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wikiHow to Appreciate Metal Music

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Heavy metal is one of the most diverse genres of music enjoyed today. Although many completely overlook it, within the metal scene there are limitless different genres and subgenres, which draw influences from and encompass virtually the whole musical spectrum; there can be two legitimate "metalheads" - as metal fans are known - that don't listen to any of the same bands. Millions of devoted metalheads exist around the world, and while they may be different in almost every way, the one uniting factor is always the love for heavy metal music and loyal devotion to the culture. Anyone with an appreciation for well-made and challenging music and the patience to find the right bands can find plenty to meet their personal taste.


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    Remove any previous preconceptions about metal. Metal is not a bunch of guys crunching out noise, screaming profanities, and worshiping Satan. A lot of metal is melodic and beautiful, as well as very complex and technically demanding. Many musicians have been playing their instruments for years and are professionally trained, often being able to play at very high levels of proficiency. Many of them incorporate influences from genres such as classical, jazz, folk, and opera. Additionally, metal bands virtually always write their own music, including the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, plus their own lyrics, etc., all of which keeps the music genuine, as opposed to the fake, manufactured feel of most popular music. That being said, metal is often more aggressive and intense than more mainstream-oriented "radio rock", and lyrics often touch on more controversial topics such as war or violence (albeit usually as a form of social criticism rather than a vehicle to condone such things). Other bands may write about topics such as fantasy, addiction, history, religion, politics, literature, philosophy, relationships, hedonism, or death. Bands with more extreme lyrics often intend their songs to be taken as tongue-in-cheek or sometimes for shock value, and in most cases shouldn't be taken seriously. The most common instrumental setup for a metal band is one or two electric guitar(s), a bass guitar, drums, vocals, and sometimes a keyboard/piano, although it is not limited to that. Some bands incorporate additional instruments, sometimes opting for a symphonic sound, or using other unusual instruments for a more avant-garde approach. Oftentimes the vocalist also serves as an instrumentalist. Some bands write all or mostly instrumental music. Metal vocals vary widely in style, from the multi-octave, theatrical approach of Judas Priest's Rob Halford and Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, to the gruff style of Motörhead's Lemmy and Metallica's James Hetfield, to the growling of many death metal performers, and to the harsh shrieks and screams of black metal. There are a number of successful female vocalists as well.
  2. 2
    Consider what music you like now and what kinds of metal you might like. Do you like fast paced music or slower music? Do you want to hear guitars shredding or guitars playing melodies? Do you want to listen for the drumming? Do you want to listen for lyrics? What lyrical themes are you looking for? Do you mind growling vocals, or do you want lighter vocals? Or no vocals at all? Try starting with classic heavy metal and then work your way to the "Big 4" of thrash metal (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax). Also ask for help on forums or research each genre more to decide which you may like. Any metalhead will be all to happy to help a newcomer out and share their knowledge.
    • Heavy metal: distorted guitars, more forceful than rock, guitar solos. No growled vocals. Original metal. Popular bands: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Twisted Sister, Ozzy Osbourne, Grim Reaper, Led Zeppelin, WASP
    • Thrash metal: Fast paced, focus on guitar shredding, often aggressive vocals and blast beats with influences from punk and metal. Lyrics usually social or politic. Bands: Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, Exodus, Overkill, Kreator, Sodom, Annihilator, Sadus, Destruction, Evile
    • Power metal: Melodic, soaring vocals, constant riffs, melodic guitar shreds, keyboards and lyrics about fantasy, dragons, knights, mythology, etc. Bands: Blind Guardian, HammerFall, Helloween, Sonata Arctica, Demons & Wizards, Angra, Dragonforce, Iced Earth, Charred Walls of the Damned, Kamelot, Rhapsody of Fire
    • Goth metal: Takes the pure sound of heavy metal but with the dark atmospheres and lyrics of goth rock. Bands: Type O Negative, A Pale Horse Named Death, Cradle of Filth, Within Temptation, My Dying Bride, Graveworm, Rotting Christ, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, Moonspell
    • Speed metal: Extremely fast and technically demanding metal. Bands: Motörhead, Riot, Judas Priest and Striker.
    • Rap metal: Rap rock with metal traits and heaviness. Artists and bands: Rage Against the Machine, Faith No More, Stuck Mojo, Kid Rock (old)
    • Death/doom: Both death metal and doom metal. Bands: Asphyx, Autopsy, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost
    • Blackened death metal: Death metal mixed with black metal. Bands: Goatwhore, Behemoth, Portal
    • Thrashcore / Crossover thrash: Usually thrash metal that leans really close to old school punk rock. It can be thrash-influenced hardcore punk or a mix of thrash metal and early 1980s-style punk. Bands: DRI, Suicidal Tendencies, Stormtroopers of Death, PC Death Squad
    • Black metal: Ranges from complex to raw song structure, distorted guitars, tremolo picking, shrieking vocals, often cold atmosphere and anti-religious or paganistic lyrics. The original bands used more of evil voices symbolizing Satan than shrieks. Bands: Emperor, Immortal, Mayhem, Burzum, Gorgoroth, Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Dark Funeral, Xasthur, Bathory, Venom, Celtic Frost, Black Anvil, Marduk, Watain
    • Doom metal: Slower paced, clean or growl vocals, musical and usually lyrical themes of despair and doom (hence the name). Bands: Candlemass, Saint Vitus, Cathedral, Trouble, Witchfinder General, Asphyx, Pentagram, Reverend Bizarre, Solitude Aeturnus
    • Death metal: Fast paced, very heavy, complex song structure, deep growl vocals, lyrics sometimes gory. Bands: Death, Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Entombed, Grave, Cryptopsy, Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Job for a Cowboy, Possessed, Necrophagia, Suffocation
