Hey! I thought this study was fascinating and I am curious to hear if you agree with the findings. There are some notable subgenres that were missing from this study, so I hope this research continues! That being said, what is your favorite subgenre and does the moral profile match up with you?
Not enough shoulder space to squeeze me in one sub!! I'm into the sound quality. Voice, Drums/ Percussion, Bass and Guitar. I like some 1930's- 50's but mainly 1960's to 1981ish and spotty from there to now. Love a lot of Female fronted bands of late; DOROTHY ❣️ THE PRETTY WRECKLESS PARAMORE 🌹 IN THIS MOMENT etc. ☯️☮️
There are at least 45 metal sub genres that I am aware of. My STRONG preference is SYMPHONIC METAL. Which touches Mythology, Fantasy Science and Mortality, for the most part. Symphonic metal was not one of the genres mentioned. It might have been studied. I began my metal journey with Doom and Sludge Metal. I wasn't with it long, maybe two years, but the Emotional depth and Majesty description would be fitting..
I bounce between subgenres, though I don't really listen the black metal unless Nuclear Blast plays some on their stream. I don't think this study can pin me down.
Saalam alaykum my Brother, you well know that alcohol is haram. Happy Eid my strong Muslim Brother. Brick by brick we shall retake our lands promised to us by Allah. Mashallah.
The link is that many people turn to recreational drugs in order to cope with the misery of life. Stoner metal coming from doom metal makes perfect sense in that regard.
I've seen a lot of folks who list bands that are "just" considered heavy metal, but you can put those bands into even more granular sub-genres like NWOBHM or NWOAHM - it depends on how granular you go. But there's tons of folks who just prefer heavy metal OGs for example
LOL… Folk metal often feels like a parody to me. If you truly want to connect with nature and honor your cultural roots, I think pagan black metal or atmospheric black metal offer a much deeper and more sincere experience. There are only a handful of folk metal bands that really take their craft seriously - the rest often lean more toward gimmick than substance.
I grinned when I discovered that "folk metal" was an actual thing, because I remember David Lee Roth, back in the early 1980s, saying something like, "Metal is just folk music played at high velocity."
Not in the slightest. There are a few gimmicky Folk Metal bands that have broken out into the mainstream of Metal, but the vast majority of Folk Metal bands do take themselves and their topics seriously. Many of these you will rarely find outside of Folk Metal/Pagan festivals, but if you only look at the Folk Metal bands that play at the more mainstream Metal festivals you are likely to think the genre is a gimmick.@@agentrobococktheentertaine8327
I’ve gotten repeated comments about the clip of Peter Steele with everyone saying that Type O Negative was placed in the wrong genre, but please note that is not TON, that is a clip of Carnivore, which was another one of his bands and was thrash 🤘🏻 Check them out if you haven’t heard of them!
I am a loyal Type O Negative fan. Peter Steele is my favorite Priest. Ghost is excellent with all the Satanic vibes and he is my favorite Pope. Marilyn Manson needs a shout out for being anti establishment, so he is my Sunday school teacher. Music is like my own personal religion. Top Metal Bands in order!!!💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤
I also read something interesting long ago that struck a chord with me. Metalheads, if not listening to metal, are more likely to listen to classical music.
Metal and classical share a lot of the same musical themes, complex time changes, modal changes. I was a classically trained pianist 8 years....before I got my first guitar at 14 and a few buddies and I formed a band 3 years later. I"m 57 now, still love metal and still love classical.Haven't played my guitars in over 30 years tho I still have every one of them and still have my Yamaha baby grand my grandparents got me. Neither metal or classical are easy to play tho I find jazz a lot more difficult than classical...I don't listen to jazz tho
If my choice in music and video games were capable of overriding my moral core, I wouldn't have much of a moral core to start with. That's what gets overlooked when some tragedy happens and the news starts blaming the music, games, guns, movies, whatever - everything except looking at the individual responsible and asking the most important question: What went wrong inside this person that they felt they had to make that choice? Once society learns to ask THAT question and sincerely look for the answers, a lot of broken people can start to heal and a lot of the horrors sung about in various forms of metal might become less of a reflection of real life.
... And my point was made on the news today, where someone felt the need to do something incredibly harmful outside a fertility clinic. This is all preventable. People like that need help BEFORE they get to this point!
