Happy new year brothers! hope everything come out as you expect!

Hehe okay...

For me, metal is not a subculture, but definitely it's more than just music. Metal is power, strenght, harmony. It's a genre with so much feeling, that you can't just sit and hear it like any other music genre. After 10 seconds I'm moving my head without notice XD
Also, there is something special with the people. The metal fans are very nice with other metal fans. I mean you can make a new friend just becaouse he or she listens the same music than you.

Written by juanopereira on 02.01.2008 at 01:12

Also, there is something special with the people. The metal fans are very nice with other metal fans. I mean you can make a new friend just becaouse he or she listens the same music than you.

That's because they identify themselves with the same subculture and therefore are more likely to interact on a level both appreciate.

Metal isn't a genre tied to a subculture as would be Punk or Goth. In the sense that ok, I can be a metalhead and listen to metal, get some band shirts, long hair and that, but it isn't tied to any ideology. Punk it's very extremist to it (real punk of course, not that shitty punk rock/pop), and Goth has some particular ideas that are particular to them, not so extremist, but are there.

But for Metal what? Open mindness for being from a minority? No, because most of them are just so close minded to the music they already hear, metal, and don't want to exit from there. I mean, ok, long hair and that, but apart from the greater love of the music (probably has the most 'loyal' fans of all genres), I couldn't tie Metal with a Subculture.

Written by 4look4rd on 29.12.2007 at 07:14

I have to agree with Dark Cornatus, it totaly depends on the person, and age does matter. I am sure that most people under 20 (including myself) will consider metal as a subculture. However, as people get older I believe that they "merge" into the society, but still listens to metal just for recreation. There is no need in being the outcast for your entire life... Young people take metal really serious (which is a great thing) but most people kind of grow out of because of life factors and maturity, and not because they arent "tr00" anymore.

Of course there are some exceptions, like the 40 years old Swedish guy who is "addicted" to metal, thus he cant get a job other than a dishwasher.

I actually agree with you. In the past year, I find that I've been interacting and conversating much more effectively with those that are not associated with metal at all. I still call it a sub-culture, but that doesn't mean you can't interact with others. I wouldn't have called myself really and 'outcast' though, my social skills have always been okay.

Throughout my life all my friends have been non-metalheads, while I spent all my time reading metal mags, watching metal DVDs, and listening to metal CDs. Wearing band t-shirts and having other well-known characteristics of metalheads doesn't make me part of a sub-culture in my opinion. Before I thought metalheads were somehow unique to any other fans of a musical genre or fans of any other thing really. I realise now that it's completely untrue. We're unique, but then everyone else is just as unique. Heavy metal is something that possibly consumes my life and something that in general changes my outlook on the world, but I can't really define it as a culture. In fact, I'd rather it wasn't defined as that. Isolating yourself in a particular sub-culture is wrong in my opinion, I've always been a fan of multi-culturalism. I'd write more... but late for work!!

Metal is more then just an genre of Music, but I wouldn't call it a sub-culture.This is because when "regular" people see a metalhead, punk, goth, rocker... they can't tell a difference of them(most of them)even thought for us the difference between every one of them(or if you prefer "Us") is enormous. In my opinion Metal is a Sub-Culture within the Sub-Culture of Rock.

Ha! Glad I found this forum. I am actually currently researching on metal; also in relation to subcultural theory.

That it why I need your help in the name of metal! You can find my questionnaire online:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=S9wJt_2fg3S_2fXhcVKYzanw7A_3d_3d

Thanks
a

IMO Metal is subculture indeed. We have each metal genre for its own traits. We have long hair as a style, we have leather clothes for outward appearance, or metal T-shirt. We have Metal show festival and metalhead can gather together to enjoy. Or for example we have Metalstorm as the place to communicate. Not to mention many ideas and conception from metal music affect to us. What I want to say Metal is the subculture for total metalhead or all people who enjoy metal. Subculture only built by the numerous of people. As for concerning individuals of course each person or metalhead is different in life or so on...

There is no BIGGER sub culture on the entire world! Heavy Metal is certainly a Subculture indeed. A culture is something that defines people from the same country....next to it you have different people with different principles and tastes....if this is very distinct and apart and if its a big community then you can talk about a subculture...Its a plain fact. You go to a festival......look around you. What do you think you see? Heavy Metal is A Sub Culture no question about it.

Metalheads seek each other out because they are persons who have the same ideas, intrests and principles about a lot of things. Not all metalheads are the same but we sure do have a lot in common. We always respect each other and feel the same things through music. Its not only just music.. Its the entire vibe around it. Man, its an entire world on its own. Its about emotions, deep rooted feelings, expressing yourself, thinking, listen to music and create things your own. Its like feeling strong together while being apart from the rest.

And ofcourse you live in your own country like all others but the way you are standing in life makes you different if you are metalhead. So thats what you call a subculture.

Also i think it depends on the person. Most people would call someone a metalhead if that person wears bandshirt or has long hair for example. But its rather the question you have to ask yourself. Do i only listen to the music because i like it...or do i feel something more about this. Your a Metalhead when you feel more then just the emotion of the music.....and people who do not feel this can easly say its not an subculture on its own...but they would not know anyway.

Thats my vieuw on it, as a metalhead

I think metal is just music.
Great music, but still just music.

The subculture that forms around it is based on the music, but I can't say that it's the music itself.
So metal is just music, with a lot of other crap related to it.

true metal is just a culture-not a subculture. and if u r not into metal u r not my friend.

MT is a subculture? yeah it is!

Written by [user id=31891] on 17.05.2008 at 10:11

true metal is just a culture-not a subculture. and if u r not into metal u r not my friend.

