Why do you listen to Metal?

OK, so I've been thinking about a lot of random shit recently, particularly existential issues and something that sprang into my mind was the question, why do I listen to so much metal? What is it that I get out of it that I don't get out of other genres of music? It's not that I don't listen to other types of music, but it is and has been for over forty years, the centre of my musical existence and the point to which I always return. 

My question therefore is "Why do you think you listen to so much metal?"

(I know I haven't answered my own question, but I will, I'm still pondering upon it).

I think on reflection that although it has never been my exclusive genre of music to listen to, it is clear that metal has consistently been the genre I return to after any foray into other styles.  I listen to electronic, pop, hip-hop, classical, jazz and some folk music and for a period of about 2 years in the late nineties was not listening to any metal at all.

I think the thing that always brought me back to it was the fact that it was such a massive part of my growing up as a teenager and therefore represents vital importance in terms of nostalgia and a key period of my life.  I recall I was interested in a couple of tracks (Gary Moore Over the Hills and Far Away seems to be one I recall) that were borderline metal on the music tv channels and so knowing my cousin had a decent collection of albums I borrowed those and never looked back.

The underlying rationale in getting into metal though was because everyone else in my peer circle at the time had started to listen to indie bands like Inspiral Carpets and the Stone Roses and like sheep everyone in school went down the same path.  A couple of us "rebelled" and went down our own path of non-conformity as we saw it then and as such I have always felt like metal is somehow personal to me as a genre, like it is mine oddly.  

I can't say if I will always listen to metal (my Dad fell out of love with music 30 years ago - he donated his classical music collection to me - and has never bothered to return), but it has brought much value to my life at various points and most definitely has shaped me as a person.

I think I just like to be challenged by my music. I've never been a fan of popular music. I need something that takes me outside of my comfort zone in a cerebral way. It's not just metal either. I've gone through obsessive phases with a whole bunch of different styles from ambient to trip hop to jazz fusion to progressive rock to techno. But metal is the style I come back to the most often & I feel its appeal is largely due to its general extremity & the unspoken comradery I feel with other obsessive fans around the world. It's this element more than any other that keeps me focused on metal when I get just as much enjoyment out of electronic dance music or ambient music. I mean you just don't get the same level of interaction on a jazz website & connecting with other people adds an additional element to my enjoyment of music.

I didn't mean to imply that any of us only listen to Metal, but I'm interested as to why we keep returning to it, as our involvement in MA suggests that we have more than a passing affection for it. I know numerous people who have been metalheads who just lost interest, so presumably it doesn't speak to something in those people the same way it does with us. Personally, I am a massive delta blues, prog rock, punk and post-punk, psychedelic rock, folk, ritual ambient and (don't laugh) opera fan (that's why I despise symphonic metal, it really doesn't stack up against the real thing). Yet it's here I spend my time, wanting to talk about metal not those other styles.

It's an interesting point you make Daniel about the cerebral side appealing to you because, for me,  it's the primal emotional punch that really hooks me. When I listen to metal I want to FEEL it. I think that's why I prefer genres like funeral doom and black metal, cavernous death metal and neck-breaking thrash over the more technical stuff. I tend to do my cerebral exercises whilst reading. In fact, now I think about it, it's probably true of most music I listen to - I dislike jazz immensely, but I adore New Orleans jazz, I love the old blues guys like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, but blues rock often leaves me cold as it just feels soulless and too 'clever' next to those guys.

I think a point most of us do agree on is that metal is an outsider's music. I am one contrary motherfucker (just ask my old man) and I've always seen metal as a "fuck you" to the norm. That is why I hate any attempt at commercialisation of metal. The worst crime any musician can commit musically, in my view, is insincerity and although there are (an increasing) number of fakes in the metalverse, I would say less so than in most popular styles of music. 

Also a great point about the camaraderie amongst genuine Metal fans. It's weird, but even though we may have disagreements about the merits of certain aspects of the metal world amongst ourselves, should it be attacked by "outsiders" we all rally round and leap to it's defence like a pack of angry wolves defending their den.

Anyway, whatever our reasons, here we are and here we'll stay!

There's very little doubt that I enjoy the danger in metal & I love the fact that I listen to a style of music that most people find too extreme. The more extreme it becomes, the more I want to like it. It just gives me a rush as I'm generally a happy, calm & relaxed kind of person & the aggression & darkness makes me feel empowered. I also despise things like religion & injustice & metal's fight against those things is an added attraction. As much as I love other styles of music, I can't get enough of music that gives me the experience of a genuinely dark, cryptic or evil atmosphere. If you listen to my techno sets from the 2000's you'll find that my style was built around a similar base only with a significantly druggy element added for good measure.