    • Technical death metal: Death metal with more complex rhythmic patterns. Lyrics are often philosophical and poetic. Bands: Death (later material), Cynic, Atheist, Obscura, Necrophagist, Nile, Gorguts, The Faceless
    • Melodic death metal: Often slower than traditional death metal with focus on melodies, often containing keyboards/pianos and acoustic guitar parts. Popular Bands: Carcass (later), Dark Tranquility, In Flames (mostly older), At the Gates, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Children of Bodom, Insomnium, Norther, Shadows Fall (early), All That Remains (early), Scar Symmetry, The Black Dahlia Murder
    • Progressive metal: Combines the heavy, guitar-driven sound of heavy metal with the uncommon time signatures, dynamic shifts and complex playing of progressive rock. May cross with other metal genres as well (i.e., progressive death metal). Songs are often long, theoretically complex and contain acoustic parts. Bands: Dream Theater, Opeth, Queensryche, Watchtower, Tool, Meshuggah, Symphony X, Edge of Sanity, Andromeda
    • Metalcore: Combination of hardcore or post-hardcore punk and extreme metal. Breakdowns are common, and often abrasive or intense vocals. Bands: Hatebreed, Converge, Integrity, I Am War, Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Texas in July, Earth Crisis, Bury Your Dead, Throwdown, The Acacia Strain, Unearth, Avenged Sevenfold (early) and Bleeding Through
    • Mathcore: Progressive metalcore with odd time signatures and frequent changes in time signatures and lots of complexity. Bands: Converge, Blood Has Been Shed, The Dillinger Escape Plan, iwrestledabearonce
    • Djent: Not a genre. But refers to progressive metal bands with often keyboards, rhythm guitars doing chugging to give heavy feels and palm muting. Bands can be experimental. Bands: Periphery, After the Burial, Animals as Leaders, Tesseract
    • Melodic metalcore: A subgenre of metalcore with tons more melody and melodic death metal influences. Vocals range from growls, screams and singing. Bands: Trivium, August Burns Red, All That Remains (newer), I Killed the Prom Queen, The Devil Wears Prada, and Bury Tomorrow
    • Deathcore: A combination of death metal and hardcore. Bands: All Shall Perish, Despised Icon, Suicide Silence, Job for a Cowboy (2005), Waking the Cadaver Chelsea Grin, Oceano, Emmure, Rose Funeral, and Whitechapel
    • Groove metal: Post-thrash, sometimes slower than thrash with focus on rhythmic (groove) patterns. Bands: Pantera (1990s and up), Lamb of God, DevilDriver, Exhorder, Sepultura, Hellyeah, Machine Head, Five Finger Death Punch
    • Folk metal: Heavy metal crossed with traditional folk music. Bands: Ensiferum, Finntroll, Korpiklaani, Eluveitie, Moonsorrow, Tyr
    • Nu metal: Combines many genres of popular music (grunge, hip-hop), with heavy metal. Bands: Korn, Slipknot (first 2 albums and the song "Duality"), OTEP, Soulfly (early), Sevendust, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Deftones (1990s), Dope
    • Industrial metal: Usually with white noise beats, industrial effects, distortion, heavy bass, abrasive beats, industry noises and sometimes keyboards. It could be simply industrial meets metal. Bands: Fear Factory (although they play lots of metal genres), Nailbomb, Ministry (newer), Rammstein, Static-X, Marilyn Manson, Ghost Machine
    • Symphonic metal: Utilizes symphonic elements instead of relying on guitars alone. Bands: Nightwish, Therion, Rhapsody of Fire, Epica, Within Temptation
    • Neo-classical: A genre heavily inspired by classical music, fuses heavy metal and classic tone patterns and is often centered around complex guitar playing. Artists: Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Jason Becker, Michael Angelo Batio.
    • Alternative metal: Usually is metal with characteristics uncommon or unconventional from other metal genres. Some alternative metal is instead simply heavier alternative or alternative rock meets metal. But mostly is more of like metal with traits different from other metal genres. Bands: Mudvayne, System of a Down, Tool, Kittie, Nothingface, Helmet, Deftones, Godsmack, Faith No More
    • Glam metal: A style of upbeat, catchy rock music big in the 1980s influenced by hard rock or heavy metal with friendly-topic-based, sexual or romantic lyrics. Bands: Poison, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Warrant, Bon Jovi, KISS, Dokken, Winger.
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    Listen to the music. Don't put it on in the background and tune it out. Most metal cannot be fully appreciated if you do not focus while listening. Listen to each instrument. Try to follow the rhythm. Listen to the vocals. If you cannot understand them, look the lyrics up either in the album's booklet or online. And listen through multiple times. Albums from the more complex subgenres often take several listens to really get into and understand, and the more you listen the more layers you uncover. Most metal doesn't rely on groove or instantly catchy hooks like much pop and rock does. Don't give up if your first impression isn't great. A lot of metal "grows on you" and if it doesn't, try another band. Metal is so diverse there is at least one type for everyone.
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    Go to a metal show or watch a performance, even if it's just online. Don't worry, you won't get thrown into a mosh pit unless you choose to step into one. If going to a show doesn't sound appealing, at least watch videos online. Seeing a band work together and watching each member master their own instrument can give you a better appreciation of the work they put in, especially if you play an instrument yourself. Composing music and playing music live are two different skill sets, both of which metal bands have to be good at to become successful.
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    Learn more about metal. When and where was each genre popular? How did different genres affect each other? What artists pioneered each genre? Who are some of the major metal icons? This information can be found online, by talking to metalheads, or by reading about it in books. The more facts you know, the fewer false, stereotypical, preconceived notions you'll have.
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    Find your own way to enjoy metal. It can be at shows and in mosh pits, or just sitting back and enjoying it. Maybe you want to try to play it on an instrument, or to write your own. Maybe you want to read the lyrics and try to understand and relate to them. Many people listen while driving or while doing anything else. It can be great motivation at the gym or while running. It could be for when you drift off to sleep (no joke, people will fall asleep listening to doom metal).