MT is a subculture? yeah it is!

poor statement eylar, my friend. because each metal band is inspired by a different culture. for example POD and Deicide are two metal bands. but do they have anything similar? just they have the same instruments.
so, you can say that black metal is a cult, because they have many common points as you could see in black metal inner circle. but generaly metal is not counted a subculture.

Written by Hamird on 19.05.2008 at 00:57

Written by [user id=31891] on 17.05.2008 at 10:11

true metal is just a culture-not a subculture. and if u r not into metal u r not my friend.

MT is a subculture? yeah it is!

poor statement eylar, my friend. because each metal band is inspired by a different culture. for example POD and Deicide are two metal bands. but do they have anything similar? just they have the same instruments.
so, you can say that black metal is a cult, because they have many common points as you could see in black metal inner circle. but generaly metal is not counted a subculture.

im agree black metal is subcultur of metal

I think that must be culture cuza when someone be in a some band or be a metaller have other character , also take some point in that music and could change opinion
u can find in every society , when some be a metaller eachperson knows he/she is different in act

More of a community then a sub culture I'd say...

In some cases metal is more than music (in certain Genres). The artists of Norma Evangelium Diaboli and more are expressing just that idea. However, there are places in metal which are even less than "music".

It's a two-sided matter. On the one hand, Metal is definitely a subculture. As Rob Zombie said, "Metal has always been a music of outsiders." This can be explained by just saying that most people listen to pop music or that it's just more accepted everywhere in the world (besides Norway ). So Metal is a subculture or even a counterculture to say pop or rap. Sometimes it's a defiance to the whole fucking world. But on the other hand, probably those are metal fans that made Metal a counterculture 'cause I think not all metal musicians are against other genres of music, but most metal listeners are.

so many ccc-ers who voted for hell yeah.... music is music ccc realize that

yes it is. IMO it's definitely more than just music...
it's not only the appearance or clothing, it's also an ideology and a way of thinking, living, ...
for me metal means: being self-reliant, self-confident, independant, strong, resistant, open-minded, free, unique, DIY,...

There is something we can call a metal subculture. But it would be better to say metal subcultures, cause there are differences among them...but metal is also just a music for those who don't belong to these subcultures.
The situation is the same as in other genres of music ( techno, rap, rock, pop..), if anyone wants to belong to some subculture it must fallow the rules, witch, besides everything else, includes the music that should and should not listen.
But we are always free to listen to and do what we want without depending on any group!

^ Right. I also agree that metal is in some way a subculture. Like written somewhere above, I think it's way beyond just music. Way of thinking, way of acting, self-respect and respect for others, beliefs... But I think most of all, metal is the gathering of cultures.

I don't really see the point of metal being a sub-culture...Just because I like music doesn't mean i'll let it dictate how I dress, act, who i befriend, ect; to me that's just incredibly stupid and pointless. For example just because I like metal doesn't mean i'll go out and buy a crack load of merchandise and only associate with other kids who like metal. I'd much rather be myself then be like my type of music.

I see metal as a subculture, And I think from metal are sub-subcultures. You have the Heavy Metalheads, the Power Metalheads, Death Metalheads etc etc

even if you like every or nearly every subgenre of metal I think most metalheads fall under their specific favourie subgenres sub-subculture

Metal is clearly a subculture.

It has beliefs, customs, costumes, you name it.

Most styles of music are just variants on Anglo-Germanic folk music, like all blues, rock, and country.

Of course that is more than just music. I don't listen to Metal, I live, preach, dream and breathe Metal! I just can't pass a single day without Metal since i was 13 years old, some days i don't sleep even a single hour because im so busy listening,downloading or reading something related to Metal. Metal is a subculture, of course it is my dear brothers and sisters. It's even like a religion with concerts where we go to "pray" or even our Holy Ground that can be the W:O:A.

Written by Metalbound7 on 19.11.2008 at 08:27

Of course that is more than just music. I don't listen to Metal, I live, preach, dream and breathe Metal! I just can't pass a single day without Metal

...what a way to describe it, i guess most of us fit perfectly in what u said...of course it's a subcultre, it's not only music it's way more...there's a bond, a fellowship if u would like to call it so, between metalheads that i sincerely haven't seen somewhere else...it's a lifestyle, beliefs, costumes, etc...i could say music is one of the most important things in every metalhead's live...it brings together ppl from around all over the world that appreciate good music, and have someting in common...the emotions we feel while playing an album or at a gig are beyond listening a simple song...

I also agree that it is a sub-culture and more than just music. There is a whole lot more that goes into being a metalhead. Sure it revolves around the music and that is what brings us all together, but like Metalbound said, you live it, breath it, think about it all the time, and it is just a way of life. Especially for me for at least the last 10 years or longer. Some of my best friends that I consider my family have all been into metal. In the US or at least where I live it is rare to come across another metal head, but when you do meet one there is no doubt that you guys are going to be friends and hang out and drink and listen to some heavy fucking metal. It is just how it goes because it sets you apart from the rest of the populous. Plus I find it hard to get along with other people that dont at least have some of the same interests as I do. And metal is one of those big interests. Anyways, that is my raving for the morning.

Written by Norm on 17.06.2009 at 05:25

Of course Metal is more than just music. Any tr00 metalhead would tell you the same thing.
Metal is a lifestyle, and a mentality that needs to be appreciated and respected each and every day of your life.

fuck no man.... metal is music... you like it to be your life style, the way you live. and people with other music taste like it to and dress for example in order to what their music says. but no fuckin way! metal is music. as pop. exactly. they have music and lyrics. nothing more. the only difference with SOME other styles is that the lyrics are more thought provoking (only from some bands)...