As soon as metal bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple first emerged in 1968, they were met with widespread opposition from critics who claimed they were disrupting music scene and watering down blues rock genres.
Music is a powerful form of expression, often used to convey strong emotional states such as anger or aggression. Unfortunately, some forms of music can exacerbate those negative emotions further.
1. It’s violent
Many people mistake heavy metal music as violent due to its lyrics and musical style, often featuring dark themes of evil, death and destruction that many find distressing or frightening; furthermore its distorted guitars may sound harsh or intimidating – yet there is no evidence to indicate this type of music is intrinsically violent or has any adverse impacts on listeners – in fact some studies have discovered positive outcomes such as improving mood or relieving symptoms of depression!
Metal music has long been discredited for being dangerous and violent; even being used as an excuse for violent crimes such as church burnings in Norway and satanic ritual murders in Italy. While its positive benefits cannot be underestimated, music can have profound impacts on emotions and actions of its listeners; some genres may indeed cause aggression while metal may not necessarily do so alone.
There have been multiple studies suggesting a correlation between metal music and aggressive behaviors and its fans, yet many of these studies fail to take other aspects of violence into account. For instance, researchers may have ignored people with poor family relations or substance abuse problems who could contribute to increased levels of aggression in these studies.
Metal music’s intense, harsh sound can be disconcerting for those unfamiliar with it, leading some to assume its fans are aggressive or violent, leading some people to avoid listening altogether – which would be unfortunate, given that metal has such an enormously positive influence on its followers’ lives.
Metal music is complex and takes years of practice to master, demanding both energy and focus from musicians who wish to learn it well. Unfortunately, playing loud volumes may cause physical strain as well. Yet metal musicians feel great pride and accomplishment from their work as part of an exclusive community dedicated to metal.
2. It’s sexist
Heavy metal has long had the reputation of being a misogynistic music genre, which may or may not be accurate. While many fans of metal are male and lyrics often contain violent themes, this doesn’t make metal intrinsically sexist; in fact, a recent study demonstrated that those who enjoy metal tend to be more open to new experiences and less inclined towards authority than other listeners; this indicates that listening may even help improve men’s self-esteem and egos!
Some may use this research to argue that metal music is sexist; however, this doesn’t substantiate their argument. A variety of other factors come into play when people like different genres and it’s not just genre’s inherent sexism that’s bad; rather it is how its use reinforces stereotypical gender roles.
Assuming metal music is sexist is dangerous because it perpetuates negative stereotypes of its followers, since this genre tends to attract male listeners. While the music itself may contain elements that could be considered offensive or inappropriate for women, its fans shouldn’t be judged as being less-than-stellar people either.
Due to metal’s loud and confrontational nature, its popularity can sometimes lead to friction with mainstream society in certain countries. Some societies associate its influence with hedonism and antireligious sentiments – which has often resulted in certain regions banning this genre altogether.
Metal music itself isn’t inherently sexist; however, people who enjoy metal often adopt an overtly masculine persona. This can present many problems for women who enjoy this genre, especially female fans who find it appealing. Many female metal fans report being harassed by creepy men while being asked repeatedly to prove their fandom to other men; such behavior is both unpleasant and potentially dangerous.
Metal is an under-represented genre. To maintain its identity and make decisions about how best to use it, its identity relies on individuals wishing to join its community – making progress more challenging in regards to issues like sexism in metal.
3. It’s degrading
Metal music often gets an unfair rap due to the various misconceptions associated with it, like its association with drugs and screaming. Yet metal can offer much more from an emotional standpoint; indeed it can even be appreciated as art by those willing to look past stereotypes and give it a chance.
Metal music lyrics often deal with dark topics like death and evil, which may be disturbing to non-fans. Furthermore, its loud and distorted music may intimidate certain listeners. Yet contrary to common perceptions, there is no evidence that metal music causes violence; indeed studies suggest listening to metal may actually help individuals manage their emotions better and even reduce aggressiveness.
Who does not enjoy metal music should not feel intimidated to express that opinion. However, it would be unfair to criticize both its composers and fans on account of their tastes or generalize all metal as noise without providing explanation.
Some individuals mistakenly interpret metal music as degrading due to its lyrics, such as when bands write about sexual violence such as rape or other forms of abuse. Although this is certainly no reason for dismissing metal altogether; in fact, it can actually empower victims who have experienced sexual violence through empowerment music such as this genre.
Demeaning remarks like using “faggot” to refer to someone who enjoys metal music are also used by homophobes to insult others and its use is degrading and should never be tolerated in our communities. Be mindful that what words we choose have an enormous effect.
Metal music has long had an unfair reputation, due to negative media coverage and an ignorance of what the genre truly represents. Now is the time to remove these stereotypes and get to know this unique genre better!
4. It’s a waste of time
Many people believe metal music to be a waste of their time as its sound may not compare with that of other genres. Yet metal is actually an incredibly diverse genre with much to offer: with its combination of distorted guitars, fast drumming and throaty vocals creating an intense sound; various subgenres of metal such as power metal and thrash metal also focus on different styles of music within its genre.
Metal music’s lyrics should also be taken into consideration, since their topic often deals with darker topics like violence, hatred, anger and sadness. Furthermore, its instruments tend to be very loud, making the genre unsuitable for casual listeners who do not yet appreciate its genre.
As metal music can often contain lyrics with dark themes and an intense sound, some find its music to be disturbing or offensive if they’re sensitive to violence and darkness. Furthermore, metal fans don’t always display good behavior: for example, online metal communities sometimes resort to using offensive insults like using “faggot” against fellow fans as an insult.
As metal first rose to popularity, many parents were concerned. Popular metal bands like Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne outraged audiences with their dark music and occult imagery – leading some parents to fear the music was Satanic and therefore not suitable for children.
Today, metal music has become one of the most influential genres, having an effectful and longstanding impact. Furthermore, its listeners report experiencing reduced stress levels and an increase in their IQ when listening to this genre due to its complex feedback loops.
Not everyone enjoys metal music, and that is okay. However, it is essential to remember that metal’s not an unproductive waste of time because its variety spans centuries as well as changing with culture, technology and society – plus listening can promote positive emotions while decreasing aggression levels!