Heavy metal is good
To non-metal listeners, heavy metal seems to just be loud, violent and dark with a litany of unintelligible lyrics that even some metalheads don’t understand. A lot of people don’t realize that there are so many messages in all types of music, and this genre is no different. Still, many find themselves caught in the distress of “not understanding what they’re saying,” which only drives people away from genres where they have a very different way of expressing themselves, like metal.
Metal music also has a variety of parent genres and subgenres that most don’t realize they are actually listening to: If you’re a fan of Tame Impala or Pink Floyd, you’re a fan of psychedelic rock; if you like Deftones or Rage Against the Machine, you’re a fan of nu-metal and alternative metal; if you’re a fan of Babymetal or Ladybaby, you’re a fan of kawaii metal—also known as idol metal or cute metal. Metal music is incredibly versatile and does not regularly reside in one genre, and sometimes, it branches off into others. Whether fans like it or not is a completely different conversation.
When I say heavy metal, I am not only talking about early metal bands and the ones that pushed the genre to the top; I’m not a big fan of Kiss, Led Zeppelin, or Metallica, as I prefer bands like Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down, Linkin Park, and many others! I love these bands because they have amazing instrumentals that anyone can groove to and because their lyrics are entertaining and intimate for their audience; they have so many positives that I could go on for days! The most important of these, though, is these bands’ ability to create an intimacy within their music that most other genres can only ever aspire to achieve.
“So Far Away” by Avenged Sevenfold is a tear-jerking song where Sevenfold’s guitarist, Synyster Gates, personally wrote and sang a touching tribute to the band's late drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, after he succumbed to his addiction. This song is incredibly raw and personal for the fans and the band members, delving into the loss and grief of a loved one while finding a way to cope with their absence. “So Far Away” was Synyster’s way of immortalizing Sullivan’s memory, and I find that a very beautiful way to remember a close friend.
A band everyone should know by now is System of a Down, an Armenian-American band formed in 1997. Their vocalist, Serj Tankian, is no stranger to spiritual and political lyrics as he uses his music to captivate listeners. Their songs are always upbeat and can get anyone off of their feet. Their lyrics tell a completely different story, however. “Chop Suey!”, one of their most popular songs, was intended to comment on the ways people die as drug-related issues and suicide leave people judged after their passing. System’s guitarist, Daran Malakain, has stated, “If I were to die from a drug overdose, everyone would say I deserved it because I used drugs, hence the line Angels deserve to die.” The line “I cry when angels deserve to die,” is a metaphor as people who may have mental health issues are often outcast by society and blamed for their actions and behaviors instead of being given the proper resources to help them.
Metal touches on some very serious political and personal issues, which is why I find the most comfort in listening to this genre—though the instrumentals are most definitely a factor in that, as well. Regardless, I can be found dancing around my room at any time to any wicked guitar solo. It is completely understandable for some people to not be fans of any kind of metal genre! Some people love it, and others, not so much.
If you are ever feeling ‘edgy’ enough, I strongly encourage you to pick any kind of metal band and give them a listen! Whether groove metal, nu metal, thrash metal, alternative metal, etc., you should never shy away from trying something new! You may find yourself relating to the music more than you think.
Thumbnail Photo of Sevendust courtesy of Wikimedia Commons