In my opinion music is More important. I know same bands, I love, even if I don't like teir lyrics (Neuraxis), even if they're actually haven't any lyrics !!! (early Obituary)
From the other side, even best lyrics cannot make bad music better.

Ironically, I'm writing metal lyrics myself - you Can find some of them on band Dragon site (Fallen Angel album)

(actually I'm working on a Apocalypse situated, semi-Satanic cencept project)

For me lyrics are very important, I always read'em and try to understand, interprete them.
Good lyrics can add a lot to good music

But, Again, music rules this whole business

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Music comes first, for me, but I love good lyrics. My current favourite is Combustion by Meshuggah;
"Human voracity delineated, the demons in us all by fumes portrayed."

So I like to have a balance of both, ideally.

However, I love bands like Rammstein (I don't speak German) and Nile (I can only hear half the words properly. :D )

As most of you said the balance is very important in a song.But if i had to choose between good music and good lyrics i would choose the lyrics.For me this is metal.Not some pointless shouting but something with deeper meaning that will educate someone and make HIM think about the troubles Humanity,nature or anyone else faces.

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oh he ought to be an admiral, a sultan, or a King
And to his praises we shall always sing
Look what he has done for us, he's filled us up with cheer
Lord bless Cha

While both are important there are songs that I don't really care for musically but the lyrics are moving and the same can be said about music but overall I think it is triangulation between the actual artists, lyrics, music.

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Well i like to listen to the lyrics when i can understand them[grindcore GRRR],and my favourite lyrics are the song Bulldozer,by Machinehead.
That or Like Fire by Bloodbath.And i really like the story-like lyrics in Amon Amarth songs.
Both are important,but alot of times i just get my music through good guitarist,and kinda drift out on everything else[example-The Fire And The Fury,first song i heard by Firewind and i figured it was just a guitarist,but a good one so i looked up more songs now i love the vocalist.And i downloaded faulty Wintersun songs that were instrumental only once,so i kept those until i figured out their was a vocalist ]

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Bulldozer! "Somebody told me I should do what they told me - There's a Hole in that plan and I'm tearing it down." *highfive* Great drum fill to open as well!

Yay you know the lyrics!
 
I love when he says "Bulldozer crushes ALL"
its so empowering

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for me music is much more important than lyrics, although when it is combined with good lyrics that inspire me and reflect my own views it's even better!!!
but there are cases where the lyrics talk about nonsense or about political views that i don't agree with.so if i paid more attention to lyrics i would have to reject all those bands that are against my beliefs even if their music was awesome!
not to mention that "stupid" lyrics are very funny and intriguing!

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xentrix86

Yeah i dont really get into political/religious music either

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I think the lyrics are more important. But the music catches my ear first.

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So why then, has all my life made no sound? And are your eyes closing even now?