Realizing I'm not a tr00 metalhead... and glad about it!

[ratsapprentice]

Agree with OP, after being the only guy who listened to metal at school (seriously, no-one else did) and therefore not really attending live shows all that often, I developed a sort of dissconnected/sentimental view of the metal "scene" which I so desperately wanted to find and be a part of. When I finally started going to shows again, and meeting these people, It was a huge let down. Metal is, unsurprisingly, populated by the same humans we find in every other culture/sub-culture..... mainly cretins.

On the other hand, I like wearing metal shirts (and normal ones too!) and I do listen to metal 95% of the time, I can't help my tastes.
Get over it.

 

[TheDriller]

I sympathise with everything in this thread.

 

[vespiz]

Mutant: I approve of your list. (But change Oxygene pt.1 to pt. 2 )

 

[Djabthrash]

This thread reminds me of that one time I went to that night club, Red Moon, which is more or less a metal club.
There were more than a few guys in their 30s dressed like metalheads in their mid teens, all the silly wrist band spikes, denim jackets with heaps of patches sewn on and all that stuff.
Just seems kinda sad that people in their 30s are so desperate to want to fit in with people half their age/almost half their age. People that just never really moved on and never really grew up.
Some metalhead girls I know that seriously listen to metal about 95 per cent of the day are always constantly talking about how they "don't give a fuck what others think" "I do things my own way", but the truth is, they're probably some of the most insecure, self conscious people I've met in my life.
Same with those 'emo', 'scene' type kids. Just so pathetically desperate to fit in with a crowd.
A lot of 'metalheads' will hate on the 'scene kids', but the truth is, both are just as pathetic and desperate for attention as each other.
The girls tend to often be much worse than the males for this I find.

What I've found is that almost always, the people with the TRUE "I don't give a fuck what others think" attitude are in fact some of the most conservatively dressed. They are just so comfortable in themselves that they don't feel the need to dress a certain way to announce to the world they are part of some kind of subculture.

Lastly, I feel it's important to be a well rounded person in life.
That applies to your musical taste too. Getting to know and loving other genres is something every true music fan should be doing.
Experience other kinds of cultures, be it musical or whatever, rather than confining yourself to a little bubble.

+1

 

[Virgil.]

Too many hipster "metalheads" out there. :Smug:

 

[Mutant]

Too many hipster "metalheads" out there. :Smug:

Hahahaha ! Thats one of my favorite Black Metal albums

 

[DanLights]

I agree with Chris' and everyone else's thoughts here, but if you really want your band to "make it" in the metal world, you have to understand you can't live off of other musicians with open minds and acquired tastes buying stuff from each other. The masses, these spiked-wrists, black-shirted, messy-haired dudes (of all ages ) are your #1 customers if you're a metal musician. Just sayin', be glad there are people who actually spend their time buying loads of music and merch from tons of bands and actually listen a lot to them instead of spending their cash on gear and their time on writing, recording, touring and everything else.

 

[Line666]

-BRB having more rap songs on my pc than metal ones
-BRB not complaining about how breakdowncore is all the same and kids these days when nearly all death metal tracks are practically cut and paste (srs)
-BRB long hair looks shit looks shit on >99% of people
-BRB not caring what genre something is
-BRB camouflage only looks cool if you're toting an ak47 in afghanistan
-BRB going to gigs where there are women
-BRB selling the fuck out
-BRB not comparing Justin Beiber to Lamb of God (srs) (wtf?)
-BRB not a single fuck was given that day

 

[harmonic_minor_shred]

I agree with all these posts! It used to be all about the tech and shred and obscure bands for me, but after going to a variety of live shows, I've found that I always have the most fun at pop punk, post hardcore, and hardcore punk shows, especially upcoming local bands. I was usually bored at death metal shows. Still listen to plenty of death metal, but am just not as keen to pay to see some of those bands live anymore.

 

[drew_drummer]

HEH

OK i am going to give you a benefit of a doubt here:

Post some YT clips of their most "musical" songs (if they even have some material that is any close to what we call music), so i can decide if they are bullshit or not.

I motherfuck godamn refuz.

 

[Scott Horner]

While I never really considered my self a metalhead, there was a time when I was far more snobbish about what I listened to. If it was a genre outside of what I thought I should be listening to, I wouldn't even give it a chance. Stupid attitude. Now, like others in this thread, I love music. A good song is a good song. Period.

