Metal fans, in contrast to fans of other styles of music, seem to be the most serious and devoted to the genre. I see that metal music is very versatile and can invoke a variety of emotions combined with creative technicalities that end up having a very profound effect upon the listener. What are your thoughts?

I guess to some extent it is true that metal fans remain more "true" to their musical taste and follow it most of their lives, but it also depends mostly on the person.

I think it's simply due to the fact that metal is not mainstream. In most countries, you can't just turn on the radio and hear metal bands or walk into any music store and find metal CDs. You have to do your own research to learn about bands and seek out their music.

This means that metal fans, by default, are required to be more invested in their music.

Written by Hexenmeister on 20.10.2009 at 05:09

I think it's simply due to the fact that metal is not mainstream. In most countries, you can't just turn on the radio and hear metal bands or walk into any music store and find metal CDs. You have to do your own research to learn about bands and seek out their music.

This means that metal fans, by default, are required to be more invested in their music.

Yes, I agree. There is a great deal of personal investment by seeking out the bands that aren't easily accessible. from there its like you open a pandoras box.

These threads about how metal fans are different from others are stupid imo

Well, no negative too much criticism from me, I only think like if a music fan is extremely into and infatuated love dance music...and you know what, there more subgenre in dance or techno music than metal atm, if you search in music.download.com , and well a lot of metalheads who are not devoted to much on metal exploration.

No we are not differen compared to RnB, Rap, Techno, House, Drum And Bass, Americana, Blues, Jazz, Classical music fans. They are as much into their music as we are into ours.

I agree with Hexenmeister, to be a devoted metalhead you have to search to find the music, you cant just turn on some radio like a little bitch

We are a bit different actually... stronger necks.

Written by Guest on 20.10.2009 at 04:30

Metal fans, in contrast to fans of other styles of music, seem to be the most serious and devoted to the genre. I see that metal music is very versatile and can invoke a variety of emotions combined with creative technicalities that end up having a very profound effect upon the listener. What are your thoughts?

Please, please, please!; go and learn about other styles of music before making comments like that!

There are a lot, a LOT of metalheads that would never bother to dig too deep into the genre's history or undergound, and are content with whatever sounds energetic, angsty, and easily approachable. There are also of course very devoted fans of the genre in it's entirety, but this dichotomy probably exists in every music genre.

Its because metal is a lifestyle, not just music

No really, I haven't seen anyone into any other style thats as diehard as true metal fans is all im saying. im not embarrassed nor feel ignorant for saying so. deal with it.

That would mean metal is somehow different from other music.

It isn't. It's just another genre.

Metal fans think they are different than fans of other musical genres because they desperately want to believe they are somehow superior to fans of other musical genres.

Written by Guest on 23.10.2009 at 04:43

No really, I haven't seen anyone into any other style thats as diehard as true metal fans is all im saying. im not embarrassed nor feel ignorant for saying so. deal with it.

Just for the sake of good discussion...I live with hardcore fans of 'true rap', and I can say from firsthand experience that fans of other genres of music can have the same zeal and devotion to their music as metal fans do. While metal can be a lifestyle to some, my roommate would definitely consider rap to be his lifestyle. That's all he's about, and that's what he debates with his friends about most of the time. The same is true for fans of oldschool punk music, or truly independent college rock, or any other actual fans of music I've met. We're not the only ones that have to do our homework to follow our tastes, is what I'm saying.

Written by BitterCOld on 23.10.2009 at 09:24

Metal fans think they are different than fans of other musical genres because they desperately want to believe they are somehow superior to fans of other musical genres.

sadly in reality, pop fans can do equally crazy stuff if not crazier... People should watch those random documentaries. Me and my gf watched one of Britney and the fans in the documentary sound totally deranged lol (just like some metal fans I'm sure)

Written by BitterCOld on 23.10.2009 at 09:24

Metal fans think they are different than fans of other musical genres because they desperately want to believe they are somehow superior to fans of other musical genres.

