Metal music often gets a bad rep for being loud, heavy and aggressive, yet there are numerous songs which are child-friendly – in fact a viral TikTok video shows babies are very into it!
Toddlers can be surprising adventurous. Even though Daniel Tiger and Disney videos might keep their attention, something about heavy metal seems to grab it and keep it there.
1. Ice Cream by David Lee Roth
Just a few months ago, an adorable video went viral showing an infant crying but immediately falling asleep when the heavy metal song “Ice Cream” began playing on TikTok. Many commenters noted how babies seemed to respond positively to music with heavy guitar riffs and drum beats; many parents even tried this approach with their babies–it worked!
Roth, who recently released his debut solo album Diamond Dave and has an online radio show known as The Roth Show, shares this song for children from his new record with them and sings other Van Halen classics with all the energy and passion that made his first albums so impressive.
Women and Children First was not a commercial success, yet proved Roth still had it. This album contained some fantastic tracks like the slow-motion power anthem “And The Cradle Will Rock,” Eddie’s blistering feedback and Alex’s infectious double bass drum shuffle – three truly unforgettable tracks that helped prove Roth was still capable.
Be mindful that there is limited research on how infants and young children react to different stimuli, including heavy metal music. Every child’s reactions differ; some researchers have noted hearing heavy metal music can promote aggression or anxiety in some children; therefore parents must always consider their child’s sensitivity when making decisions for what’s best.
2. Rough Cutt
There’s nothing quite as effective at getting babies and children dancing than a heavy metal band, yet this underrated group never quite reached the success they deserved. Now both their albums have been reissued as part of a twofer package so fans can discover them for the first time or pick up these classic releases again.
Rough Cutt formed in Los Angeles, California in late 1981 as Magic. Their original lineup consisted of frontman Paul Shortino, guitarist Jake E. Lee, keyboardist Claude Schnell, bassist Joey Christofanilli and drummer David Alford – though Lee would later audition and join Dio to replace Randy Rhoads after he died; with different singers, drummers, and bassists taking their place until finally disbanding in 1987.
Shortino reformed Magnitude 9 in 2000 with guitarists Brad Gillis and Carlos Cavazo, keyboardist James “J.T.” Garrett from Quiet Riot’s James McNabb Bassist Sean McNabb and Magnitude 9 drummer John Homan as members. Together they released both an EP entitled Sneak Peek and full-length album called Sacred Place before disbanding again in 2002.
Shortino has taken to social media in an attempt to assert his claim on the name Rough Cutt and ask that any competing band call themselves Dave Alford and Chris Hager’s Rough Cutt in order to avoid confusing fans.
3. Holy Diver by Dio
Ronnie James Dio’s first album with his band Holy Diver features this timeless track with its catchy keyboard riff and emotive vocals – one that speaks of hope and light in dark times – that remains one of Dio’s most beloved tunes, making this classic piece part of live performances worldwide.
Ronnie James Dio’s solo project Dio was established after three classic albums with Rainbow and two with Black Sabbath; to do this he recruited ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain and ex-Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice from both bands to form it with. Their 1983 release Holy Diver remains an all-time metal classic.
This song reached number 40 on the charts and served as an expression of Dio’s resistance against his Catholic upbringing, which he believed distorted religion’s message. Additionally, its controversial album cover depicting what looks like a devil whipping what may be an image of a priest before drowning him with a tiger stirred much debate among listeners.
This song is also famed for its epic music video. Dio depicts himself as an unshaven barbarian roaming through an abandoned church and striking at shrouded figures with his sword before visiting a blacksmith to buy himself a newly made blade. The video is visually breathtaking while its powerful piano sound makes for a compelling performance of this powerful track.
4. Asleep in the Deep by Mastodon
Asleep in the Deep is one of Mastodon’s most iconic songs and videos, and one that showcases their knack for crafting captivating yet low-budget video content. The video stars a male playing as princess, an inept knight with limited mobility, and a turkey leg that never goes away – perfect if you want to introduce heavy metal music to toddlers! If you want to introduce them early on.
Mastodon joined forces with Lovecraftian doom metal artist Skinner (who created their psychedelic Once More ‘Round the Sun album art) to produce this unsettling music video, premiering on Adult Swim at 4 AM Saturday morning and sure to open your child’s third eye. Watch below and experience a journey into a nightmare world inhabited by an insomniac cat!
Mastodon explores internal struggles of an individual feeling like they’re fighting an uphill battle in this haunting song from Mastodon, depicting him being pursued by demons until being saved by human contact – suggesting that relationships can help ease life’s troubles.
Heavy metal has traditionally been dominated by male performers; however, the genre is now becoming more inclusive with women making up an increasing portion of power and symphonic metal subgenres. According to PopMatters, this shift could be partially explained by female musicians being freer to express themselves creatively than in previous decades.
5. Nobody’s Real by Nu-Metal
Nu metal bands are making an impressive comeback these days, selling out arenas and demonstrating that their genre never really faded away. While their music may differ somewhat now, its energy remains intact. Many of the largest groups such as Slipknot are still around today releasing music with each album release while some like Korn take risks by slowing their sound down or taking bold risks like taking their sound downtempo with each new record release.
Nu-metal draws inspiration from early ’90s alternative rock scenes where thrash-influenced bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Faith No More fused industrial, electronic, and metal music into their sound. Alongside slower tempos and down-tuned guitars, nu metal also featured slower tempos and down-tuned guitars, as well as slower tempos with downtuned strings; Nu metal also utilized DJs who added hip-hop beats with heavy metal music such as Cypress Hill Korn Linkin Park as well.
Even though the genre peaked two decades ago, its sounds and energy remain popular with young children today. NYC rap group City Morgue channels Slipknot’s and Limp Bizkit’s energy into their own unique brand of trap metal music.
One mom shared in a viral TikTok video how her colicky newborn sleeps more soundly when hearing one particular tune on the radio – this song reliably puts her to bed every night! Soothing babies to sleep through music may help ensure they enjoy more restful slumber in future.
6. Killswitch Engage’s Holy Diver Kids’ Version
Heavy metal music can be an attractive genre to children due to its dark themes of fantasy and death. Children seem drawn to heavy metal because of the loud drum beats, intriguing characters, and haunting vocals found within it.
TikTok was overwhelmed by this cover of Ronnie James Dio’s classic Holy Diver song. Within days it amassed over 10 million views and inspired numerous remixes and parodies of it, while parents reported using it as a sleep aid – some claim heavy metal music may help their babies drift off quicker due to its rhythms mimicking what they would hear during gestation or perhaps because the sound helps relax and comfort children before bedtime. Whatever it may be, parents claim this version has helped their infant sleep faster! While its exact mechanisms remain unclear, possibly due to rhythm and noise mimicry; or simply because music soothes them a great deal upon hearing something familiar or simply because its sound helps relax them before sleepytime comes around time for bedtime!
Killswitch Engage may receive criticism for covering such an iconic metal work, yet their version arguably surpasses that of its original composer and thus they deserve credit for what they accomplished.
Killswitch added some extra distortion and made the song heavier to add even more rock-and-roll appeal for kids. Though Howard Jones may not be known as one of the top metal vocalists, he does an adequate job here; unfortunately his tendency to include an annoying squeal with every riff becomes bothersome at times.