(Warning: Strong
language in this article)
Ever since I wrote about the musical genre of Heavy Metal, I've been
thinking of the fans of this genre, dubbed 'metalheads' as probably either the
most open-minded group of people ever walking the face of this planet, or some
retarded Neanderthals who like to bash and disrespect other forms of music. Well,
most of my metalhead friends I know are most likely to be the former, but
around the world, there are also many of them who can be classified as the
latter. I know some metal musicians also have other interests on other branches
of entertainment, and they are either praised or hated. This is the unfiltered
story about the so-called 'metal elitists'.
Elitism as a terminology refers to a belief or an attitude that
specifically formed by a group of individuals over a specific interest. Those
who upheld this particular belief may express disdain or disagreement over
things that are not up to their own standards. This group alienate themselves
from other things outside their own circle. A metal elitist is a Heavy Metal
fan that is said to be that close-minded individual who constantly attacks
specific sub-genre or bands that either belongs to said sub-genre or outside of
it. This group has their own standards when it comes to the heaviness of a
band. For them, if it's not heavy enough or lacking any guitar solos, it's not
metal. They are mostly listens to a specific sub-genre and based their judgment
on that sub-genre alone, without taking a single consideration of other
features offered by another genres. This elitism doesn't happen within the
metal community, some metalheads also bash another musical genre based on their
opinion that 'metal is above all else.'
Open-minded metalheads might not like other genres like Rap, Pop or EDM,
but still appreciate them as forms of art. After all, these genres have their
own features, strengths and weaknesses. But those narrow-minded bastards often
see the weakness aspect only. We all know the long-running hatred that
metalheads have on modern Pop music. Metalheads often argue that artists within
the Pop realm are only make music for fame and fortune, produce songs that have
meaningless lyrics, abusing auto-tune, and lacked any effort into their music.
Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour even said in an interview with Loudwire
that Pop music makes him 'ashamed to be a musician.' I remember back in August,
when the Tool VS Taylor Swift feud was rampant on Twitter, while most Taylor
Swift fans (mostly teenage girls between 12-17 who don't even know who Tool as
a band was) voiced their frustrations, Tool fans were simply laughed and told
those teens to 'suck it up'.
Within the metal spectrum, those same assholes have their own 'high
standards' when it comes to labeling a band as metal. For them, metal is about
being unknown and underground, and tends to label them "sellouts" if
they found out that the band in question started to gather more fans. This term
also refers to bands with considerably high popularity not just among
metalheads, but also the society in general. When Metallica released their
self-titled album in 1991, from that point until their latest album Hardwired: To Self Destruct in 2017,
Elitists will only refer to Metallica by saying, "I love Ride The Lightning and Master of Puppets, and that's it. Other
albums by them are straight up bullshit." They also hate the idea that
bands need to evolve their sound. Their icon for "not selling out" is
Cannibal Corpse. As much as I love them, I can't really understand the fact
that they rarely experiment with their sound. And apparently, that is what the
elitists want. But if other bands tried to explore any musical possibilities,
then it's almost certain that the floodgates of hate will open. When Megadeth
released their 2013 album Super Collider,
they received massive critics from the metal community, citing that they sound
is more Rock oriented. They also consider that their preferred gene is better
than anything else, and anybody who doesn't listen to it will be branded as a
"poser." I am personally a Symphonic/Power Metal fan, but at least I
listen to songs from outside that sub-genre, most people would brand me as a
"poser who wants to be fucked in the ass" for listening to Symphonic
Metal. They might think that metal must be pure distortion, guttural vocals and
blinding fast drums. They might even say that Rage Agianst The Machine is not
metal at all, because of the musical style of the band that blends rap vocals
and metal riffs to absolute perfection (Thank Zach de la Rocha and Tom Morello
for that). Recently, Japanese band BABYMETAL is targeted only because of the
fact that they blend Japanese Idol music to Heavy Metal, with the band consists
of a backing band (two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer) and 3 young
Japanese Girls between the ages of 15-18 years old. The elitists thought that
having three teenagers singing and dancing over heavy riffs is an insult to
heavy music. Hell, they might say along the lines of "I'd rather eat my
own shit and throw up on it than having to listen for even 5 fucking seconds of
that garbage" or "those assholes make me want to kill myself."
Metalcore and Deathcore are among the genres most targeted by metal
elitist. Those two are the result of fusing Hardcore Punk with Metal
(Traditional Heavy Metal and Death Metal). Metalcore is often labeled as 'Emo
tryhards' and Deathcore often being compared to Death Metal when it comes to
skills and the time these genres existed. They are also (apparently) in denial
of bands that came in the 80s, mostly listens to Pantera and Slayer. They might
say that they are fighting against "corporate metal" but in reality,
these cow-brained fuckers are just branding bands they don't like as shit and
needs to die. In that same decade, Metal music reached its peak of popularity,
with bands like Poison, Twisted Sister, and Motley Crue. The rise of Nu Metal in
the early 2000s also provoked these crazed anti-metalheads to voice their
negative opinions. Limb Bizkit once labelled as "Mallcore", and
Slipknot was critisized for their masks. Among all the sub-genres of Heavy
Metal, Black Metal is regarded as the genre where most elitists come from. For
them, metal is like their way of life and their belief system. Even within Black
Metal, some musicians like Euronymous from Mayhem stated that only bands with
satanic beliefs (will all members must adhere to Satanism. But recently, some
musicians of this genre are not necessarily had to be a satanist) can call
themselves 'black metal'. Some musicians outside of this genre are also
satanist, albeit not an elitist at the same time, like Deicide vocalist/bassist
Glen Benton and King Diamond.
Yes, metal within itself is a spectrum. There are no two metal songs that
sound the same. Some might include fast riffs and drumbeats, others might
settle for slow and gloomy, another might step in with their epic, mighty
symphonic sounds, and there are many who likes their music to be raw and
unfiltered. But regardless, every sub-genre within Metal deserves their own
appreciation, and should be treated as equal forms of art. It doesn't matter if
you love the full force of intensity of Traditional Heavy Metal, the precision
and complexity of Progressive Metal, the chaotic nature of Thrash Metal, the
grim and intimidating Death Metal, the raw aesthetics of Black Metal or the
epicness of Power and Symphonic Metal, Those are still music, and every fan
deserves their own right to explore them all. If you like a specific sub-genre,
feel free to introduce it to others, without having to shove it on their throats
with force, but if you dislike one, at the very least, don't provoke others to
hate it, some of them might just like it. Quit bitching and let others enjoy
the music this genre has to offer.
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