I know a few guys who are still completely in their Pantera phase. So much so that they still dress the part and mostly speak in Pantera-isms, ("Getcha pull") and only drink Black toothed grins. Now, don't get me wrong, I used to rock the fuck out to some Pantera but I also knew there was more to life than wearing cut-off flannel, combat boots and playing an odd shaped guitar with lightning bolts on it.

Having said that, I think all "scenes" are completely fucking stupid. If you feel you need to dress the part in order to listen to the music you listen to then you are suck.

TL;DR: I agree with OP.

 

[xFkx]

inb4 Jevil and the metal inquisition

 

[DanLights]

inb4 Jevil and the metal inquisition

"It's good to listen to something with real singing and not some crabcore crap for a change"

-Jevil three times a week

 

[Ermz]

Looking at it as a music listener and as a businessman are two very different things. If you want to be commercially successful, you effectively have to treat your fanbase like morons - as that's ultimately the crowd you hope to cultivate. The problem with metal and purists is that when all is said and done, there really aren't all that many of them... So you're cultivating a really hardcore crowd of 20 mates, and that ever-present age-inappropriate guy in his 40s.

Rather than say... going full out purist thrash/power metal to appeal to the hardcore guys stuck in the late 80s, you'd be much more likely to have commercial success these days by integrating 'core' elements into your music: breakdowns, synth-pop choruses with bad singing, ridiculous tribal earrings, or anything else that will go out of fashion the moment your fanbase feel the awesome sensation of testicle-freefall. A generation ago this would've been the same as dressing like a wigger, hanging your bass guitar down to your ankles and swaying like a monkey, dropping grooves in Drop A. A generation before it would've been the same as being a 2nd rate stoner with a penchant for messy guitar playing. A generation before it would've been the same as wearing a hugely inappropriate amount of leather, accessorized with bandoliers and patches. Music for the sake of commercialism is the same as fashion. You have to follow the whims and seasons of the plebeians' fancy, capitalize on their idiocy as much as you can before trying to follow them onto the next 'thing'. It's more image than music based, and that's why the fashion industry is such a great analogue for the music industry.

Music for the sake of music, and music as a commercial venture are two very, very, very, very different things. If the world actually made any sense the TRON Legacy soundtrack would've been dominating the Top 40 since last year.

 

[SocialNumb]

I'm just tired of hearing the "I'm all fucking angry and shit" guy/girl. I rather listen to the weird guy/girl or an actual singer.

I'm to the point where I only like about 5 "metal" bands.

I own no camouflage.

 

[bryan_kilco]

Ahhh yeah. I'm 29 years old and listen to mainly metal. I really don't care what people think/say about me. I have dreadlocks and I get stared at and my hair yanked by random ladies, no care. Shrug it off. I see a few of my friends that get so butthurt over little things like something somebody said or did. I also have to deal with the gayest music on earth almost every time I'm at our practice space. I dont consider myself any sort of 'elitist' or 'troo metalhead', but when one of our band members is putting emo on or country, rap, pussy radio rock ..... I can't take it. I don't know what it is, but it fucking IRKS me deeply knowing that this dude really gets into some of this music when it's just mainstream bullshit. Maybe that does make me some sort of elitist? I don't care. I'm here for the metal band.

 

[TheDriller]

... I don't know what it is, but it fucking IRKS me deeply knowing that this dude really gets into some of this music when it's just mainstream bullshit. Maybe that does make me some sort of elitist? I don't care. I'm here for the metal band.

I really can't fathom this.

Live and let live perhaps?

 

[bryan_kilco]

I guess. It just angers me, can't stand emo. Or shitty new "rap" or dance.

 

[AntonioPetrole]

I used to be really into not listening to anything but metal. Not for the sake of being br00tl/kvlt, but just because nothing else really appealed to me. Metal will always be my main music choice but now I listen to almost everything. I still love metal, I always keep up with the metal scene, but lately ive been in a weird transition state where I dont just wanna listen to the heaviest thing in the world anymore. I will still wear death metal t shirts because its just cool to identify and relate to other people through music.

With that said


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4EK4HSPkI&ob=av3e[/ame]

 

[JeffTD]

Good, I can like you as a person now.