiveTurkey wrote:Thrash and speed for getting out aggression
Power metal (the good stuff like Helloween, Dream Evil) to scratch that "soaring, happy but powerful and majestic as f" feeling
Traditional metal for that "almost bring a tear to your eye" nostalgia for the old school
Death and black metal for that pummeling, bellowing evil vibe that only those genres can bring
All sorts of other stuff that touches on multiple genres can scratch a lot of these individual itches as well.

Helloween!

Seriously; Michael Kiske has one of those voices that just transports me to a time of just pure There a number of metal singers that have this effect on me. And as corny as that sounds; I cherish that feeling.

some metal is gat damn freaky , like watching Silent Hill nekkid with the blinds open

fretless wrote:some metal is gat damn freaky , like watching Silent Hill nekkid with the blinds open

I love that movie

Post metal type stuff like Neurosis is thought provoking and sort of inspires a feeling of confidence for lack of a better word. Like, yeah I see that mountain in front of me and it's not gonna stop me. Now that I think about, Neurosis might be the only band that gives me that feeling.

I remember practically burning a hole through my Dillinger Miss Machine CD when I was going through a particularly anger-inducing couple of months. It was the only thing that was pissed off enough for me.

I don't have a particularly emotional response to most metal. I listen to it mainly when I'm already in a good mood and want to hear some technical madness.

for the most part, no love.

now and again, i like. modern metal, i largely don't care for. but saying i don't like it is like saying 'i don't like rock'.. it's SO huge in breadth.

but it's not my bag, and unless it's coming unhinged- locked down, hyperprocessed, super produced metal is as bad as pop music to my ears. i just don't like the anti-human perfection of any music that's done that way.

WRT aggressive music... i feel a lot the same-- it's pressure relief, and feels like home.

draelyc wrote:But ... and I know it’s a damned cliche, but being cliched is just part of who I am ... when it comes to the Cookie Monster thing, I just cannot get past those “vocals,” no matter how hard I’ve tried. My emotional response at that point becomes laughter — I just can’t take it seriously.

It's funny you know. I've been into this stuff since my early teens, starting with Death's Symbolic and Sepultura's Arise. I used to love the vocals and could not imagine anything else with the music. But as I've aged and more great heavy music has been made that doesn't necessarily have those vocals, I've become much more critical of it. A lot of the time now I feel that the music would be better served with no vocals at all, especially when the lyrics are unintelligible. Look, either they are good lyrics and worth comprehending, or just shut up and let the music speak for itself instead of hiding behind very mediocre vocal musicianship.

Don't get me wrong, there are some grunt vocalists that are just right for what they do: Mikael Akerfeldt back when he still would/could, Joe Duplantier from Gojira, Jens Kidman from Meshuggah, etc. But there is some music I really like where I'm literally just trying to listen "past" the annoying vocalist (e.g. Fallujah).

I'm super ADHD.....so I tend to gravitate toward stuff that can keep me interested.

I like really spastic, unpredictable WTF metal usually... because I don't lose interest.


That said, that stuff elicits an "incredulous hahaha wtf" response from me that I really enjoy.


I did a clinic with Devin Townsend a few years ago, and him and I and a few of my coworkers went to dinner the night before we presented to the group. We talked for about an hour on what we liked and didn't like about metal, and this was the thing we had in common....so I know I'm not alone here.


Recent example of something that just kicks my ass:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ6GX4TokXQ[/video]

I have two main emotional responses to metal these days, with some exceptions.

I either find it extremely humorous or annoying.

A lot of the time I get giddy at the hyper tech stuff. AaL makes me grin like an idiot.

_ej_ wrote:A lot of the time I get giddy at the hyper tech stuff. AaL makes me grin like an idiot.

Yeah, you're kinda describing the same feels I get.


Like, the first time I heard Strapping Young Lad, I just laughed really hard. That meant that I loved it.


Admission: Periphery did the same thing. So did Dimmu Borgir, Kadinja, Sikth, and Limp Bizkit.