Metal and Beyond

[Doomwatcher]

I look for spirit, imagination, innovation, well-executed concepts/thematic tightness, etc.

And would go far as saying that only the best of metal can provide that?

 

[no country for old wainds]

Absolutely not, though I've had a fascination with all things dark, mythological, ancient etc since I was a kid, and my conscious worldview is very much tuned in to a lot of metal these days.

 

[lord667]

Another question, would you prefer to listen to metal because it aesthetically pleases you or do the common ideologies and mindsets (often associated with the metal genre) appeals to you?

Aesthetics are more important to me. Ideology when embodied in music is decomposed into its pre-rational, emotional components, which can always be put to work for my preferred images and ideas if the artist's own don't satisfy me, and therefore "metal ideology" is something I can enjoy or ignore - but if the music itself is shit, its shittiness can't be dealt with in the same way.