What Is “Real” Metal?
Every time you turn around and read an article somewhere about some band there is always someone that has to feel that they are some high official on “Metalogy” and has to comment on how this band or that band is not “Real” metal. So I’m going to ask the question. What is “Real” metal?
Metal from day one has evolved at every turn. With the birth of a new genre just about every two minutes, this raises the question even more. Obviously the biggest thing is people saying that nu-metal is not real metal, hardcore is not real metal, and metal core is not real metal. I don’t think you can really define any one metal genre as not being real metal because if it wasn’t metal it would not be in the metal genre.
Now there are a boat load of bands that are thrown into the metal namesake that have no right to be there so by all means, please say they are not real metal. But there are so many newer bands that people deem are not real metal.
They say opinions are like assholes, everyone has one but nobody wants to hear it. Thats a lie because everyone want to hear someone elses opinion…as long as it’s the same as their own opinion. Some people are not open minded enough when it comes to metal because they feel they will be criticized for straying from the flock…but thats the whole point of metal from the get-go, is not to conform, and not to be a sheep. Every single person on this planet is a conformist in one way or another and a sheep in one way or another. It just depends on what shepherd you follow.
My opinion? Metal is metal, no matter what genre you put it in, no matter how heavy, how many instruments are used, no matter what instruments are used. Unless it’s a manufactured metal band, that has the typical punk-ass sleeved arms, jet black stylist spiked hair, eyeliner, and a brand new AC/DC t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off. We won’t call you metal…but we will call you out. (Cough-A7X-Cough)
So enough of my B.S., whats your take. What exactly is “Real” Metal to you?
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18 opinions for What Is “Real” Metal?
What Is "Real" Metal? - Good Discussion by Scott in MetalMartyr.Com | Metal Music Blog
Dec 5, 2007 at 8:02 pm
[…] headbanger Category: Metal-Music-Videos.Com Scott wrote an interesting article with a title What Is “Real” Metal? As Scott says, there are always dudes commenting “how this band or that band is not […]
faddis
Dec 5, 2007 at 8:54 pm
metal is more of an attitude or way of life than a specific type of music…people hollering about bands not being metal are elitist assholes whos opinions hold no more constitution than anyone elses
Ellie
Dec 5, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I agree with you to some extent. However; I think that metalheads do have the right to decide what is metal and is not metal. I mean we are the listeners. This is something that is ours and only ours. We should have the right to have a say in it.
bonsor
Dec 5, 2007 at 11:36 pm
i just stumbled here and i had to comment.
people like to waste their time judging music by some arbitrary criteria they pulled out their ass. these people are pathetic. genres are abstract and over analysis tends to rob good music of its meaning. who cares if A7X could be classified as metal. they suck balls and that’s all that matters. case closed. next band please.
Daniel
Dec 5, 2007 at 11:53 pm
This sounds like an opening to promote my band. CRESCENT SHIELD is Real Metal!
http://www.crescentshield.com \m/
What is REAL METAL?
Real Metal has real guitar riffs, not chugga chugga chugga.
Real Metal has real singing with melody, not angst crap.
Real Metal has originality, no clone bullshit.
Real metal has audible bass guitar.
Real metal has bass drums, not clicky clicky noises.
Real metal is not image, it’s music.
Real metal is not digitally perfect, overproduced, and stale, it’s tight and powerful but has a raw edge.
Real metal is about songs, not being the fastest, most brutal, or most whatever.
Real metal is not hair and clothes, it’s heart and mind.
Karl
Dec 6, 2007 at 12:34 am
I agree with everything Daniel said except the bit about the raw edge. Metal can have a polished surface. It just depends on how the metal is composed. There are some slow songs and bands that use pit orchestras that have the distinctive metal sound.
Scott
Dec 6, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Well in your opinion Daniel there can only be a handfull of “real” metal bands from the beginning of metal. However I totally agree with the audible bass and drums. But like I said, evolution is everything, if metal did not evolve it would be stale. It’s good to still have bands that keep it basic and good raw metal, but it has to evolve or it will die like other genres like grunge and glam.
Bonsor Said “genres are abstract and over analysis tends to rob good music of its meaning.”. I couldn’t agree more!!
sleestak
Dec 6, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I think trying to pin a label on some music is a waste of time. People who make the music get the influences from all over the place. Cross-pollination of different styles can make for some great music (eg Rage Against the Machine) but it can also backfire(eg Limp Bizkit).