My impression, having been in the black metal scene, is that the people there are intimidating on the surface, but very morally grounded and some of the most genuinely kind people I've ever been around. I think this type of music is more of an outlet than an embodiment of who someone really is. A lot of black metal fans for example are disillusioned idealists. They have empathy and tend to be highly introspective, but they also see how having this view is not reflective of the real world, so there is a tension there, and the music just explores that. They're very good and introspective people. I've never met a musician with a big head or who wasn't genuinely nice.
That's why people like varg are indeed posers, he's living proof why people that actually need drugs the most are against taking them. I always saw it as the genre that was willing to take religion down a peg and not an excuse to create a new one.
For myself, Metal is a source of inspiration and/or a pressure release valve for anger. I find value in all of the Metal genre...depends on the day. I read all the lyrics of the songs I listen to.
Crazy thing is, I almost never pay attention to any lyrics. I usually actively do not attend to them mentally because I'm more interested in what the instruments are doing.
That’s a great point. Not everyone actively focuses on lyrics, but the study’s findings are still relevant. It doesn’t assume everyone analyzes every word. Instead, it suggests that the themes in lyrics we’re drawn to, whether consciously or not, can reflect deeper personality traits and moral values. Even if lyrics aren't the main reason someone likes a song, the patterns in what they repeatedly choose to listen to still carry psychological meaning.
11:20 when you mentioned that metal heads are drawn toward the confrontation and complexity of emotions and societal norms, that made me think that this should indicate that metal heads are perhaps MORE developed morally and philosophically.
Precisely! Yet the "Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian Moral Right" screams from the rooftops that they are the highest moral authority while they engage in, condone, and protect rapists and pedophiles... Yet we not only condemn such behavior, and reject Christianity for their well known hate rhetoric against anyone who isn't one of them and justifies the atrocities they commit against others, many of us actively hunt down the perpetrators.
I think the same argument can be made about atheists. If you look at the prison population, the proportion of incarcerated atheists is lower than the proportion in the general population. Hell, you'll find the most dangerous gangbangers in Mexican prisons with a huge Virgen de Guadalupe tattooed across their backs for protection against other inmates. Beyond the ways organized religion can be used to manipulate and swindle church goers, adherence to a sect can result in people shutting off their brains to the true considerations of what is right or wrong or "love thy neighbor", and instead they might think of themselves as being onside with morality simply because they go to a certain building every week or adhere to their religious institution's dogmas.
Totally fair. I think those elements are a huge part of what makes metal so powerful and energizing. But it's interesting how even when lyrics aren't the main focus, they still often reflect themes and ideas that align with the overall vibe and values of the subgenre. The study touches on that.
Not just for lyrics alone, but from what I've learned in being a metalhead for 40 years now, I've met uncountable fans who are interested and care for lyrics as well. You might not be one of them, but no need to lyao, because there are many other fans out there. Not that they all build their life and personality on lyrics, but they listen to them, read them and sometimes like a band more or less because of them.
@gordonbrinkmannI'm one of them. I love great instrumentals, it's why I like prog so much. But. Lyrics and fantastic vocals are also a very big bonus to me. Einar Solberg and Mikael Akerfeldt are my two favorite vocalists in this genre and really in general. Only person who comes close to them that I like vocally imo is Travis Ryan, but that's more deathcore.
I'm an almost 70 year old newish convert to metal, mostly symphonic metal. My first thought was that it was a natural combo. In opera, lyrics are hard to understand due to the singing style, as is with metal growling/screaming. Bingo, a perfect match! Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation, Wintersun, Sabaton, Myrkur. In your description of character traits of typical listeners, I found myself agreeing with many of them. I guess I'm going to have to check out a broader range of metal styles
A few ideas: Strange machines by The Gathering made Floor Jansen choose to sing metal. (Live @pinkpop: great performance.)1st saw Floor with After Forever in 2001. Searched for more of her and found Star One, a project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen. The list of musicians he has worked with is a rabbit hole in it's own right ,-) Blackwater Park by Opeth is a great album. Brittney Slayes (real name: Hayes) is amazing! Pls try: Awakening by her band Unleash the archers. I found her before Arjen did, but I found Toehider (Michael Mills) through a song by Arjen. Super-nice guy to meet, too! Pls try "How much for that dragon's tooth". It also showcases his wonderful sense of humour. Not metal, but a new favourite band of mine are Morganway. Come over or Feels like lettin' go are only 2 great songs. Not metal, too: the new album Enn (=silence) by Eivor Palsdottir is putting the low frequency range of my speakers to the test. There is a live vid of Hugsi bert um teg on here. Greetings from the far north og Germany!
