The irritation with the stigma of heavy metal.

[JDShredds]

Ugh stereotypes - some people can't see past them. I listen to some metal too, mainly progressive metal, classic metal and folk metal - especially Skyclad, but also Cruachan, Blind Guardian, Ayreon, Iron Maiden, Dream theater, that kind of thing.

Another Ayreon and DT fan!
I think The Human Equation is one of the most brilliant and unique pieces of art ever, in any genre, in any medium.

 

[puzzlingbill]

The flute is a heavy metal instrument

Here's an example of just what you're talking about, even thought it doesn't sound all that heavy today. That's Tommy Iommi of Black Sabbath on guitar, who sat in with Jethro Tull for, basically, just this gig, as they were "between" guitarists.

 

[Illkurok]

To me, this song is the perfect example of what true metal is. Nothing else even comes close to its complexity. Call me what you will, but Meshuggah deserves a lot more attention and praise for their talent than they get.

 

[Progster]

Another Ayreon and DT fan!
I think The Human Equation is one of the most brilliant and unique pieces of art ever, in any genre, in any medium.

DT have just released a new album, but I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.

Fans of Arjen Lucassen might be interested to know that he collaborated on a project known as "The Aspie Project", by Computer Mind, a progressive metal concept album.

Here's an example of just what you're talking about, even thought it doesn't sound all that heavy today. That's Tommy Iommi of Black Sabbath on guitar, who sat in with Jethro Tull for, basically, just this gig, as they were "between" guitarists.

Great track. I was indeed referring to Jethro Tull. One of my favourite bands (but not metal).

I really like Orphaned Land at the moment, also like Pain of Salvation, Between the Buried and Me and Opeth.

 

[JDShredds]

DT have just released a new album, but I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.

Fans of Arjen Lucassen might be interested to know that he collaborated on a project known as "The Aspie Project", by Computer Mind, a progressive metal concept album.

Over the years I've become less and less into DT, but it doesn't change the impact they had on me as a musician myself. Seeing them live is like, "I didn't know musicians could be this good." lol. LaBrie seems to be becoming more of a liability these days, but I think he's given too hard a time by many fans. I always say, "If he's so bad, YOU go sing it then. Yeah, I didn't think so."

Arjen is such a genius. I did not know about the Aspie Project, but you had me at "Arjen," "Aspie" and "progressive metal concept album."

How were Pain of Salvation's last couple releases? For some reason I didn't know they were still active. I'll have to check their newer stuff out.

Vanden Plas and Queensryche's prime years are my favorites in prog metal. VP's Christ 0 (and their entire discography, really) and QR's Operation: Mindcrime are brilliant. In a weird way I'd say QR to prog metal is kind of like Sabbath to heavy metal. In this day and age they probably wouldn't even be classified that way anymore (Sabbath barely seems metal at all, and QR doesn't really seem prog), but at the time they were doing stuff nobody else did. "NM156" in 1984 and "Screaming In Digital" in 1986 were way ahead of their time as was all of Mindcrime. Metal concept albums just weren't really a thing back then.

(We didn't strike on a special interest of mine or anything...) /sarcasm

 

[Fino]

The flute is a heavy metal instrument

After reading yours I understood his! Thank you! I thought he was just saying the tuba is hardcore and then after reading yours I was like "really? flute, too?" then I think I got it.

 

[SL JediKnight]

I've listened to heavy metal since I was in high school, the band that immersed me into the glory of the genre is called Meshuggah, in my honest opinion no other band holds a candle to them and I find it quite pathetic how some bands can keep a straight face while considering themselves "metal."

I've had all kinds of things thrown at me over the years because of my obsession with heavy metal in general, but I've always found it the most ridiculous when people think that just because you listen to it that it means you are this violent, goat sacrificing tyrant that just wants to see the world burn. Some of the looks people give me just from saying I listen to metal are the most bizarre I've ever seen, they look at you like you just got admitted to an insane asylum or something.

Honestly, I'm quite the opposite. Meshuggah is extremely calming for me, they've been a part of my life for so long and they've pulled me out of some insanely dark periods in my life.

I've even had some women refuse to date me or even be friends just because I listen to metal, which I've always found rather amusing because of how shallow that is, God forbid I listen to rap music, dare I say country. Yuck. I feel like I need to bathe now for saying that.

