Top 10 Myths About Metal

aqnimal

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Aug 15, 2004
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Top 10 Myths About Metal

by The Black Frost

For over 40 years people across the world have explored Metal and it’s many subgenres. So many misjudgements popped up over time that I believe it is important to let people know how misunderstood the music really is. Here are my top ten myths about Metal, and the truth that comes with them. Please note that these are not my personal opinions.

10 Heavy Metal


Myth: The music is called “Heavy Metal”

So I thought I’d start you off with an easy one. Most people believe that the name of the harsh-sounding screams and heavily distorted guitars is “Heavy Metal”. In actuality, Metal has hundreds of subgenres and “Heavy Metal” is barely even one of them. Bands such as Cream, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath paved the way for metal bands by creating a unique sound. But while these bands can be called heavy metal, an alarming majority of non-metalheads, especially elderly people and teenage girls, refer to all rock music as heavy metal. Simply because they know nothing of the diversity in the genre.


9 Barbarian


Myth: Metal musicians are uneducated freaks who can’t form sentences

Another common one. Most people view metal lyrics and music as simple and stupid. In reality, most metal musicians are highly intelligent, highly focused people who are capable of writing deep, meaningful lyrics and music. For example, the black metal band Bathory derived much of their music from classical composers. And most metal lyrics are surprisingly literate.


8 Anti-Religion


Myth: All metal is against religion

In most non-metalhead opinions, metal bands religion deserves to be hated, but such is not the case in metal. In most cases, metal is not anti-religious in general, but it is often against Christianity or forms of Christianity. However, many artists are religious, like the American Metalcore band As I Lay Dying, or David Dramian of Disturbed. It is safe to say that Religion is not well liked in metal, but it’s not exactly hated. Although there are exceptions to all rules…


7 Satanic


Myth: Metal promotes Satanism

The genre of music that does feature lots of satanic themes and imagery is called Black Metal, derived from Venom’s thrash album; Black Metal. Although some death and thrash metal, like Slayer, Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel features Satanism, very few black metal musicians actually have satanic beliefs, and the ones that do tend to try not to promote it.


6 Crime


Myth: Metal promotes criminal activity, like murder

While a few people in the metal community have been tied into crime and murder, only one predominant case; that of Varg Vikernes, is relevant. Most metal bands that do have violent or disturbing lyrics and imagery have stated that their content is not to be taken seriously. Most notably Cannibal Corpse, who are infamous for their lyrics, which often elaborate on the more gruesome depictions of murder, death and sexual fetishism.



5 Sexism


Myth: Metal is sexist

While it seems that much of metal, especially in the late 80’s, was designed to trivialize sex and women, now the issue is much less common. And many bands, especially of the Black, Grind and Doom metal genres avoid the topic of sex completely.


4 Fascist


Myth: Metal musicians have fascist, racist or neo-Nazi beliefs

While many musicians say they believe certain races or ethnic groups are better or worse than others, and while some have legitimate beliefs, it is most common that it is part of a stage presence. A good example of this is former Gorgoroth vocalist Gaahl, who is not only homosexual, but has stated that he has racist views, but that he is not serious about them and tries not to express them openly.


3 Children


Myth: Metal is bad for children

Much of metal is oriented towards children and teens as a less serious way to cope with stress than other means available. Although people may tell you that metal poisons the minds of our children, keep in mind that those people are generally very closed-minded and don’t understand.


2 Talentless


Myth: Metal takes no skill to play

Any professional will tell you that metal and jazz are the two most difficult genres of music to play. And while it seems that metal musicians just thrash around while hiding behind distortion, the fast riffs and extreme percussion are almost always 100% real, without any synthesized material. The subgenres of music that tend to edit their music digitally are metalcore, industrial and grind. Most everything else is legitimate.


1 Screamo


Myth: Metal vocals is just screaming

If you like metal, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Wow, can’t he actually sing?” This really annoys metalheads as it is a fact that metal vocals are extremely difficult. And while it seems like it’s effortless, metal vocals range greatly, from growling, to screaming, to shrieking, and everything in between. Next time someone says metal vocals are not singing, simple reply; “It’s just different.” So that concludes my list, and to all those who believe these stereotypes and think metal is dumb. We’ve had a great 40 years, and were getting along just fine without you.
 