Same here, and I think that's because a lot of symphonic metal tends to have a lot of bleed-over with the other sub-genres. For example, older Nightwish is a mixture of symphonic and power metal, and Epica is a mixture of symphonic and doom (?) metal.
Also, if you like those bands, I recommend Leaves' Eyes, Kamelot, Rhapsody/Rhapsody of Fire, any of Luca Turilli's side projects, Tarja (Nightwish's first singer who now has a solo career), Midnattsol, Xandria, Sirenia, old Tristania, and Therion, along with the other bands that Peter Doe recommended.
@@AdmiralJT yeah I'd really like to see a part II including Folk Metal, Pagan/Viking Metal, Rap Metal, Reggae Metal, Nu Metal & last but not least: Metalcore! x]
It's been long established that metalheads are (on an average) rather kind, helpful and friendly people. Watch the documentary "Full Metal Village" about the Wacken festival - basically interviews with the local older ladies, the pastor and the farmers. They are all very positive about the festival goers. To their utter astonishment the church was not desecrated though the old ladies drinking coffee have heard that they sacrifice animals. But seemingly in a very polite way because it doesn't seem to upset the ladies too much. ;)
One of the most entertaining misconceptions about metal-heads of any preferred sub-genre is that we're angry, evil, degenerates, etc. Honestly, I've always found the aggressiveness of it both energizing and cathartic. Where other "happier" genres push "cheer up / be happy" messages to suppress the inner turmoil, metal explores it, and in the process helps release it and let go. And sometimes its just an audio kick of caffeine to set the mood to conquer the day. 🙂
Just like the music of Beethoven. It was a glorious expression of his frustration and defiance, a great big middle finger raised to his father. Pop music is shallow and inauthentic. Metal runs deep.
@@fruitiusmaximus925 One of Hanabie's breakout hits was a song called "We Love Sweets". Not sure how "deep" that metal song runs, but dang does it kick hard and energize me like the audio equivalent of a quad shot of espresso. Haha. But yes, in general metal does run deep. Face life's challenges and frustrations head on.
@@psychologyofrock Not gonna lie, some good metal (and occasionally rave) really gets me "In the Zone" when I'm staring at Excel Spreadsheets all day at my wage slave job. Haha. Also feels like an auditory kick of caffeine to get me ready to attack the day!
Atheists believe that religion is both fiction and fantasy. yet islamics and catholics and buddhists and our greatest allies in the middle east believe that their religions are incontestable reality and truth, this is known as conviction, neither fiction or fantasy. "moral code" varies greatly in our global world. There are no standards. Even "murder" is looked at favorably in every society, depending on who was "murdered". As per example, if I was "murdered", you would celebrate and encourage more.
I find it very difficult to accept that a group could accurately base something on the outward appearance of lyrical content while probably not understanding the substantive and poetical nature of them. Some bands, like Slayer, who are not Satanic, and whose lyrics subvert the idea that the content may "APPEAR" to promote a thing but, in fact, rejects it or objects to it. Songs like Angel of Death are certainly NOT condoning the holocaust and those responsible but points out the horror of the things that were done. Or Metallica's "Disposable Heroes" as another example of lyrics that might be confused as celebrating a thing when the message is to undermine it.
Exactly. Yet most of the Fundamentalist Evangelical perpetrators of the "Satanic Panic" from the late 70’s through the early 90's could not or would not see beyond the superficial surface set dressing and labeled everything as "Satanic" when it wasn't at all.
@@TheWolfgangGrimmer I was pretty young when that album came out and every adult that I explained that song to thought it was promoting war and mocking soldiers. So, it doesn't take someone exceptionally literal minded but anyone not open minded is susceptible to failing to grasp the concept of lyrical dissonance and contrarian poetry.
This is such a great point. I just joined a metal band and started writing, and many of my songs may seem to glorify bad behavior on first glance. My intention is to show where this behavior leads, and none of the subjects I write are fulfilled, happy people. They've doomed themselves. But I could see someone giving a quick listen and thinking I'm promoting it. Interpretation is in the eye of the beholder!
Nina, does the study do any research into people who tend to cross genres often? I tend to find connection to something in virtually every genre and sub-genre of hard rock and metal...
