Heavy Metal: Why all the hate?

[silver wolf009]

Uh...there's a lot of people here who like metal.

I don't mind it, but I don't like "screamo" at all.

True that my brother, true that...

Now lets us rock!

 

[DirgeNovak]

On this forum metalheads are everywhere. If you're going to start yet another "why all the hate" thread, you should at least try and start one about something that is actually hated by a reasonably sizeable portion of the community. Heavy metal certainly isn't it.

I personally dislike heavy metal and metal in general (is there a difference?) intensely. It's just not my thing; I couldn't tell you why really. I just enjoy the sound of lighter, soothing indie/alternative/folk/pop rock a lot more.

Dude, I am SO going to steal that picture from you. Hilarious!

OT: Not another one of those threads... Just because a couple of your friends don't like something doesn't mean it's universally hated.

 

[Verlander]

Thanks for showing. Im probably gonna go to Sonisphere this year, and Bloodstock.

I have been into metal for 2 years, but i knew no one else into metal till recently.

I live very close to essex though.

It's not too bad round here. Too many chavs and general wankers, but in amongst all that, some of the best people in the country. Swings and roundabouts really

 

[gussy1z]

Some types metal i love. But there are lots of types i hate with a passion, some metal bands I would consider to be worse than like R n B or dance or whatever..

 

[zehydra]

If I had to guess, it's the ridiculous amount of people who create threads on here about how it's the only "true music" and all the people who try to "out-metal" each other by claiming to be fans of increasingly obscure artists. We get it, you guys like metal. I do to. Now lets move on...

On the internet, metalheads are everywhere, but IRL, we're few and far between.

Sorry, but where are you from? Metal is easily the biggest musical community, the best selling live community, and one with the broadest selection of bands. Throw a brick, and you'll hit a metalhead. I mean, even in the smallest of towns in the UK, there's a pub or bar that plays rock and metal. There are hundreds of festivals tailored to the community and, frankly, it isn't a taboo anymore, if it ever was. I don't know what it's like in America, but in Europe it's so big it's getting boring

What part of UK are we talking.

Mostly England, but all through Scotland as well. Even if the pub itself isn't overly "rocky", at least they'll have a jukebox that plays rock and metal a lot. Seriosuly, I've not been to a town in England without one, nor in Scotland

I have a hard time believing you. No one round these parts likes metal that much.

And if they do its bollocks like Slipknot....

yeah, here in America, no place like that exists. While there are still metal festivals and stuff, metal is no longer a mainstream "cool" genre (with the exception of death metal, or screaming metal) in at least the eastern united states.

-Mainstream cool genre being Death Metal.

Super wrong there.

no, mainstream cool is rap/hip-hop. Death Metal does have a very big following though here. To me though, it's nearly incomparable to older metal.

What kind of Death Metal?

Deathcore posercore?

Or the real old school death metal stuff? Like Death,Morbid Angel,Autopsy,Suffocation.... etc...

to tell you the truth I don't really know the genre too well. I just know that I dislike metal that doesn't have some kind of singing.

 

[KiKiweaky]

Well I have friends that cringe when they hear it, I'm not a huge fan but I do like the odd bit of it.

 

[Ophiuchus]

I have no particular problem with metal. It's not my favourite genre but I can listen to it quite happily. I do, however, have a problem with metalheads. By which I mean people who listen exclusively to metal, automatically hate on anything else and give people a load of hassle for listening to anything that's not metal. I know far too many people like that. I realise it's not every metal fan, but... like religious or political extremists, the annoying minority is enough to put me off the whole thing.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I love metal.
What I find funny, however, is how the metal culture is seen (and it seems to encourage this image) as a fringe culture that is misunderstood and hated.
Then elitist metal heads look down on you because you don't like or listen to the bands that are commonly accepted as "the greats."
THAT irritates me.
Maybe it's just the people I hang around.

 

[Ensiferum]

Because to most "average people" the equation is simple.

Metal = Screamo = gay = bad.

Now, I dont mind metal, I just dont like American Metal. Dont know why, but I love Swedish metal (except that screaming death stuff).

That's just a huge misconception though, metal with screaming in it and screamo are two very different things.

