Metal

Let us talk about metal.

Along with classical and electronica it's amongst my top favorite genres. The myriad nitpicky subgenres annoy me, however.

Thanks to Metalocalypse I discovered metal, and what it was all about. Thanks to Guitar Hero and Rock Band I discovered Judas Priest and Metallica. (Why yes, I have been living under a rock! Being trained in geology, I can even tell you what kind of rock!)

I'm not big on Dragon Force. They're the Tastes Like Diabetes of the metal world. (Saccharine metal. Apparently not a contradiction in terms.) Not big on the Tolkienian fantasy-oriented metal. I like my metal like I like my coffee—black and scalding.

edited 24th May '09 10:44:34 PM by Charlatan

My brother is the one who knows anything about metal. I just like some of his bands: Demon Hunter, Korpiklaani, As I Lay Dying, No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical by Showbread, that one album by Dragonforce.

Looking at that list, I see I prefer weird metal hybrid bands over straight metal: metalcore, folk-metal, power metal, synth-metalcore.

What's the difference between rock and metal, again? I ask because one of my local rock stations plays stuff that sounds a bit crunchy and extreme for old-fashioned rock. I know there's a difference between Elvis Presley and Sonata Arctica, but the genres are a bit...Loose.

I liked Mastodon's album Leviathan, but a lot of their other stuff (like their recent album about astral projection or whatever) is far too weird for me.

The word has drifted quite a bit in its rich and varied history.

I'm not particularly fond of groups where the vocalist sings like Cookie Monster. Most of the time. I like Opeth and The Melvins, though.

Short answer; I don't like it.

A bit longer; I don't really care much of it, I'm mostly turned away by the mass of idiot fans who treat it like a gift from the god of music and think that every other genre is crap. I know some nice metal fans, but they're all for the most part, pretty open to other genres as well. I like some metal (if RATM counts), but in general, I don't really see what's so great about it.

I like metal, but not death metal. If I'm listening to rock (of whihc metal is a subgenre), I prefer vocalists who can actually sing, rather than droning monotonously or screaming their vocal chords to shreds.

I admire virtuosity, and I get a kind of shivering feeling when I hear a good guitar solo. Also, the whole sound of metal feels very powerful to me.

Metal fandom bugs me a little though, because they tend to be very elitist.

I like metal, a lot, and I see where Jethro is coming from, because metal fans can be one of the most obnoxious group of people you'll ever meet. The distinction with rock is pretty fuzzy, indeed, mostly if you compare the "classic" groups with hard rock.

If there's something I appreciate about it, is the high variety there is: heavy, trash, power, prog, doom, industrial, etc.

Favourite bands include Dream Theater, Rhapsody, Diablo Swing Orchestra and a few groups from around here that barely anyone knows...

Metal's okay. I don't mind the growl as long as it's mixed with normal lyrics too. Helps if it's understandable.

As a relative of one of my favorite genres (classical, jazz, rock), metal gets into the reunion. Drinks too much sometimes.

As for death metal, I actually do like some Napalm Death every now and then, if only just for the bit of novelty value.

I can't say if I like a specific subgenre of Metal... But my favourite Metal bands are System of a Down and Protest the Hero.

I'm a huge metal-head. Big time. All genres too. Well, don't care for grindcore, and most black metal doesn't appeal to me...but, for the most part, I don't mind screaming, growling, pig squeals, etc.

I especially like progressive metal/mathcore. Protest the Hero, The Human Abstract, The Fall of Troy, and The Number Twelve Looks Like You are definitely some of my favourite bands. Norma Jean is great, too, though it took me a while before I could stand them.

I will be the first to admit, though, that metal fans tend to suck. Like...the generalisation. And how divided they are about what genre of metal they like! It's crazy!

edited 27th May '09 6:25:50 PM by Lucky Revenant

I'm not a big fan, but I do love me some Dio, Sabbath, early Metallica (up to and including the Black Album) and, of course, Alestorm - real Scottish pirate metal, fae Perth!

Most of the metal bands I like incorporate elements of progressive rock or post-rock. Stuff like Opeth, Agalloch, Pelican, Diablo Swing Orchestra, and Mastodon.

Thrash metal (or whatever Slayer is) sounds too thin and flat, power metal is a bit too cheesy (although Blind Guardian is enjoyable), and I plain don't get black metal.

I have concluded that it is pertinent to my interests to rent a copy of 'Master of Puppets' from the library. I will also look into Opeth.

I have also concluded that Dragon Force makes for annoying listening but is gloriously awesome music to listen to at sporting events. (Case in point, my university's boffing club.)

After listening to some more recent metal on 101 KUFO, I have concluded that much of the genre is Narm to me. Example: Godsmack's "Whiskey Hangover". Yes, yes, alcoholism is brutal, but...Y'know, when I think of a song about an alcoholic in denial, I tend to imagine a more sober look at the subject, instead of speed metal.

Long story short: Metal is fun but definitely as prone to Sturgeon's Law as anything else.

Uhh. I don't know much metal. I like Queen. Is that metal? I dislike AC/DC. Is that metal?

AC/DC is in the fine line between Hard Rock and Heavy Metal that is characteristic of the precursors. Queen is not metal, but a lot of their early work was an inspiration for Power Metal.

Though you can't really encompass the whole genre by mentioning two bands.

edited 11th Jul '09 12:49:08 PM by Noimporta

A massive metalhead here. Mostly listen to Slipknot, Mastodon, Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage, Korn, Disturbed, and System of a Down.

'Tis a shame Serj quit System.

Pseudonym, if those are the best bands you can come up with, you are not a "massive metalhead"

Not even twenty posts in, and someone just invoked No True Fan.

Gotta love metal fans.

edited 11th Jul '09 10:16:26 PM by Noimporta

He's right though, only Mastodon is metal in that list.

He said "massive metalhead", not "emerging metal fan" or somesuch.

Sanity Assassin: Lamb of God and Killswitch are on the archives, for better or for worse.

edited 11th Jul '09 10:29:13 PM by xexyzl

That does not excuse Korn, Disturbed, and System of a Down.

edited 11th Jul '09 10:38:04 PM by The Sanity Assassin

He's right though, only Mastodon is metal in that list.

This is gold, pure gold. It's nu metal, which is still metal. The fact that the mayority of metal fans don't like it, doesn't mean it isn't. And if most of the music you listen to is metal, then you're a metalhead, independently of the subgenre.

I, for example, an not a metalhead, because even If I listen to Maiden, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Motorhead, Dream Theater, etc. it's still not the music I mostly associate with.

Nu-metal =/= metal.

Nope, not at all, nu-metal metal as much as any other subgenre is... it's just unpopular.