Hey David! This study really was focused on the nuances in morality between the different genres, but there have been a few other studies that addressed morality in metal music and came to the basic conclusion that there is not evidence to support lower moral codes in metal heads 😊🤘🏻
@@psychologyofrockThank you! The sense of community that has been created among fans is an amazing, beautiful thing... It's too bad that the outward image is as negative as it is...
@@psychologyofrockHmmm I don't see that as much anymore. These days some are into music and some just are not. Compared to the 60's and 70's. You were judged for everything.
There's people in my family who say that the Heavy Metal I listen to is the reason I have Schizophrenia and can't be good for my well being. On the contrary! I'm a very happy, bright and outgoing person who loves life and can't imagine what life would be like without my favorite music. My favorite bands are Sinister Ghost ( Melodic Black Metal), Immolation (Death Metal), Týr and Æther Realm.
As a long time metal head who was born and raised in Jamaica as soon as I saw this I clicked (never seen any of your videos before this, it was a recommended video by the YT gods). Interesting stuff, you got a new subscriber.
Metal isnt just about the lyrics. Its more about the music! The power, The feeling and mostly the aggression is what pulls me in. It must have a groove 🤘. Doom, Death and Thrash FTW!
I am not from an English speaking country, but even before I can speak English I was interested in heavy metal lyrics. Including the hair bands I listened to when I was in elementary. I had kind of cautious feeling about my own attraction because in the 80s the heavy metal culture was very much condemned by religious society like in my country. Watching your video made me realize that morality is a complex thing. You can't judge a Cannibal Corpse fan as a sadistic psycho or a Mayhem fan as an evil satanic. This video enlightened me that there was a complex morality behind people taste, and it's not a black and white thing. Now that I am 49 yo my taste is more to the emotional, philosophical, and life experience lyrics. Dream Theater, Nightwish, Epica are some of the best lyricist for me. Their lyrics can hit me deep and make me cry. Thank you Nina.
I'm a traditional metal/NWOBHM guy. I love that all the songs basically boil down to being strong, rocking out, having a good time and fighting evil powers. With a good mythical heavy metal tale every now and then.
The whole reason why metal is so ridiculously subdivided, is because metal is "Musician's Music". Every musician loves at least one narrow category of "metal".
As a metalhead with a degree in MetaEthics, I find this fascinating. I would like to mention how it is sometimes clear that the author of a study has a clear bias that influences how certain concepts are described. In this case, the Loyalty vs. Betrayal dichotomy implicitly assumes group membership, so any failure to be loyal to that group is characterized as betrayal, while ignoring the possibility that the concept of group membership is itself being rejected. One cannot betray a group to which one never belonged.
Yes. Also there is no group that comes as close to my own moral standards than the metal community. But still I am an individual within the group. Also loyalty hints at hierarchy which is absent in the metal community
Your own bias is feeding into you concluding that its a bias on the researchers part and not an Observation Error. If the culture of the group is the rejection of being part of the group, the rejection of groups is active participation in the groups culture. Its an oxymoron. "We reject groups."
I hope you're talking about Smut Metal icons like Steel Panther and not the buffoon who butchered Faith (by George Michael) and Behind Blue Eyes (by The Who). There are infinitely better examples of Nu-Metal out there, Exhibit A being SevenDust.
George Michael deserves to have his music butchered 😅 but yeah Limp Bizkit sucks. Static-X and Fear Factory were pretty awesome nu-metal bands back in the day @@TwistedMe13
@@MollyMcBooter No one deserves to have their songs get Durst-ed on. I could understand campy tunes getting the Frog Leap Studios treatment, because that would be awesome and hilarious. Agreed on Static-X and Fear Factory. I still prefer Sevendust for the sheer range.
Interesting study, but I wonder how age is a factor in this. For example, I am 53 years old. I started listening to metal in the late 80s. I was exposed to glam metal bands, traditional metal bands and thrash metal bands. I didn't know the other genres existed as some of them were just in their infancy at the time. So now, 35+ years later, I still like the music that sounds like what I was listening to when I was a teenager. I guess there is a nostalgia factor for me. There are some bands that I discovered later in life, such as Opeth, and they are one of my favorites. But for the most part, I like the music that I was listening to when I was 17.
