Well, I listen to stuff like Blut Aus Nord and i've just been getting into Nile a bit, myself. The first is deeefinitely neither mainstream nor "soft" metal. However, i do like a variety of genres...the few female friends i have who like metal generally go for Power Metal and i suppose what you'd call the "softer" or less "true metal" styles, tho.

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It's a softer kind of metal but it's defenatly true metal.

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what do people refer to as not being true metal, then?

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Nu-metal and most Metalcore bands.

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Oh, pfffft. everyone knows those aren't even close to being metal.

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This makes me wonder about how you define "true Metal".

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http://www.metalmartyr.com/files/2009/09/metalintro.png

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I'm actually lucky enough to be dating a girl who is really into almost all styles of metal. Truth be told she gave me an extra Push into the whole genre. She's still introducing me to bands I've never heard of.

I'm not going to say it's a strictly "guy" thing, but look around when you go to concerts. The male to female ratio is pretty extreme.

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A Hopi girl, who's a friend of mine introduced me to Goatwhore and Meshuggah. So I doubt she was really into mainstream stuff, then again... She was a slipknot and Murderdolls fan...

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