I often encounter people who either see me listening to metal, hear me talking about it, wearing a shirt etc. and have nothing better to say than something ignorant like "all that metal music sucks" or metal is shit etc., you can fill in the gaps.

Anyway I think this is one of the universal annoyances metalheads have to suffer at least every now and then. And I've noticed that everybody seems to have a different approach to responding. Some people get into music taste bitching battles, some call each other gay, some even claim that metal takes more talent to play than other genres. I'm at the stage where I just ignore it and let them get whatever dumb remarks they want to off their chest.

So what do you guys do when people say this to you?

I start a flame war on the internet, of course.

Written by vezzy on 06.02.2012 at 19:53

I start a flame war on the internet, of course.

Haha There's a fine art to trolling.

Written by Irritable Ted on 06.02.2012 at 20:34

I'm old enough now not to give a shit what other people think.

I can fully understand why people don't like it. It can be difficult to listen to at times. Metal has some really extreme sounds that some people don't see as music at all. Tastes are so different.

I hate all rap, RnB and autotune pop, but more people currently listen to that than metal, so we are in the minority. I like being in the minority. If metal was commercially very popular every band would sound like DragonForce or Nickleback. Now you wouldn't want that would you?

There's plenty of shitty commercial metal bands out there already. Bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Dragonfore like you said, Disturbed, Slipknot etc. are all massively popular. Pretty much any form of music can be diluted to become commercially popular. Just look at what Dimmu Borgir did to commercialise black metal. I bet nobody ever imagined a genre like that could be made into a 'pop' format, but it can. Every genre has a minority of fans that are in the minority because they're passionate enough about music to find the better, less well known stuff. Music isn't a great passion for everyone so they want to listen to easily accessible stuff. That's my theory on it anyway.

I've had people ask what kind of 'music' I listen to, literally doing the air quotes, or saying music in a weird way. I don't declare my stuff to be better than their autotuned, no flow rap / electronica crap, so I just keep quiet.

I don't play anything on speakers with harsh vocals out of respect, because you gotta be accustomed to metal before you can take that.

However, I love working out at the gym at this Elliptical which is adjacent to another Elliptical to the right and a treadmill on the other side and blasting songs like Slaves Shall Serve & Nemesis. No one stays too long and I don't have to worry if I'm offending someone with my stink.

I usually just ignore it, knowing that they probably have no understanding of it. Example; Person: "The music you like sucks, it's just a bunch of faggots playing guitar really loud." Me:"....(whatever)"

Who cares what other people think. I never get offended when a non metal listener says something ignorant about metal. I used to think it all sounded the same too, before I got heavily into it. The most I'll do is try to educate the person a little bit. It sounds lame, but I'd rather not a fake person listening to what I call metal anyways.

Written by slinx on 07.02.2012 at 02:53
I don't declare my stuff to be better than their autotuned, no flow rap / electronica crap, so I just keep quiet.

Epic self-contradiction.

I'd much rather listen to some electronica than bear Bodom (the new stuff).

Written by vezzy on 07.02.2012 at 20:16

Written by slinx on 07.02.2012 at 02:53
I don't declare my stuff to be better than their autotuned, no flow rap / electronica crap, so I just keep quiet.

Epic self-contradiction.

I'd much rather listen to some electronica than bear Bodom (the new stuff).

I missed one word there apparently. I don't publicly declare my stuff to be better, nor do I publicly declare their choice of music to be crap. As opinion is a private matter.

Doesn't mean I don't think it's crap privately.

If I can't get them to listen to classic rock like Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, or Jimi Hendrix, then there's no point of even showing them them anything remotely heavier.

As for new Bodom, I'm sure any electronica can beat that.

I was pretty lucky to be surrounded with people who didn't question my musical taste back in highschool, they kinda just rolled with it except for the first couple of months, since, naturally, no one gets to see their first non-poseur (meaning: someone who actually listens to metal instead of simply wearing shirts for shock factor) metalhead before highschool (and some not even then). Now, when I just got into college, I'm surviving those first couple of months of highschool but a bit worse, since most people come from rural surroundings (rural Serbia is as rural as it gets) so they aren't very versed on alternative subcultures, even on a level as primitive as my town boasts of.

