Clayton Koff

Staff Writer

I often contemplate why music is such a polarizing activity. It is one of the purest and most natural forms of enjoyment on the planet. As a species we are completely saturated in music, from movies, videogames, the radio and even the rhythmic sounds of nature. The fact of life is music is all around us. So why, then, does it become a warzone? What makes one person’s idea of music more right or wrong than a different one?

For example, when I tell people “I like metal music,” they hear: “I sacrifice kittens to the spirit of Hitler while having naked mud orgies” and either become my best friend or try to exorcise me. The same could be said for country music: you either absolutely love it or loathe it entirely. My question is why? Heavy metal and country music are by far the most polarizing music genres in existence. My hope is to debunk some stereotypes, and who knows, maybe I’ll even convert you into my satanic cult of kitten slaying.

While I personally enjoy all genres of music, my heart belongs to metal. That’s something I never thought I would say. When I was younger, I absolutely hated metal and anything with screaming in it, but now it is my absolute favorite.

That opinion comes from what it has done for my life. Metal music has this way of unifying people that otherwise don’t fit anywhere else. It creates this community of people that all share a common interest and, more importantly, understand each other on a deeper level. Metalheads, what people who listen to and enjoy metal call themselves, are some of the most caring and amazing people I have ever met in my life.

Metalheads all look out for each other first and foremost.

At a hardcore show, it’s pretty violent and can be terrifying to people who have never experienced one before. People are screaming at the top of their lungs to super chaotic music while beating the crap out of each other, and they call it fun.

To an outsider, the whole experience is pure madness, but to us, it is home. During these shows, everyone makes sure everyone else is safe and having fun above all else. If you fall down in the mosh pit, a hundred hands reach down to grab you. If you are being harassed, others will come to your defense. If one person is being particularly disrespectful or intentionally violent, they will swiftly be taken care of.

Aside from a few outliers, metalheads are also the least judgmental people I have met in my life. They don’t care about your political views, race, sexuality or even music taste. If you are nice to them, they will be nice to you, and there is something beautiful about that.

A lot of people will dismiss metal as “screamo” or just noise. While it is true a lot of subgenres of metal are just that, there is also a lot without any screaming whatsoever. Metal is something you don’t hear, but feel.

When you are sad, metal can bring forth a light you weren’t aware of previously. If you are angry, you have somebody right beside you who feels your pain. If you are happy, well, guess what? There is someone celebrating life right along with you, which is something I have not experienced anywhere else.

Metal is also not innately satanic. There are some subgenres where satanism, death or murder are the subject matter, but that is not representative of the whole genre. Metal is very diverse, where songs can range from the love of pizza, to heartbreak, to politics, to history, to love, to literature.

I am not naive enough to think metal is for everybody, because it’s not. Its chaotic nature is very off-putting to a great deal of people. But what I would ask of you is to give it a chance. You might find something you love. I would also ask to not immediately judge people for it. Have a conversation with us—I promise you won’t find a more caring and loving human being.