HAHAHAAHHAHAHAH

Written by BitterCOld on 23.10.2009 at 09:24

Metal fans think they are different than fans of other musical genres because they desperately want to believe they are somehow superior to fans of other musical genres.

Metal fans are different - I'm unaware of any other music genre where the fans partake in ostentatious discussions about themselves being different...like the topic at hand.

Written by Doc G. on 23.10.2009 at 11:35

Written by BitterCOld on 23.10.2009 at 09:24

Metal fans think they are different than fans of other musical genres because they desperately want to believe they are somehow superior to fans of other musical genres.

Metal fans are different - I'm unaware of any other music genre where the fans partake in ostentatious discussions about themselves being different...like the topic at hand.

i'm sure if you trolled INDIEROCKSTORM or PUNK-ANUS they'd be equally self congratulatory/mastubatory. if anything, i think the indie rock guys (think Jack Black's character in High Fidelity) are the worst... i used to loathe going to the local indy record store because of them.

Written by bard on 21.10.2009 at 07:12

There are a lot, a LOT of metalheads that would never bother to dig too deep into the genre's history or undergound, and are content with whatever sounds energetic, angsty, and easily approachable. There are also of course very devoted fans of the genre in it's entirety, but this dichotomy probably exists in every music genre.

Thank you for saying what I was thinking... But way better than what I could have written
I totally agree with you. We're not different from the others.

Seriously, who isn't bored of this shit about metalheads being the best people?

Written by Elio on 23.10.2009 at 19:41

Seriously, who isn't bored of this shit about metalheads being the best people?

I'm not bored of it, it's highly entertaining and a nice boost to my ego to read about how much better I am than the rest of the world, who are beneath me because I like heavy metal.

You can stop wasting your time, Elio

I believe that people who listen to metal are more involved with the music personally. Almost everyone of you have some instrument that can be used in some type of metal and your were more than likely inspired by metal to play it. Matter of fact almost any instrument can be used in metal. People who listen to what may be called more mainstream like pop or rap are not usually gonna own a synthesizer or feel the need to learn a musical instrument to play their favorite repetitive beats. Granted that rap is more revolved on the lyrics and thats fine and dandy. The fans are more instrumentally involved which means they put in alot more personal time into metal music. Its all about the relation to your life and how you can incorpirate it besides just listening.

I think it's quite normal and healthy to feel good about oneself. A bit of self-deception can do wonders!

That said: Marcel, Dane and OldBitterCraig (and Jonnz, I guess!) said everyting I wanted to say, and were quite correct. A bit of hubris and narcissism is good, but seriously - get a grip, and look outside the window for once.

Because metal is different from other music & not just music

Written by jollygreen on 25.10.2009 at 05:39

Almost everyone of you have some instrument that can be used in some type of metal and your were more than likely inspired by metal to play it.

What a weird statement this is. Most people that are totally into metal and are totally devoted to it don't play an instrument at all. Most die hard metallers I know have never touched an instrument in their lives.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 30.10.2009 at 17:06

Written by jollygreen on 25.10.2009 at 05:39

Almost everyone of you have some instrument that can be used in some type of metal and your were more than likely inspired by metal to play it.

What a weird statement this is. Most people that are totally into metal and are totally devoted to it don't play an instrument at all. Most die hard metallers I know have never touched an instrument in their lives.

It's the opposite for me. Most people I know or have met that are really into metal play an instrument (or lie about it).

Written by -Soulreaper- on 30.10.2009 at 17:37

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 30.10.2009 at 17:06

Written by jollygreen on 25.10.2009 at 05:39

Almost everyone of you have some instrument that can be used in some type of metal and your were more than likely inspired by metal to play it.

What a weird statement this is. Most people that are totally into metal and are totally devoted to it don't play an instrument at all. Most die hard metallers I know have never touched an instrument in their lives.

It's the opposite for me. Most people I know or have met that are really into metal play an instrument (or lie about it).

Maybe at most 45% of all metalheads play an instrument then I think.
But to state that almost all metallers play one (like the girl I quoted said) is of course an overexaggeration.

Imo less metallers play an instrument than that rapfans rap.