And you‘re the biggest retard of the universe.

'biggest retard'...c'mon couldn't you come up with something better than that, gay man? You might be worse than what's his name....fuck I can't remember..oh Mort Divine or some shit. And that other asshole, The Butt, I think his name is. The three 'a yuz can piss off.
 
It is true. You have to be absolutely retarded if you think metal demands the most of its musicians over all other forms of music.

The absolute core of metal is not technicality, and most of these tech. and prog. bands that make it the core of their band almost always suck (because they fail to understand what metal is about.) Metal is a genre more focused on riffcraft and songwriting, which is why someone like Iommi is 10000 times better a metal guitarist than say Muhammed Suiçmez.

And why the animosity towards me? I've been posting primarily about metal nowadays.
 
The absolute core of metal is not technicality, and most of these tech. and prog. bands that make it the core of their band almost always suck (because they fail to understand what metal is about.) Metal is a genre more focused on riffcraft and songwriting, which is why someone like Iommi is 10000 times better a metal guitarist than say Muhammed Suiçmez.

This x infinite.
 
'biggest retard'...c'mon couldn't you come up with something better than that, gay man? You might be worse than what's his name....fuck I can't remember..oh Mort Divine or some shit. And that other asshole, The Butt, I think his name is. The three 'a yuz can piss off.

I just think that you have to be ignorant to say something like that. How far will people go to defend their own beloved genre? Will you cover your eyes and push your truth forward without looking around or what.

How did you measure the talent of metal musicians and how is metal properly performed please? If you‘re talking about the technicallity of the players then please wake up, if you‘re talking about anything else, well, then what the hell. :rolleyes:

This x infinite.

Yes. That‘s another thing that I‘ve been saying. Mort is right about deathcore and tech-death bands. However, you can‘t really say that Iommi is a better guitarist because of the music he plays or creates and that the other guitarist that is faster is worse because he plays wankery. I don‘t think that‘s what it means by today‘s standards is it?

BTW, when people want to get a place in an orchestra, they truly have to compete who‘s a better player by playing the same concerto or something and there‘s an actual casting for the spot because there is no other way to determine who‘s better for the spot. In this case there HAS to be a conclusion because there is no way around and the people want to do the same job that has a measurable quality (to some extent), but discussing the quality of Iommi vs. some tech-death wanker is really, really worthless.
 
A lot of times just laugh shit off people say to me in society. I'm not educated. One of my nicknames at work is barbie boy. People usually try and offend me and I just take it as a compliment. I guess if am barbie boy my future wife will be barbie girl and we'll just sit around out there stupid in oblivion or something and it will be nice and east. I'm not educated and do not really care if people think I am dumb or metal music is dumb. I'm so out there and stupid that in someways it makes me more intelligent because people are jealous of my oblivious tardation or something.
 
A person who is not educated and someone who has a career lives the same life.
 
I didn't mean to say that random techy guitarists aren't better than Iommi as guitarists overall, but as METAL guitarists - they are absolutely not.
 
I agree with Onder fully tbh.
'biggest retard'...c'mon couldn't you come up with something better than that, gay man? You might be worse than what's his name....fuck I can't remember..oh Mort Divine or some shit. And that other asshole, The Butt, I think his name is. The three 'a yuz can piss off.
:lol: Nice to see my work appreciated.
 
I didn't mean to say that random techy guitarists aren't better than Iommi as guitarists overall, but as METAL guitarists - they are absolutely not.

You have such a weird taste and concept of metal. We disagree on just about everything covered in the GMD topics. It's cool...opinions are like assholes...but we're from totally different planets when it comes to this stuff.

I still fail to see why someone like Jeff Loomis isn't vastly superior to Iommi as a 'METAL' guitarist. I can think of loads better players even using the odd criteria that you suggest.
 
You have such a weird taste and concept of metal. We disagree on just about everything covered in the GMD topics. It's cool...opinions are like assholes...but we're from totally different planets when it comes to this stuff.

I still fail to see why someone like Jeff Loomis isn't vastly superior to Iommi as a 'METAL' guitarist. I can think of loads better players even using the odd criteria that you suggest.

Riffs man, its all about the riffs.
 
Whoever wrote that list is a massive n00b.

Also, lol @ the claim that grind bands "avoid the topic of sex altogether"