ITP V.012 METAL CULTURE: 10 things that uniquely identify and define Metalheads \m/

 Here we are at ITP V.012 regarding 10 traits than define metal culture, via  Vallabhaneni Srikar. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Heavy Metal (and its scope of sub-genres) is more than just a style of music. For many, around the planet, it’s a lifestyle; so much so, that once you have been bitten by the jaws of the metallic beast, you are a metalhead for life. Being a metalhead is not necessarily a phase or an appearance; if you’re a metalhead, it is a part of your identity – from balls to bones.

So, if it transcends music, what are the characteristics then that clearly define what a metalhead is? It would be effortless to be cynical and make a list of fashionable styles that metalheads and headbangers have pursued in over the years, but it also goes beyond hairstyles, corpse paint, and body modification.

Being a metalhead, as mentioned, is a lifestyle; it is an attitude that reflects your world view that is fueled by the music – and vice versa. What makes this way of thinking? What defines this identity? Let’s take a look at 10 things that uniquely identify and define metalheads:

1. Defiance

From the very first days in the era of bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and KISS, right through to the contemporary era of countless metal bands and styles, one personality attribute held by metal fans has always been an attitude of defiance. This defiance is often mischaracterized as teenage rebellion, and while that can be a contributing influence, it rises above adolescent angst. The defiance of metalheads stands out as a strong expression of distinctiveness: “Screw you; I’m going to do this my way” (or as appropriately and eloquently affirmed by Rage against the Machine: “Fuck you; I won’t do what you tell me”). It is a refusal to conform to the sheep mindset of mainstream society. In years gone by, this used to be misinterpreted by ‘the moral majority’ as a menace or a threat. In actual fact, it is an empowerment of independence, which in turn invigorates determination (which we will come to a little later).

2. Escapism

The beginning journey for a headbanger is usually amplified by a sense of either isolation or loneliness or both. Heavy Metal usually becomes a source for the young metalhead as a source of escapism. Metal fans not only embrace the music for the talent or the technical ability of musicians, and not only for the excitement of the sound; but also because of the sentiment that one can escape the dull and the mundane, or the stress of life and into the music itself. The music reflects this common attitude as well, especially lyrically as well. Metalheads internationally embrace the music style because of the way it can boost an individual personality over and beyond problematic issues of life. It is a style of music that makes the listener feel empowered.

3. The Common Unification

As identified, young metalheads often feel a strong perception of isolation in early adolescent life; and metal music can give them an attraction to this aspect of feeling like an outcast compared to other people. This isolation often makes an individual feel “strange” or “different”; and the genre of metal highlights this in a manner that says to the listener, “You feel weird and unusual, but you are not – you’re not alone. There are others like you.” There comes a point in the life journey of every metal fan where their paths cross with other metalheads; and this is where the feeling of remoteness dissipates. At this point, there is a feeling of unity between metalheads; where each individual clearly understands where the other comes from. The isolation has advanced into a sense of belonging. This characteristic can even be seen worldwide; especially at the Wacken festival in Germany, where metalheads from around the Earth get together to celebrate metal and what it means to be a metalhead. It is a great example of how unifying the culture can be.

4. Attire

While it is not necessarily a uniform, the way a metalhead dresses identifies them as a headbanger. There have been trends over the years, but the common elements often incorporate band shirts, and the color black. It does not matter so much what a metalhead wears, and it is not automatically a fashion statement – it is more of a visual expression of the attitude they feel. The apparel of a metalhead is a symbol of what metal embodies to them. But most significantly, metalheads do not just like metal; they look metal.

5. Strongly Opinionated

Metal fans, by and large, have very strong opinions about a wide range of subjects; none more so than that which they are most avid about: metal itself. There has been for decades, and perhaps will be for decades to come, an enduring argument or debate amongst metalheads about what bands are “true metal”. These opinions are very strong and amplified, but one common characteristic about metalheads is that they seem to understand that others will have varying views. This expression of opinion is another means by which a metalhead can assert what defines metal to them, and what defines themselves as individuals and as metal fans.

6. A Respect for the Heritage

Modern metalheads often identify themselves by the style of sub-genre they gravitate towards the most. But whether a headbanger considers them more of a black metal fan, or a thrash metal fan, there is a level of regard that these fans have for the bands that were the influences for the bands they listen to. For example, an Iron Maiden fan may not be a fan of Deep Purple; but they have an appreciation of Deep Purple for being an inspiration to members of Iron Maiden. There’s an understanding amongst current metalheads that if it was not for these earlier acts, they wouldn’t be experiencing the music as it is today.

7. An Understanding of Belief

Metal has long been criticized as blasphemous or anti-religion, but this stance has proven to be a catalyst for metalheads being well-versed and competent in understanding a variety of aspects of religion, faith, and belief. Whether a metal fan identifies themselves as an atheist, a Christian, a Satanist, or any other number of faiths, you will frequently find that metalheads are very well educated on many aspects of their chosen belief system or philosophy; as well as more often than not other religious beliefs as well.

8. Determination

One common aspect between metalheads is that they often have a strong feeling of determination to reach for the skies and achieve their goals and dreams. There was once a perception that your average headbanger was not very academic or accomplished. While this determination has been used by many metalheads to follow academic pursuits; it need not just be applied to schooling or careers. It hearkens back to that feeling of defiance discussed earlier; that regardless of what obstacles are in your way, you will get there in the end.

9. An Appreciation of the Underground

To the conventional society, metal music is often defined by which metal bands have had the most success. Artists such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Led Zeppelin are often held aloft by media (particularly music TV channels and radio stations) as the bands that are identified as Metal. While most metal fans have some form of appreciation of perhaps some phases of the above-mentioned bands, metalheads tend to gravitate towards those groups outside of commercialized success. There will always be Pantera fans and Slayer fans, and members of the KISS Army; but metal fans also support acts that have large followings, such as Opeth and Dream Theater, who have yet to enjoy a Metallica-level of success. There is also strong support for more obscure bands that are still on the rise; or perhaps those which may never cater to mainstream and commercial predilections.

10. Unswerving Loyalty

For the most part, metalheads all together embody an unswerving loyalty to the bands they follow and support. This is unmistakable in all levels of the music – from internationally successful metal acts; to local unsigned artists just starting out. Metal fans are passionate about the bands they support, and have helped many groups continue making music to this day: artists from the early establishing days of metal such as Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, and Motorhead keep on moving forward because of the support and dedication from their fan base. This degree of loyalty is also evident in unsigned, underground bands. In years gone by, it was once strong in the underground tape trading movement, where metal fans from around the world would trade tapes of their local acts with other metalheads from other countries. In modern terms, the equivalents to this are websites like MySpace.com, where there is enormous support for metal bands of all styles and sub-genres across the board.

To be a metal fan is to be part of a lifestyle, to feel a part of something bigger: a culture of individuals on the same wave length that are in the millions across the world. You either get it, or you do not get it. You don’t go through a “metal phase” – once you become a metalhead, it becomes part of who you are, part of how you identify yourself, and part of how you see the world. It is a movement beyond the music, but a movement that is fed by the music, and a music style that is fed by the movement.