(EDIT: I know,) thats why I said the average person. And theres a different between the metal with screaming and the screaming death metal that I'm talking about from Sweden

EDIT: Sorry, I'm in a rather foul mood at the moment, and that was uncalled for.

It's cool bro, was just agreeing with you and I didn't intend to sound like I was trying to correct you.

 

[Berethond]

For me, Heavy Metal is the evolution of classical music.
I see no reason why you should hate that

Because it is in no way the evolution of classical music. Classical music was about clarity and precision.

 

[demoman_chaos]

I love metal, both the material and the music varieties. Everything from the classic 80's "hair" metal, to some modern death metal (thanks to Dethklok and the show Metalocalypse).

 

[Berethond]

For me, Heavy Metal is the evolution of classical music.
I see no reason why you should hate that

Because it is in no way the evolution of classical music. Classical music was about clarity and precision.

I would like you to take a look at Melodic Death Metal, good sir. Nightwish should do as well.

I have, and I hated it. Well, Nightwish is alright, I guess.
But Melodic Death Metal is definitely nothing like classical music.

 

[octafish]

Because metal ended when Sepultura released Roots. All heavy music beyond that point is redundant.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Probably because it has a reputation of being all about that Cannibal Corpse crap and very few people like that kind of music. Most people who enjoy other kinds of rock probably wouldn't be to opposed to Iron Maiden or Metallica.

 

[lacktheknack]

Eh? This site is so pro-metal, it's hilarious.

I don't listen to most of it, because I listen to music to relax, not get pumped up.

 

[InfiniteSingularity]

It's not very well understood by the general public; it's often frowned upon, and to the casual listener it can sound like "noise", and most people don't appreciate such music. And most people won't bother to try to understand it, because they're weak and can't tolerate, and therefore understand, the style. I personally will listen to almost nothing else, I have quite a range of metal I listen to.

 

[Random berk]

but I can't stand the screamo 'singing' and would turn it off if I heard it. Whatever style of music you play, you should at least have decent vocals.

Its not screamo.

And its as good as normal vocals.

Deal with it.


Growling takes alot of skill in general. Dunno about Black Metal or other harsh vocals though.

If you say so. I'll still take Robert Plant or Bruce Dickinson over any of these guys who growl, scream, or whatever you want to call it though.

 

[Zack McSleuthburger]

I'm the only one of my friends who isn't big on metal. I enjoy some of it, but it is far from my favorite genre.

Although just about everyone on this site seems to love it.

 

[Dimensional Vortex]

Heavy Metal and Metal is meh. Its just like any other form of music, it has some good and some bad. Personally I don't like to listen to Heavy Metal or Metal, I just don't like it, but I wont condemn someone who does.

I'm sure there are some good metal songs that I could enjoy on occasion but usually, for me, I cant even enjoy the average metal songs. When someone here at the Escapist posts a YouTube video in their comment and it is a metal song, I usually think that it sounds exactly the same as the last person who posted a metal song.

But I would think metal music is hated because there seems to be a lot of chauvinism about it. Things like "My life is based around Heavy Metal!" "Every music sucks 'cept Heavy Metal!" Often make me dislike music, if you like something fine, but don't go and say that it is the best.

PS: I had a friend who showed me a Heavy Metal song that featured a guy playing the drums really, really fast. I thought afterward, how the hell is that even music? You should like music because of its sound not because a drummer can play really, really fast with no beat or tune.

 

[Cerdog]

there may be a difference in vocal tone or pitch but the way or style that they sing is all the same

Isn't this essentially the same in any genre?

I like metal a lot, and am probably one of the only people I know who does, but I also like a wide variety of other music.

no its not really essential to all genres, many genres show great variation. there are other genres that suffer the same problem as metal, like pop music or a lot of punk music, but its still not essential. all of the greatest singer/songwriters i like have unique voices that are unmistakable their own like Tom Waits, Kate Bush, Melora Creger, Nick cave, David Bowie or Roger Waters for example.

That could easily be said for metal though, if not more so. Off the top of my head, the following are all unique singers that are unmistakeable:

James Hetfield, Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Mustaine, Bruce Dickinson, Mikael Akerfeldt, Phil Anselmo, and, if you're more lenient on what is classified as metal, Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian. I'm sure a more knowledgeable metalhead could give you even more examples.