Heavy metal was first popularised during the 1970s as an expressive form of rock that focused on war and violence; bands used this genre as a platform to express their disapproval of Vietnam War, an ongoing conflict which claimed millions of lives.
In the 1980s, hard rock gained tremendous popularity. Bands such as Black Sabbath were eager to shock their listeners with dark images in their songs like Satanic imagery.
Subliminal messages
Heavy metal music has long been associated with psychological issues. Studies have demonstrated the correlation between listening to sexually degrading lyrics in heavy metal songs and an increase in sexual activity within two years.
Additionally, there can also be subliminal messages found within the music of different bands that send subliminal messages – visual and auditory alike.
Visual subliminal messages are images flashed at such a rapid speed that the human eye cannot detect them. James Vicary conducted an experiment which demonstrated this concept: people did not notice when “Thirsty?” and “Hungry?” appeared side-by-side on a display board.
Backmasking is another technique used to send audio-based subliminal messages subtly inserted into music so they are unrecognizable to listeners; Judas Priest are notorious for doing this in their song “Better By You, Better Than Me”, resulting in two fans taking their lives after hearing what is believed to have been an intentional subliminal message therein.
This was a sensational case that made headlines around the globe, forcing a band to defend their music and any alleged subliminal messages they contain. However, in the end the judge determined there was no proof linking these subliminal messages with the deaths of two young men.
By discussing the claims made in these examples, you can help your students develop critical thinking skills by exploring what methods were employed during experiments and whether these can be applied in real life situations.
Heavy metal music is also an immensely popular form of entertainment among teens, according to research findings that those exposed to metal are twice as likely to engage in sexual activities within two years than their peers who do not listen to metal.
People have also claimed that heavy metal music contains hidden satanic messages, with examples including Judas Priest and Slayer music being examples. As its popularity has led to accusations that this type of music indoctrinates teens into becoming violent and even suicidal individuals, many people have made claims against it as being indoctrinating or leading them down that path.
The Satanic nature of the genre
Heavy metal music has long been associated with occult themes, and certain subgenres within this genre boast strong Satanic connections – this is particularly evident within black metal which often references Satanist imagery and lyrics.
Satan and metal have always had an intimate connection since rock’n’roll’s early days in the 1950s and 1960s, when bands such as Bill Haley & His Comets On Fire and Chuck Berry used satanic symbols in their songs.
Heavy metal bands in the 1970s and ’80s, however, explored occult themes to produce a new genre of rock with stronger mysticism than previous. At that time, fundamentalist Christians frequently accused these bands of having “Satanic” influences.
However, these accusations were false; the artists were simply experimenting with various themes and styles in order to gain an edge in their art practice.
Though not every metal artist includes Satanic themes in their songs, most metal music contains religious and spiritual connotations – Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden use biblical eschatology as the basis for many of their albums.
National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM) is another genre with Satanic themes. Artists promoting this movement combine Neo-Nazi ideology with ethnic European Paganism; sometimes merging both into Satanism or Occultism.
Black metal also exerts a considerable impact on modern heavy metal music, with several of the genre’s renowned musicians, such as Judas Priest and Metallica, adopting themes associated with Nazi ideology into their songs.
Ghost, a band from the United Kingdom, has also integrated satanic black metal into its music. Their lyrics describe Satan both as an entity and destructive force and they feature imagery and rhetoric associated with Satan within both their songs and videos clips.
Heavy metal has long been associated with Satanic themes, yet it is important to acknowledge that this relationship may not be solely determined by lyrics alone. Other elements can contribute to making music appear demonic such as high gain amplifiers, drop D tuning, pinch harmonics or bad vocals.
Violence
Heavy metal music has long been associated with violence. In fact, it has even been blamed for mass murders and other violent acts. Ultra-conservatives alleged during the 1970s-1990s that listening to heavy metal music turned people into Satanists while bands like Cradle of Filth, Ozzy Osbourne, and Marilyn Manson infiltrated children with violent and depraved ideas through music listening sessions.
People have often claimed that heavy metal music causes people to turn evil. One reason could be due to its aggressive sound and dark lyrics. Many find the distorted guitars and loud vocals of death metal frightening – this phenomenon especially holds true with early metal bands like Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin.
Early heavy metal albums featured musical elements that were inspired by classical music. Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth, for instance, used eighteenth-century Baroque motifs to craft their unique styles of metal music.
One theory behind some people’s belief that listening to heavy metal music turns people evil is because it promotes aggression and antisocial behavior – particularly among men, who tend to exhibit these traits more when listening to songs with violent lyrics than to ones without.
Recent research indicates otherwise; Macquarie University researchers discovered that listening to heavy metal music with violent lyrics does not usually desensitize people to violence.
Researchers used the binocular rivalry paradigm to compare how fans of extreme metal music with violent lyrics responded to images of violence versus those who did not listen to aggressive themes in music. While heavy metal fans had negative responses to pictures depicting violence, no signs of desensitization to it were found among their ranks.
This study formed part of an overall project exploring the effects of music on the human brain. Researchers explored whether long-term exposure to aggressive themes within music could cause listeners to experience increased anger and aggression and how this might impact on their mental health. This groundbreaking investigation will enable them to develop strategies to minimize its harmful impact.
Self-harm
Heavy metal music has long been associated with aggressive themes. Yet studies show that listening to it may actually reduce stress and improve one’s mood.
Some individuals claim that listening to heavy metal music may even help those suffering from mental illness. Lyrically-themed heavy metal can provide comforting social support that may provide much-needed comfort.
This can be especially helpful for people suffering from depression or other negative emotions, allowing them to regulate their emotions and overcome suicidal thoughts.
Research suggests that although listening to heavy metal music has its benefits, its fans are at increased risk for mental illness and self-harming behaviors. Adolescent metalheads are five times more likely to commit suicide than their non-metalhead peers.
Relationship between music preference and suicidal behavior is complex and hard to predict, making it hard for individuals to know if heavy metal increases their risk or they just have an inherent propensity for self-harming behaviors.
Study results conducted by Stack (1998), Lacourse (2001), and Martin (1993) demonstrated that individuals who preferred rock and metal music were more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drunk-driving, shoplifting and drug abuse, as well as showing a higher acceptance of suicide than those who didn’t enjoy this genre of music.
These findings have been replicated in several other studies, but not comprehensively. As such, it is crucial that their results and any subsequent ones undergo thorough scrutiny to ensure they are valid, accurate and trustworthy.
There can be various reasons for why people become fans of music, from seeking identity to rebelling against society or seeking solace against feelings of shame or victimisation.