His kinda right in some places, but I disagree with him in some others.
Like the lyrics, he says that metal bands should only sing about fantasy stuff, and not reality, or blood/gore. A lot of Thrash Metal bands sing about politics, war etc. And needless to say that almost all Death Metal is about senseless killing and violence.

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I think metal is mostly about the instrument lineup of guitars, drums, bass, vocals. That being said, obviously there are bands like that that aren't metal, and some bands that're metal that don't have that full lineup (although very few... all I can think of right now is OM and I think Horna at one point didn't have a bassist).
 
Then there's that embrace of the taboo, the embrace of the powerful (powerful in a Negative way, powerful in a positive way, depends on the genre). The first metal song ever written (in my opinion, the song Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath) was about the occult... and it was a great song too. It's like the music has the goal to not belong, to not be wanted by society. I dunno. I'm sorta spitballing at 3 in the Morning, but that's sorta the way I see it.
 
About how it sounds...
I'm usually good with words (or at least I consider myself to be) but I can't quite put my finger on it. I'd say the guitars are pretty much always dominant, and oh yeah, instrumentation is MUCH more important for Heavy Metal than pop music. Pop music is about lyrics and the Voice of the singer, but you can take a metal band like Tool and say, 'gee, that vocalist is great but those drums are fucking amazing!' or look at the guitarists of Metallica or something.
 
But I can see from earlier posts on the forum that everyone has their opinions on what metal is and what bands are metal... I think even the biggest poser bands are metal... just bad metal.
 
I don't like them posers. Good thing there aren't too many on SOM.
Any thoughts on what I just said there? I'm going to bed now, but I'd like to converse wit chu guys.

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I do album art for bands! Send me a Message or email [email protected] for more info. My website: http://curtisbotham.weebly.com/

all I gotta say about this is metal is metal... It's just heavy and everyone knows what it is. The fellowship and comraderie that go along with the genre is as much a part of the music as the sound is. There is no other form of music that is so close knit as Heavy Metal is, I get Random people that'll complement me on my Hypocrisy shirt, and in turn if I happen to see someone wearin a good band shirt, I'm obliged to compliment them on their good taste in music. Anyway, I think the people are what makes metal "metal" if that makes any sense

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Shit yeah!... Shit no, No One likes shit!

But see, that's the thing, not everybody DOES know what it is. Everybody has different perception on what metal is and some people's perceptions are, to put it simply, idiotic. If everybody knew what it was then this thread never would have existed.




I think that's more because thrash draws more from punk than any other subgenre of metal, and those lyrical themes are a common staple of punk music. Metal, in its purest and truest essence, is blatant escapism. It is a fantasy, a whole new world.

(note that I'm not ragging on thrash, I love it just as much as the next guy)

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If you are a false, don't entry, or you'll be burned and died!

yes there is, but Gorgoroth is Extreme metal.  Whereas Deep Purple was one of the founding bands of metal in the early days.

There is also a lot of difference between Rush and Bill Haily and the comets, but both are still rock.

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I AM GRANDFATHER METAL!!!
and I cant wait to buy Slayers "50 years of AGGRESSION"
...when it comes out in 2030.

I agree about  Metal being about escapism.  It isnt only in the lyrics but in the beat.  I get an almost euphoric release from just listening to it and feeling the driving beat.  It is almost pure theropy.
A long bad day at work?  Drive home listening to Raining Blood!  Got to get out of my work mindset or my kids acting like little idiots?  Listen to "I SAW your Mommy".  ***note: that song also helps when my beautiful gorgeous wife is a wicked witch.  ***

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I AM GRANDFATHER METAL!!!
and I cant wait to buy Slayers "50 years of AGGRESSION"
...when it comes out in 2030.

And whitedragon... I do listen to more than just metal. Whether it be
classical, folk, trance/techno, ambient, among others. I just Hate mainstream music today because it is soulless. cheap wedding dresses

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Metal is heavy, riff-based rock. All you need is some kind of Distorted, electric, stringed instrument (preferably an electric guitar) and drums. An extra bass guitar and an extra rhythm guitar are highly common and recommended.

That's about it. I have never thought of a band as not metal based on lyrics or image (although I still don't get the "emo metal" genre tag =) ).

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Metal is heavy, riff-based rock. All you need is some kind of Distorted, electric, stringed instrument (preferably an electric guitar) and drums. An extra bass guitar and an extra rhythm guitar are highly common and recommended.

That's about it. I have never thought of a band as not metal based on lyrics or image (although I still don't get the "emo metal" genre tag =) ).

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I disagree strongly here and I don't feel that metal is so simple as to be just 'heavier rock'. And what do you mean by riff-based? Any band with a guitarist in it is going to be riff-based. Blue Cheer, The Beatles, Rolling Stones are all riff-based. Same with blues guitarists from the 20s. Kraftwerk, in their debut album, has a song with a wild fast guitar solo with drums, but that debut album is the furthest thing from metal you can imagine.
I think metal has a lot to do with a sense of pure dynamicism and Power that comes from the way the riffs are written and composed. No matter what the genre, metal brings a heavy Kick whether it's slow as Hell (Sunn O))), Mournful Congregation), or insanely fast (Hellwitch). Escapism is an important factor too--and I don't just mean singing about dragons in Far off lands, but to have an atmosphere that embraces Power and heaviness and themes of taboo, as I said in my two-year-old post back there. Metal has a Mood and tone and attitude and everything else that other genres just don't have.

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I do album art for bands! Send me a Message or email [email protected] for more info. My website: http://curtisbotham.weebly.com/