So I get a lot of weird looks when I sport the occasional tee, I get asked is it true I listen to that rock stuff because, well, I'm so sweet and normal! I also get a lot of compliments (some of which clearly meant as backside insults) on my "quirky" dress, which is as toned down as it can possibly get due to laziness and limited budget (wonder how everyone would react if I wore accurate (neo-)victorian or similar stuff I lust over), and everyone wonders constantly about why I'm not into "popular" music (guess "I'm simply not into it?" doesn't cut it). Guess my general response when someone questions my taste in music is "oh well, everyone is different", or "I've been listening to it for years, it's my second skin".

So yeah, this sounds a little teen angsty, but I can't believe that in the twenty first century people still don't get that metalheads are your average folks. The best example I can remember now is from a month ago, when an intelligent girl joined the discussion about an open air show I had attended: "oh yeah, I passed by that show, I stood by for some time, but the music wasn't really music, and the band looked like they're on drugs, they really scared me". So I pondered on it a bit - there weren't a lot of stage antics because it was freezing cold, the band has a trad metal style, music-wise and clothing-wise, nothing too scary, and they're all clean and sober guys... I just stood there puzzled, wondering what she meant. And then I remembered, the only thing they did on stage really - headbanging. So I asked her and she said:"ya, that was it, why do you people do that, are you on drugs or something?" and I just couldn't believe it. I mean, it's just headbanging. Doesn't look intimidating at all to me.

Written by slinx on 07.02.2012 at 20:35

If I can't get them to listen to classic rock like Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, or Jimi Hendrix, then there's no point of even showing them them anything remotely heavier.

You won't get me to listen to those bands, either. Well, maybe a bit of Hendrix, but I won't really enjoy it. Give me industrial black metal, funeral doom or drone any day, though.

Nobody really insults my music taste. I guess I keep good company, but it probably also has to do with the fact that I'm (more or less) an adult now. Nobody walks up to you after a University lecture and says your Swans T-shirt is gay. I guess it might have been more common in high school or something, but I really don't remember getting much crap for being a metalhead even back then. Metal has been pretty mainstream here for two decades now, though. (I'm not really a metalhead anymore, anyway, and most people have no idea about my music taste apart from the rather limited selection of band shirts I regularly wear.)

If they did insult me, I guess I'd roll my eyes and make them look like the ill-mannered douchebags they are. Whether it's about music, politics, studying or appearance, the average semi-grown-up realizes you don't get far if you go around insulting random people in public.

And what about when metalheads insult other metalhead's choice of music, like on this website. Maybe I like Dimmu Borgir or the latest from COB. Maybe I like the new In Flames album or the band, Killswitch Engage. But it seems on this website, if I do, I'm merely a poser, a fake. My metalhead status is based on how extreme my metal actually is. If I listen to "water down, sell out" bands such as these, I'm not even really into metal.

Just a thought. Maybe metal lovers should stick together a bit, stop insulting each other and their tastes. We're in the minority as it is. Even the supposed popular metal bands are far from being as popular as say rap/dance music.

In answer to your question, most people don't know I'm into metal. I don't look like a metalhead. I run my own business and need to look professional. But whenever I can, I listen to metal. I love it, all of it, the popular and not so popular bands. People usually give me strange looks if they find out what I listen to. IF they are willing, I'd love to show them the diversity in the music. But most can't look beyond their own prejudices. That is why I enjoy community sites like this, where I can connect with others who have the same passion for this music. I'm just sometimes a bit concerned by the insulting that takes place here against others and their taste in bands.

