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For decades, the stigma around metal music has led to many people to believe that metal music is satanic or the root of all evil, can such high energy music provide somebody‘s mind inner peace or comfort? Can it build community or understanding amongst those who listen or are engaged with the subculture?
I interviewed one of my friends Aryan, who is heavily immersed in the metal genre and subculture, he has been a fan of System of a Down for quite awhile now, and considers them to be his favourite band. I asked him some questions about his connection to the metal genre and how he finds enjoyment from it.
Q: Do you think that metal has been demonised by the mainstream media?
A: Yes definitely, not just in terms of the mainstream media but historically it’s been viewed as satanic due to the satanic panic in the 80s people who didn’t understand the genre and judged it a lot. I don’t think it’s a recent thing that’s been happening. The impact of the satanic panic has left a negative perception of metal music, the legacy of this era continues to live on in the present.
Q: Can such an intense, heavy genre be therapeutic in a way?
A: Yes definitely, it can be therapeutic but I also think it can be cathartic in a way by allowing people to express their negative emotions, hearing violent bor disturbing lyrics, harsh sounds, can allow your mind to find release and to feel these messed up thoughts as a way of coping, this is true for punk music as well.
Q: Do you find comfort in this genre? If not why might someone find comfort in it?
A: Yes I do find comfort listening to this genre its one of my favourites, I find that i can express myself through the music i listen to tons of it daily, i feel like it’s super cathartic for me as it touches on sensitive subjects unlike a lot of other genres, similar to other alternative genres that discuss these heavy topics unlike mainstream genres, its a lot more visceral, raw and real, its a refuge for people who don’t want to conform to one way of being, a way of detaching from the mainstream and finding comfort in that, a way of rejecting the things about society that you don’t like in a musical way if that makes sense, its artists and bands saying to listeners “hey you aren’t alone” it makes people feel heard.
Q: Can people find connection through this genre?
A: I do think people can find connection through the genre because it is a community when it comes to genres like this, everyone likes rap or hip hop music, it has a cult following similar to metal but metal isn’t in the mainstream like rap is, almost everyone loves rap, I like certain artists, but metal isn’t as mainstream or widely accepted as rap is in the modern era.
I also interviewed Dr Rachel McCarthy, a musicologist at Goldsmiths who researches the effects 21st century popular music and politics has on people. I asked her the same questions about how might metal music help people find belonging or comfort In a world where alternative genres are often judged.
Q: Do you think that metal has been demonised by the mainstream media?
A: I think that it has definitely been demonised by the mainstream media, because on the exterior, society perceives the genre as extreme, by the way certain members of the subculture dress, and its adopted fashion trends, also the harsh, loud music that was born out of the subculture definitely was a factor for it being demonised, especially since people part of this subculture dress outside the norm, alongside the era of the satanic panic instilling that ignorance.
Q: Can such an intense, heavy genre be therapeutic in a way?
A: It can help to comfort people mentally, it can also create a state that is out of the ordinary, it could create a meditative state, I’d even go far as to say that it is cathartic in a way, hearing all these raw screaming vocals can illicit a feeling of relief or comfort.
Q: Do you find comfort in heavy genres such as metal? Or why might someone find comfort in it?
A: Personally I don’t find comfort in these types of genres as I haven’t spent much time listening , I personally find comfort in much slower genres, with low energy rather than high, however I understand how an individual may resonate with heavy music such as metal, as I said previously i believe that certain people who find comfort in catharsis may find violent sounding music to balance their thoughts, or find acceptance within themselves.
Q: Can people find connection through this genre?
A: It can be a strong promoter of community, through the values they share or the fashion they wear, it creates a stable and safe environment for expression. Seeing artists or bands with friends can strengthen bonds. Listening to metal can be a deliberate act, a statement of expression, music from these genres are not typically in the charts/mainstream. It’s not going to be easy to get into, that’s why people who are into it have such strong bonds with one another within the community.
A study from The University of Queensland founded that the heavy genre, rather than suggesting it outright causes anger issues, serves as an outlet to better manage anger and negative emotion, a better way to process anger if you will. The metal genre can serve as a cathartic way of releasing anger or sadness. However as we all know music is subjective and so is art as a whole and people’s experiences differ, what they use to cope, what draws them to peace. Metal can be comforting to one group of people, yet it can be disturbing to other groups.
So, can metal music calm minds? Well, it depends on which mind we’re talking about, certain minds crave catharsis whereas others crave peace to calm down.