Metal is probably the most misunderstood and reviled major genre out there. It’s easy to see why, the music is infamous for its rather ‘out there’ band names (Infant Annihilator comes to mind), gory album covers, morbid song topics and loud and spiky outer appearances. But if you scratch beneath the surface, and ignore the gatekeepers (they’re not worth anyone’s time or attention), you’ll find that metal can be a pretty welcoming subculture to newcomers.
“Metal doesn’t necessarily fulfil the same purpose that calming or melodious genres do: it isn’t angry, it’s very emotional”
Why should you even bother trying it out? I’d argue that broadening your musical taste can only be beneficial. Metal doesn’t necessarily fulfil the same purpose that calming or melodious genres do: it isn’t angry, it’s emotional. Metal is a much more intense way to let your emotions flow, just like with other genres. But there’s also an indescribable feeling you get from enjoying a heavy guitar riff or insane breakdown that no other type of music evokes, that everyone should get to experience. Metal is also excellent if you need an energy boost or want sad, relatable lyrics to sing along to. Musicianship is exceptionally important too, if you play an instrument and want to hear intricate beats, impressive guitar riffing or groovy bass lines, metal has you covered.
“I won’t pretend that enjoying metal is as simple as having the right mindset”
Another huge pro – the biggest names in the industry are still small by mainstream standards, meaning you get to see your favourite bands live for quite cheap – often with insane lineups as all the best bands love touring together – and in small venues no less, which are arguably the best kind for live music. The relatively small size of the metal fanbase makes it so much more special when you meet other fans of the bands you like – perhaps because the subculture is so visually distinct, it’s easy to connect with people and forge strong friendships for those looking for community.
I won’t pretend that enjoying metal is as simple as having the right mindset. The most common complaint I hear from people who are musically open-minded, but not quite gelling with metal, is that the vocals are off-putting. Most metal heads I know, myself included, had to be eased into it over a long period of time; we usually start with rock or pop punk and gradually build a tolerance to loudness, distortion, and most importantly, harsh vocals. Everyone’s path is different, but maybe try starting with something like Rage Against the Machine and see if that makes heavier music sound better?
If you already enjoy music whose main focus isn’t necessarily melody, or ‘dirty’ vocals, like what you’d find on a My Chemical Romance or Pierce the Veil record, you’re already well-poised to dive into metal. That doesn’t mean that liking only clean soft vocals and complex melodies bars you from the genre, though! Luckily for us, there’s plenty of metal out there that combines clean, melodic vocals with metal instrumentation. The playlist we’ve concocted for this article is intended as a stepping stone into the genre – close enough to what most people will be familiar with musically, but still not too out there.
I encourage you to give it a shot, and frankly, if you end up not liking it, that’s expected for most – but if this helps introduce metal music to just one person who appreciates it, then I consider this experiment a huge success!