Me? I like good music. It’s not my fault the majority of it’s metal. ;)
Scott
Dec 6, 2007 at 8:23 pm
the diversity in metal these days is what keeps it “fresh” You get bands that have so many different influences and granted sometimes you get the occasional bands that seem like “Clones”.
NoWave
Jan 21, 2008 at 9:46 am
What is real metal? That’s a difficult one. I’m inclined to say that metal has moved above being a genre specifically, to become a group of genre’s. I mean, when you consider that the term was coined to describe bands like black sabbath and led zeppelin, it get’s much harder to classify. So, fear factory are metal, they’re industrial metal, megadeath are metal, thrash metal, and so on and so forth. Sadly, this also means that A7X are also metal, if a shit version of it. Metal’s has become more than a genre of music, it’s become a unifying idea that links together hundred’s and thousands of sub genre’s.
Scott
Jan 21, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Lets start a new genre and call it poo-metal. It will be one step lower than Nu-metal, and we can stuff bands Like A7X in it. Sorry, but I really hate that band.
Steven
Jan 21, 2008 at 11:41 pm
What is “real” metal? Hell, I doubt anyone can give a good answer to that. You said it yourself: metal is always evolving. And you might as well ask what the best band ever is, because everyone will have a different opinion. Personally, I think the line gets drawn when a band “sells out” so to speak, and just pisses all over their fans (I know you can think of some…)
Gem
Jan 23, 2008 at 9:02 am
It’s hard to say what is or isn’t metal because it’s so diverse. Where do you draw the line and say ‘this band is metal and that band is not’? I wouldn’t know where to start really. Although to me, metal is about expressing yourself, loyalty and most of all fun- so I suppose any band who doesn’t care about things like that, whatever the sub-genre, isn’t really metal.
KevinC
Mar 12, 2008 at 6:36 pm
The question of “What is ‘real’ metal?” is probably impossible to get a definite answer. There are just so many different styles of music which are categorized as metal that it’s hard to decide which one truly is metal. Music is always changing as well. But the fact is, if it’s not metal is someone’s eyes, it might be considered metal to someone else.
ATR
Tyler
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Real metal to me is music that doesnt go with the flow like the recent Hardcore/scene movment. everyone at my school that says they are “scene” is pretty much a copy of their “scene” friends. To me those bands that are in it for the money and the popularity arent real metal bands. Bands that break away and have their own defining style of playing and delivering assulting vocals about situations and feelings we as fans can relate to is the definition of real metal and that is something a lot of recent bands just can’t achieve.
brock m
May 16, 2008 at 9:54 pm
real metal to me is just not listening to rap or hip hop that gangster stuff suck ass.i don’t care what you say any so called “metalhead” who listens to that crap is not metal that includes alot of bands out there.REAL METAL is sure as hell not rap nu metal okay i don’t care what u say it will never be metal just some rockstars wannabe’s.Metalcore will be way more metal than any gangtsa crap.just wait whe you see my band ……….REAL METAL!
Aidan
Jun 4, 2008 at 7:01 pm
It’s impossible to define a single thing, or list of things to have “real” metal, unless you want to be a smart-ass and say steel and iron. One of the best things about music is that absolutely anyone can interpret it as they see fit. If someone thinks Ludacris is Metal, then accept it. They’re an idiot, but accept that because that is who the person is. Everyone has their own opinion on it, and if you don’t agree, big deal. If they go on and on about how their opinion is better than yours, then don’t talk to them. My personal interpretation of Metal is a combination of a load of different sub-genres, from Nu-Metal, through to Symphonic Metal. And I love it, but that doesn’t mean that it’s better than everything. I like some metal music, but there are dance and rap acts who I prefer in some cases.
azoth nahash agathodemon
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Here is the truth of metal, you have to be reborn as a metalhead, and your whople life changes, things you used to like you don’t like anymore, there is something inside of you, is in your soul and in your heart, you don’t have to describe metal, yopu simply feel it, you know is metal or some poser shit because is in your soul, you don’t have to define your music as metal or try to imitate or try to create metal, is not possible, if you have it in you whatever music you make will be metal even if you are not intending it. This poser bands decide to play metal , real metal bands are guys likeminded getting together and playing music from their souls with passion and intencity, and whatever comes out will be real metal just because is in their soul and in their blood. I’ll leave it here for now I hope you have an idea of what I’m talking about.
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