Heavy Metal as a Community

An interesting thing happened today. As I was walking around the DIS building between classes I saw someone with a sticker reading Arsis. Arsis is a technical melo-death band that I only recently discovered and happened to be listening to only hours prior. I pointed it out to him, and we talked for 10 minutes about what bands we listen to and what shows we want to see while in Copenhagen. A simple sticker lead to a new friend.

Then, as I was leaving the building, I noticed someone else with a sticker on their laptop. This was a sticker for The White Stripes. As I walked by I realized something, this person has probably never made a friend because of this sticker. Why? Because The White Stripes are a household name that just about everyone knows and has heard, so there's really nothing special about liking them.

This made me realize that heavy metal is more than just a genre, it's a community. Because it has a relatively low number of listeners, we tend to stick together and befriend one another. I think it's because listening to metal is a hobby. You can't simply turn on the radio and hear it. You have to go out and search for it, and decipher what you like. Most people hear a pop song on the radio, think it sounds good, buy the cd and forget about the band in a few months. When we discover a metal band, we really have to pay attention. Metal is extremely complex, that's why it's such an acquired taste, so connoisseurs of the art-form don't take it quite as casually. I've never really asked someone who listens to pop why they like it but I would assume the answers would be "It's catchy" or "easy to sing along to." Ask a metalhead why he likes a band and he can talk for hours about their dueling-guitar solos, complex riffs or deep imagery. Metal is a passion that takes dedication.

So when two people meet who are into heavy metal, they immediately have A LOT in common. They understand each other and appreciate the fact that someone else listens to the music for the same reasons. I could go on and on about why I love heavy metal, but this is definitely the top reason.