I honestly believe that without heavy metal to help me cope with things in life, I wouldn't be alive today. I know some people might think that is the stupidest thing they've ever heard, but it's true to me. I will always love metal, it is a part of who I am and I couldn't imagine living without it.

I love heavy metal music I grew up listening to Ozzy Osbourne and Marilyn Manson Metallica and Anthrax and Megadeth i also love classic rock though I've got to love other types of music as I got older but everyone's different don't worry about what other people think

 

[Progster]

Over the years I've become less and less into DT, but it doesn't change the impact they had on me as a musician myself. Seeing them live is like, "I didn't know musicians could be this good." lol. LaBrie seems to be becoming more of a liability these days, but I think he's given too hard a time by many fans. I always say, "If he's so bad, YOU go sing it then. Yeah, I didn't think so."

Arjen is such a genius. I did not know about the Aspie Project, but you had me at "Arjen," "Aspie" and "progressive metal concept album."

How were Pain of Salvation's last couple releases? For some reason I didn't know they were still active. I'll have to check their newer stuff out.

Vanden Plas and Queensryche's prime years are my favorites in prog metal. VP's Christ 0 (and their entire discography, really) and QR's Operation: Mindcrime are brilliant. In a weird way I'd say QR to prog metal is kind of like Sabbath to heavy metal. In this day and age they probably wouldn't even be classified that way anymore (Sabbath barely seems metal at all, and QR doesn't really seem prog), but at the time they were doing stuff nobody else did. "NM156" in 1984 and "Screaming In Digital" in 1986 were way ahead of their time as was all of Mindcrime. Metal concept albums just weren't really a thing back then.

(We didn't strike on a special interest of mine or anything...) /sarcasm

I wouldn't say that prog metal was a 'special interest' as such, but I did become familiar with many bands on my journey through the wider prog rock scene. I used to listen a lot about ten years ago, in recent years not so much as my focus has shifted on onto other areas of prog rock, and I haven't heard many of the most recent releases (shame on me)
Yes, Arjen is an extremely accomplished, versitile and prolific musician and has been involved in numerous side projects apart from Ayreon such as Star One, Stream of Passion, Ambeon, and a really great solo album, Strange Hobby, covers of songs from the 60s and 70s, including a superb rendition of Simon & Garfunkle's "I am a Rock".

Of course I'm also familiar with Queensryche - favourite albums: Operation: Mindcrime, Empire and Promised Land. They are one of the pioneers of the genre, and did for prog metal what Skyclad did for folk metal, and there's no doubt of their influence - also relevant here are Fates Warning. As for PoS, they are brilliant live - they don't just give a concert, but a theatre performance. They went through a period of experimenting with mixing in other genres or influences such as gospel even, something that works for me but might not work for other fans of their first albums or more traditional metal. They don't have a 'bad' album IMO, my personal favourite is "Be". I would say that they are past their peak now, but their most recent album is definitely worth a listen.

After reading yours I understood his! Thank you! I thought he was just saying the tuba is hardcore and then after reading yours I was like "really? flute, too?" then I think I got it.

Yes, for those who might be unfamiliar, here is the background behind the quote, best explained by an extract from this article:
Jethro Tull: The Flute Is A Heavy Instrument
"In 1989 they won the first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, beating hot favourites Metallica. They didn’t even show up at the ceremony because they’d been told they had no chance of winning. Afterwards their record company took out a full-page advertisement in a British music magazine – a picture of a flute lying amid a pile of iron bars with a headline that said, "The flute is a heavy metal instrument”.

 

[JDShredds]

Of course I'm also familiar with Queensryche - favourite albums: Operation: Mindcrime, Empire and Promised Land. They are one of the pioneers of the genre, and did for prog metal what Skyclad did for folk metal, and there's no doubt of their influence - also relevant here are Fates Warning. As for PoS, they are brilliant live - they don't just give a concert, but a theatre performance. They went through a period of experimenting with mixing in other genres or influences such as gospel even, something that works for me but might not work for other fans of their first albums or more traditional metal. They don't have a 'bad' album IMO, my personal favourite is "Be". I would say that they are past their peak now, but their most recent album is definitely worth a listen.

Ah, Promised Land. A seriously underappreciated album, even by QR fans. The title track and it's existential nature is one of my favorites. That album isn't about showing off, its about pure self-expression.