Community Q&A

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  • How can I tell if a band is metal or not?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Examine their fans, their merchandise, and the looks and the instruments they play. A big part of it is the fan base though, so research.
  • Should I recommend people listen to softer, simpler sounding metal instead of really heavy, overly complex metal with death growls and high-pitched vocals?
    wikiHow Contributor
    As a start, sure, but recommend that they branch off. Keep in mind that even the simplest sounding metal is never simple.
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    • If people think it's weird that you listen to metal, ignore it. They probably have the same misconceptions you had at one point. Try explaining metal or recommending they learn more about metal.
    • There are some people (mostly teenagers) out there that will try to convince you that metal and "screamo" are the same thing. These people couldn't be further from the truth, as the two genres are completely different and unassociated with each other.
    • If you want help getting into metal and are looking for bands that might interest you, go on music and metal music forums and ask for help. Plenty of metalheads will be glad to help you.
    • A lot of the names of bands and their songs may seem dark or offensive. Even the genre name like "death metal" can seem disturbing. Don't let that turn you off immediately. That's what's called judging a book by its cover. The bands may be condemning what it seems like they're promoting at first glance, just by judging by things like titles and album covers. Even if you don't agree with every message in every song, you can still appreciate the thought, talent and emotion that went into it all.


    • It should be noted that while Authentic Heavy Metal Music is passing into the past, The energy, and emotion that humans continue to feel is still a present anomaly in most. Although many forms of modern "so called" Alternative music may not be defined properly as "Heavy Metal", the emotions of people who still gravitate towards a similar outlet may be more appropriately defined by the times of the youth that experience it. Thus, whatever is invented, it may hold a similar nature, even though it is not Heavy Metal as it has been traditionally known. Heavy Metal is a product of the generation that created it.
    • Some (albeit by no means all) heavy metal bands have vulgar or offensive lyrics.
    • Since metalcore, deathcore, nu metal and rap metal are fusion genres, many metalheads tag it as not real metal. Some stuck-up ones may call you a poser if you like those styles.
    • There may be no point to calling the many new styles of "so-called" Heavy Metal Music- Heavy Metal, since it is most widely accepted that "The Rock Era" ended with the 20th Century. Large Post Modern Corporate Companies have diluted music in general into Corporate Formulas with the intention to exploit the young and ill-informed, and re-write American musical values according to mass sales predictions. Thus, in the 21st century, many NEW styles emerged re-packaged with the Popular Musical Styles of those who remember their media brainwashing as children of the early 2000s. But many still find themselves attracted to the primal, very Human aspect, of 20th century Heavy Metal. However as adults, they are not able to abandon the Popular Media Programming they ingested as children, which they "inject" into "their" attempts at Heavy Metal Music. This is one of the many reasons why they cannot authentically reproduce it, and desire to re-define it. Many wish to "supplant" their elders egotistically, some actually respect their elders. But the music they make, for better or worse, is not authentic Heavy Metal.
    • Metal as a musical style, cannot mean anything when too far removed from the generation that created it, IE, youth today cannot understand the mindset of those who started it, as they were not influenced by the mindset and times of those who created it.

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    Categories: Music Listening and Appreciation

    In other languages:

    Español: apreciar la música metal, Italiano: Apprezzare la Musica Metal, Português: Apreciar a Metal Music, Русский: оценить металическую музыку

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