Beginnings of Definition: Understanding Heavy Metal

I had to include this bit of video just to provide comic relief for this topic. The characters in this clip are hilarious, but very stereotypical. They reinforce misconceptions about this music, and its fans. So, let’s explore.

First off, I need to affirm that these ideas are my own, and I don’t expect anybody to adhere to or adopt them. I simply want to explain what metal is to me, through personal research, exploration, and experience. If your opinion differs, let me know what you think, but interpretation is everything in this world, so take this bit of knowledge with everything else you experience in life. Metal is NOT about hate, as much as the image may portray (to be explored later), so please don’t hate, but constructive criticism and progressive viewpoints are more than welcome in the comments area of this page. Thank you.

Before I can begin any of this research process, we must first explore what it means to be metal. What makes music metal? The most ignorant definition, unfortunately the one used by the parents of countless teenagers – past, present, and future – is loud, wailing noise on guitars with an offbeat drum pounding in the background. I, like many metalheads, have found myself needing to defend this music to my parents, teachers, peers, and even fellow musicians. This defense is a never-ending battle, and one of the pinnacles of metal. The instruments used to play it do not define this music, nor do the subjects it speaks of; though these are pertinent to the essence of metal, they do NOT define this music.

It often becomes an argument among metalheads, “such-and-such a band is not metal at all” to which another responds, “they are too man, they shred.” Insert band name and cliché anywhere you prefer, but bands often jump in and out of being “metal” by their changing styles, lyrics, religious orientation, or even popularity. A wonderful example of this is the band Slipknot. They burst onto the scene in the late 90’s and quickly rose to the favorite lists of many teenagers. Their popularity quickly made them a target for both parents and grassroots metal fans. Parents began to blame these artists, as well as many other heavy musicians, for shootings and suicides. The frightening imagery is what makes Slipknot a threat, but I will explore that more at a later time. The intriguing grudge comes from within the metal culture, and really surfaced around the time Slipknot put out their second album. Online posts, radio conversation, and concert conversations surface arguments about Slipknot selling out, stealing their music, and even comments as ignorant as, “who uses a beer keg for an instrument?”

I will take these comments one by one. First, selling out. There is not a single band out there that does not want to make money from what they are doing. It is every person’s dream to make money doing what they love, even metalheads. When bands become successful it is pure idiocy that causes undergrounders (as I will dub them) to discredit them. It is those undergrounders that pushed the band to their position, and it is simple selfishness when they don’t want to share the garage band they helped discover.

Second, stealing. This is common among all genres of music. A band uses a similar gimmick, or the same rhythm, or even a similar chord progression and this label begins to fly. Another glorifying moment in metal music is the recognition of roots. There are artists that will credit anything and everything that exists in metal to Black Sabbath. The truth about this whole matter is that every band, every musician, EVERY creative individual on the planet has their influences. They are all bound to show reflections of their creative past and preference. Stealing does not exist in the creative world; it is simple borrowing and rearranging.

The final comment is a never-ending fear of change. When turntables hit the scene bands were criticized for using them, as were keyboards in power metal bands, and even distortion when it was first used decades ago. My only response is, innovation. Creativity will always cause change, and as humans we don’t like to see things differ from what we are used to. In true metal fashion I simply say – get over it

Please take my analysis of Slipknot with a grain of salt, as they say. This is not the first metal band to be scrutinized in such a way, nor will it be the last. In fact, the list of criticized metalheads and bands is endless. This band is just a premier example of what happens within the culture. Whether you, as a reader or a metalhead, agree or disagree, it cannot be denied that the criticisms and understanding of my statements is pertinent to the culture of heavy metal.

So, what makes music metal? This, in all reality, is a question about opinion, but I will define what I feel is metal to clarify for further understanding. Feel free to disagree with me, and I reserve the right to revise this definition over time (because it will change) but for the sake of this blog, this is the definition of metal. Metal is a powerful form of music, generally played with a four or five piece band, including but NOT LIMITED TO: drums, bass guitar, one or two standard guitars, and a vocalist. The overwhelming majority is heavily distorted, but this is not invariable. Metal is not “angry music,” but rather music about aggression, power, and the purest form of release possible. Music you can bang your head to and throw the horns in the air. Metal gives the proper listener an overwhelming surge of energy, unity, and power. As Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden once said, “it’s meant to get people leaping off of furniture and stuff like that” – you just feel it.

The melting of faces will continue…

Chris Fox