Yes, I know Fates Warning. Personally, they never really did it for me, but they were indeed peers of QR in pioneering the genre.

Thanks for the update on PoS. I do enjoy theatrical artists (which is interesting as I don't like musicals - I guess there's a fine line between musical and rock opera).

After reading yours I understood his! Thank you! I thought he was just saying the tuba is hardcore and then after reading yours I was like "really? flute, too?" then I think I got it.

I love literal jokes.

 

[VAW]

I've listened to heavy metal since I was in high school, the band that immersed me into the glory of the genre is called Meshuggah, in my honest opinion no other band holds a candle to them and I find it quite pathetic how some bands can keep a straight face while considering themselves "metal."

I've had all kinds of things thrown at me over the years because of my obsession with heavy metal in general, but I've always found it the most ridiculous when people think that just because you listen to it that it means you are this violent, goat sacrificing tyrant that just wants to see the world burn. Some of the looks people give me just from saying I listen to metal are the most bizarre I've ever seen, they look at you like you just got admitted to an insane asylum or something.

Honestly, I'm quite the opposite. Meshuggah is extremely calming for me, they've been a part of my life for so long and they've pulled me out of some insanely dark periods in my life.

I've even had some women refuse to date me or even be friends just because I listen to metal, which I've always found rather amusing because of how shallow that is, God forbid I listen to rap music, dare I say country. Yuck. I feel like I need to bathe now for saying that.

I honestly believe that without heavy metal to help me cope with things in life, I wouldn't be alive today. I know some people might think that is the stupidest thing they've ever heard, but it's true to me. I will always love metal, it is a part of who I am and I couldn't imagine living without it.

Nihilus, You have a quote at the end , did you write that ?

 

[Illkurok]

Nihilus, You have a quote at the end , did you write that ?

Indeed.

 

[Tom]

'There is no accounting for taste' as the saying goes. The problem is mostly about how some devalue others for their tastes. But you do it yourself a little perhaps, in how you describe music you dislike.

People do funny things with music. They can try and build decorums around it such as symbols, attitudes, styles, etc. It can become a form of identity.

What I have found, is there is good music in all the styles... maybe not much, but always something interesting. So I take it for itself and try and ignor the nonsense. Keeping an open mind will help expose you to things you might have missed otherwise.

 

[VAW]

Indeed.

That is an intense quote!!! I love it! Sounds like something my son would have wrote. IF you don't mind me asking.... what is the feeling behind that to you? Do you write a lot? Because if you don't you should in my opinion!

 

[Sara3]

Many people, where I live, can't believe I like metal. They (specially religious ones) relate this musical genre to delinquents or aggresive people, even satanic (sigh). They don't risk thinking about things from other perspective. For me, metal has an amazing number of subgenres that deserve recognition for the musician's work (gothic, symphonic, melodic death, etc, etc). Someone willing, would find valuable things while listening to it. I completely understand your point and it is nice to find someone who listens to your opinion and doesn't judge you. It is just that some people think that they are the only ones with the "right tastes".

 

[christopher.k]

metal has helped become comfortable with my feelings and also is a good conduit for me when im feeling restless anxious or frustrated
although it can still be a bit to much at times when im realy burnt out.

 

[Cher_Ami]

The flute is a heavy metal instrument

Yes indeed!

 

[Ken S.]

My favorite Metal Instrumental circa 1984.

 

[Monachopia]

Mongolian Metal, melodic, using some unconventional instruments

 

[Cher_Ami]

Many people, where I live, can't believe I like metal. They (specially religious ones) relate this musical genre to delinquents or aggresive people, even satanic (sigh)...

Christian Folk/Goth Metal

Christian Power Metal

Christian Black/Death (Unblack) Metal (this is an especially good joke if you know they'll say something)

 

[Eclipse14]

Metal is like the only genre I listen to. I started listening to metal in high school, and it's never left me since. Most of the music on my computer is strictly metal, it's rare I'll listen to something else.

I enjoy most sub-genres of metal, so long as it's not rap metal like Limp Bizkit (yuck.) I'm especially a huge fan of Opeth. They are AMAZING. I also love Megadeth and lots of thrash metal. More recently my friend got me into Avenged Sevenfold, and I've been loving all their albums so far.