What is it about heavy metal that grabs us by the face, and never lets go?

I like listening to it and enjoyed playing it with other musicians. If I wouldn't of had that outlet as a youngster and even later on in middle age for that matter, I'd a snapped and done something stupid.

The best coping mechanism my life ever had....period

 [quote="James B."]I like listening to it and enjoyed playing it with other musicians.  If I wouldn't of had that outlet as a youngster and even later on in middle age for that matter, I'd a snapped and done something stupid.

The best coping mechanism my life ever had....period

[/quote   Best post ever. motherf*cker just nailed it to the bone. So, what is the excuse for assholes blaming their environment, turning to violent crime? James nailed it. Metal saves a brother's ass, not cause violence or crime.  Nice one, JB.

It doesn't grab me by the face, but it's ok I guess.

It grabbed me by the face once! It was a bit unpleasant to be honest.

mc666 wrote:

It doesn't grab me by the face, but it's ok I guess.

So stick to Justin Bieber so   

Chrome Locust wrote:

Pure metal heads, those cats.

Was it these cats?

Boris2008 wrote:

Chrome Locust wrote:

Pure metal heads, those cats.

Was it these cats?

One of the greatest photos EVER.

I'm still laughing - God bless you. The cats all being AC/DC - its too much   

Rock might be about rebellion in any basic and fleeting form, but metal is about pure discontent; rebellion that matures into a revolution of the mind. Heavy metal is a romantic manifesto in the grand tradition of Don Quixote - recognizing the madness and stagnation in seeing life merely as it is, rather than how it should be. That is at once the singular root of why metal is important, loved, misunderstood, and most importantly, hated.

bass63 wrote:

manny wrote:

Because for most people music is something to have in the background, something to do the dishes by. Not just metal, but music in general is something that has meaning for us, its part of life's soundtrack, and it was love that never abandoned us. I personally feel we are the lucky ones, who feel just as passionate over music as when we were kids

 
Took the words right out of my mouth     

Exactly!

I totally agree with and feel the same about everything that has been said so far. About violence, seems to me rap (excuse me, hip hop, lol) seems to cause alot of that. Just a couple days ago there was a Lil Wayne concert in Charlotte, and after the show, a man in his early 20's was stabbed and killed and a woman was also hurt in that same  incident. Of all the shows I have seen in Charlotte, I have never heard of anything at any of the metal shows I've attended.

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

Rock might be about rebellion in any basic and fleeting form, but metal is about pure discontent; rebellion that matures into a revolution of the mind. Heavy metal is a romantic manifesto in the grand tradition of Don Quixote - recognizing the madness and stagnation in seeing life merely as it is, rather than how it should be. That is at once the singular root of why metal is important, loved, misunderstood, and most importantly, hated.

Wow! I didn't see that coming, not on this thread.  

Chrome Locust wrote:

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Chrome Locust wrote:

Pure metal heads, those cats.

Was it these cats?

That's them OMG, where did you get that??????????? I can't stop laughing - Christ, Ive already pasted that to favs.  

One of the greatest photos EVER.

bah. Cats cannot compare to TheKing:

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

Rock might be about rebellion in any basic and fleeting form, but metal is about pure discontent; rebellion that matures into a revolution of the mind. Heavy metal is a romantic manifesto in the grand tradition of Don Quixote - recognizing the madness and stagnation in seeing life merely as it is, rather than how it should be. That is at once the singular root of why metal is important, loved, misunderstood, and most importantly, hated.

This is awesome, and very very true.

EDIT: Dude I hope you don't mind but I just quoted you on Facebook. With 9 out of 10 of my 'friends' hating heavy metal, including my mother, I just had to hope that some of them would read this.

When I was younger I think it was the energy and power of the music that got my attention. Then over the years I've invested so much time in listening to metal that my ear has become attuned to it, I hear nuances and influences in metal that I don't hear in other types of music that I don't follow as closely. It's a language that I understand. When I hear a new song now it's not just the song, it's a whole history that I hear leading up to it.

I just enjoy it.

I took a long break from metal--about three years--to discover other genres, and also I needed something with a heavy intellectual bent at the time. I mean, it's not like anyone metal is writing lyrics like Dylan. I think it was just a change in pace that I needed since it was metal and jazz for so many years (I did give up all my CDs at one point because I wanted to become a worship leader and listened only to worship artists; good thing I came to my senses). But I ended up coming back to metal. I can't explain why. It's the higher octane fuel, I guess. And it's so confident. Like a heavy shot of testosterone. Best of all, it keeps me calm in anxious times. Other genres, even jazz, don't do that for me.

S.D. wrote:

Best-selling Music artists in the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists_in_the_United_States

10. (tie) AC/DC and Barbara Streisand

That is an obvious tie!  I mean, Hell every time I by a AC/DC cd I truck over and get a cd by  Mrs. Streisand, Doesn't everybody?  

corplhicks wrote:

I took a long break from metal--about three years--to discover other genres...

I did the same thing, but for 10 years.

S.D. wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

I took a long break from metal--about three years--to discover other genres...

I did the same thing, but for 10 years.

I'm guessing it'll be something like that for me in the near future.

[quote="S.D."]

corplhicks wrote:

I took a long break from metal--about three years--to discover other genres...

I did the same thing, but for 10 years.
[/quote

i like it all. That is my problem.

exact33 wrote:

S.D. wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

I took a long break from metal--about three years--to discover other genres...

I did the same thing, but for 10 years.
[/quote

i like it all. That is my problem.

Me too! I also took a 10 year break, I love metal but I could never be tribal about it, there is simply too much great music for me to tie myself to a genre or time period.

Boris2008 wrote:

Me too! I also took a 10 year break, I love metal but I could never be tribal about it, there is simply too much great music for me to tie myself to a genre or time period.

Exactly.

Boris2008 wrote:

exact33 wrote:

S.D. wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

I took a long break from metal--about three years--to discover other genres...

I did the same thing, but for 10 years.
[/quote

i like it all. That is my problem.

Me too! I also took a 10 year break, I love metal but I could never be tribal about it, there is simply too much great music for me to tie myself to a genre or time period.

i love metal too but i dont get all mushy over it. Its good music but i dont see the transcendental nature of it or the poetic refrains expressed.