I ask them to focus on the instruments (or in some cases computer ), play a song of theirs, then i play a Metal song with not much distortion and then ask which had less repetitions. That works surprisingly well in many cases

Here on Argentina is one of the worst places to listen to metal lol.
I think it is probably because it gets no attention from the media... Chile and Brazil have a huge metal fanbase and they are just next to us (As sad as it sounds, I think it's probably because they have MTV2 and we don't )

I never got insulted by my musical tastes, they just insult the music. When I'm with friends or at work and I'm about to play some music they are like "NONONONO, don't play your satanic music".
But I know what I should play and what not of course I'm not going to blast Behemoth at the office or I would get fired.
I just play commercial stuff and then maybe try to extend their musical tastes a bit with a slightly heavier band... until I'm asked to stop it

Thing is I listen to a lot of music but people just see me as the metal guy. No problem with that though since in fact it is my favorite music style

Written by bitethepain on 08.02.2012 at 01:06

And what about when metalheads insult other metalhead's choice of music

It's a pretty interesting thought. Out of most people my age I know IRL, and even metalheads some five years older than me, I listen to the widest array of bands, especially obscure ones - working for a music webzine has its perks however, when I come here, most stuff discussed is way beyond my interests and I can only take part in intelligent discussions regarding a small area of the vast subgenre map. Most of which is in the more melodic realm. So I know how you feel.

When someone tells me "hey yo, that Kamelot thing is so fuckin' cheesy" when they've heard three songs, two of which are ballads, just have me roll my eyes. Is listening to cheesy music really such a crime? Or lightweight music for that matter? I listen to a fair balance of cheesy and serious music, I don't see it as such a big deal. Or, when they attack my favorite genre, saying "prog is just classless wanking and it's totally cheesy too" - hey, they're entitled to their own opinion, but don't pretend death and black metal aren't ridiculously cheesy too just because they have more growls.

I used to get worked up about it, but now I don't see it as such a big deal, the people who lead "wars for metal" are childish people and should be treated with silence. If anyone belittles me for not listening to extreme metal - it's their fuckin' problem and not mine, my music taste is in constant expansion so they might as well eat their words now if they don't wanna eat them later. Whoever calls you a poseur for liking more commercial bands should really shut their mouth. I used to use that as an insult too and now I regret my childishness. Metal isn't about the amount of band shirts you wear, or the number of CDs you buy, or the number of shows you visit, it's about listening to a lot of metal, and being somewhat critical of what is offered to you ofc. No matter the type of metal it is.

Most people say my music is goat raping satanic blasphemy.

To that I nod.






Naaww, I just recommend them a band thats light, like Demon Hunter or something.

Written by Boxcar Willy on 08.02.2012 at 01:41

Naaww, I just recommend them a band thats light

By the time you're 19, you will have converted at least half a dozen people into metal *memories*
Nowadays I don't care... just trying to show the ones who are already metalheads the vast world of other awesome bands they might have not heard of.

I usually just say whatever, It's what I like. Or, if I'm feeling especially snappy, I may say "really? How many metal songs can you even name?", and I have never gotten a response over 0, and I say something snarky like "Well you must be quite the expert". I don't really care much what people have to say about my music.

Depending on the person, and how I'm feeling I'll respond different ways. Most of the time I'l say something like "Well everyone has a different taste in music." or I'll respond with something along the lines of "It's better than the repetitive pop/rap mainstream music nowadays".

Written by JCJen7 on 08.02.2012 at 02:16

Or, if I'm feeling especially snappy, I may say "really? How many metal songs can you even name?", and I have never gotten a response over 0, and I say something snarky like "Well you must be quite the expert". I don't really care much what people have to say about my music.

I usually do something similar. Ask them why do they think it's bad (with the obvious "it's bunch of noise !" as an answer), then go "O rly ? like what ?" Their silence makes me smile.
But ignoring is the way to go.

I normally just have a condescendingly arrogant response. I might mention that metal tends to be music for freethinkers, not the weak-minded.
Also, I use logic where I can......like, if someone says something negative about the extreme metal sound, I can put forth things like "If there's extremely soft music that exists, logically there must be extremely harsh music." and "If an electric guitar can have a heavily distorted tone, why can't vocals do the same? are vocals not an instrument?"

I just ignore them usually and go back to listening to slayer or whatever i was listening to its not worth the head ache

Most of the time i really dont give a shit what people say. Ill usually just say "whatever" or "fuck off". But it can be enjoyable to get into an argument with people sometimes. I just dont like it when people acuse me of being a screamo listener. When people ask me what i listen to i say metal, and alot of them say "oh you mean that stupid screaming crap?" Then comes the "fuck that shit man, its for pussys, i listen to 80s thrash" or some other thing. But for the most part i dont really give two shits.

Sacrifice the nonbeliever.

Written by Guest on 08.02.2012 at 06:35
When people ask me what i listen to i say metal, and alot of them say "oh you mean that stupid screaming crap?" Then comes the "fuck that shit man, its for pussys, i listen to 80s thrash" or some other thing.

The thing that I find funny and more than a little ironic, is that some of the biggest posers in metal fandom come from that demographic.

@Cill94: Zombies (...Ate My Neighbours in the US) is an awesome game! <3

Written by Angelic Storm on 08.02.2012 at 10:10

Written by Guest on 08.02.2012 at 06:35
When people ask me what i listen to i say metal, and alot of them say "oh you mean that stupid screaming crap?" Then comes the "fuck that shit man, its for pussys, i listen to 80s thrash" or some other thing.

The thing that I find funny and more than a little ironic, is that some of the biggest posers in metal fandom come from that demographic.

@Cill94: Zombies (...Ate My Neighbours in the US) is an awesome game! <3

Why dont you answer : What"screaming shit" are you talking about ? Whitney Houston ?

what MoraWintersoul said earlier reminded me of this:

in the first few months of highschool people were avoiding me, not talking to me/were afraid of me cuz they thought i was in some kind of satanic sect...why? some girl noticed (probably heard the harsh vocals while walking by) that i listened to metal on my headphones (i always did that on the breaks between classes...and often in class too xD) and told her friends that i'm a satanist and so rumors started spreading...i have to add here that i went to medicine school and round here only the "good" kids go to study medicine and someone "like me" had never been on that school before (yes that's how primitive this country is)...

Adn the thing about headbanging=being on drugs seems to be general knowledge among the people here on the balkan, i get that on almost daily basis, people saying to me "aww you're listening to those drug addicts again!?" cuz the only 2 things that "normal" people notice about metal is 1:harsh vocals and 2:headbanging and if i respond with the words they aren't drug addicts or they aren't taking any drugs or something like that people (always..i mean every single fucking time) say: are you kidding me? look at them/listen to them (depending on whether i'm watching a video from some live show (usually at work when i have nothing better to do ) or just listening to music) you GOTTA be on drugs in order to do things like THAT! ...and i always think how stupid are these people!?

I have 2 lists in my pocket:
1. A list of amazing and powerful Metal songs that will prove them wrong.
2. A list in where I put down the names of people that aren't convinced by my first list. I call it "The List."

There really is no reason to argue with the ignorant. It's a waste of time.

I usually don't give attention if they say "you muisc is for crazy peoples" or "worthless noise". In these times I try to explain the differences between the modern metal bands and the whole genre. The people don't want to believe that there's a massive number of metal/rock genres, they just know slipnot horrible sound and already label metal as worthless screams and noise. In these times I try to make them listen to simple and easy, like Judas Priest's "Angel", Sonata Arctica's "Shy" or Angra's "Bleeding Heart". These slow and emotionally songs can at least make then think a bit different. I also compare these songs to extreme things like Napalm Death and early Bathory, for a little more effect. Few of them understand this tiny explanation (or at least try). If they still insist with prejudice, I calmly say things like... "Ok! So this is just nonsence scream, right?So this is satanic music? Then ask me: You can scream better? Metal is mentally retarded because you put your personal thoughts ahead of trying to understand the lyrics, the history or the artist of metal music? Try to convince me that metal is satanic, cite just one satanic music your know. Rammstein??? You think they are satanic just because of their stage presence? You have a limited mind, that's all. Now my turn: How many groups funk carioca has influenced? Where a music that implies that woman is just a sexual object or that everyone should be a thief is better? How many albums these groups have sould? Oh, I forgot! Tey don't record albums!! So why they are better?(everyone here in brazil listen to "funk carioca"... You surely don't know it, and don't want to..).