I think you're totally right, there is definitely a factor of nostalgia for most people. This is absolutely true for me. Believe it or not, there is actually research on this! Rock and metal fans, more than any other, also tend to be the most loyal listeners of their genres and will often listen to the same artists for life. I think I have a short video about this! 😊🤘🏻
Most older folks do like music that they listen to when they were younger I think it has something to do with when they felt Freer I don't know at least that is how it was explained to me in my case that's not so
@@psychologyofrock I must REALLY be a freak then. Because I don't really listen to anything I listened to as a kid anymore. I don't really listen to music much older than 10 or so years old. And, as with the gentlemen whose post this is, I'm in my 50's.
"Glam Metal" is oxymoronic. It's a term that never made sense to me. There's nothing metal about bands like Poison. Hence, I use the term "Glam Bands" or "Hair Bands".
After giving this video a thorough watch, I feel compelled to share my perspective on metal subgenres. I don’t confine myself to any single style, as my appreciation for metal is driven by individual bands that resonate with me. Whether it’s the theatrical flair of cheesy power metal, the grandiose storytelling of epic Viking metal, the relentless brutality of deathcore, or the blistering pace of thrash, I find something to love in the diversity of sounds and emotions these bands deliver. This open-minded approach lets me celebrate the unique strengths of each subgenre without being tethered to one camp. A killer riff, a soaring melody, or raw intensity can hook me, regardless of the label attached. Supporting bands that catch my ear keeps my metal journey vibrant and ever-evolving Please note I used Grok to help me craft this comment and put my thoughts to text as I suffer from Autism and struggle with writing anything legible.
This was truly fascinating, and I'm not surprised to find that casual interest in many sub-genres of metal correlates well to my inability to define myself with a strong ideological stance in society. I'm paradoxical
I do care a lot about the lyrics. The riffs and drums are what I appreciate, but the lyrics are what I resonate with. There are some songs, when I first listen, I find it pretty decent, put it in a playlist for a few days, and forget about it soon. Because I don’t feel connected to it. I do pay more attention to the lyrics of some subgenres over others, so some of these profiles are actually more accurate than others. The more I care about lyrics, the more accurate it is.
I absolutely love your stuff. I always think people think any headbanger is a big lumpy dummy that works at the circus and lives in his mom’s basement. Well I’m only big and lumpy not the other two!
This is the first video of yours I have seen and I am full on fascinated. I think you'll have 3 schools of thought on this. 1. The elitist that will hate you for even drawing attention to them 2. The gatekeepers that will disagree just because they were there when and 3. those that are open to a little introspection. Keep on, friend!
I am right there with you. I found Carnivore to be quite fascinating. Quite brutal. I have been a fan of Type O since forever I guess. Maybe like 30 years?😂😂😂😂
Same! Got to see them live once before they were big, and then twice when they were touring in support of October rust. I have a TON playlist on this channel. 🖤💚🤘🏻
Speaking for myself, this research is pretty conclusive. Like most others probably, im not confined to just one subgenre but my preferred ones matches spot on. Question: where does Goth or Industrial Metal fit in? Keep up the good work!
How did they miss alternitive metal? It is a very popular subgenre (with more emphasis on lyrics than some of the other subgenres) and my personal favorite. I'm also suprosed to see symphonic metal missing. If they didn't, I'm sorry I'm unable to see the link in your description.
This is a very interesting study; although I've found a vast majority of metal fans a the loveliest, most intelligent people around, so it's not that surprising. Also 11:01 SIT DOWN LARS! (sorry, just had to say it)
Totally agree that the metal community is known for its strong sense of unity. This kind of research isn’t meant to divide or water that down, but to explore what draws people to metal on a deeper psychological level. If anything, it highlights how meaningful and personal the connection to the genre really is. This is something that I focus on a lot on this channel.
> this...actually makes a lot of sense Not really. I've read the original paper. Referring to it and its references as "this is what science says about these topics" is being too charitable. It's just some preliminary research, and a sloppy one at that, if I'm being fully honest.
Just to add to the diversity of personalities and personal taste, I listen to most metal-subgenres mainly because of the music, but if looking at the lyrics exclusively, then the span of my taste reduces. There are lyrical content that I do not subscribe to or even like, but the music is so damn good that I can still enjoy it very much. It's an interesting study, but I would like to see one like this focused more towards the moods and feelings caused by different subgenres from their music and overall vibe point of view. For example, I heard of a study that determined that metal fans were, on average, more emotionally balanced than non-metal fans. This is something interesting to explore.
I don't want to speculate because they weren't included in the study, but I hope they do further research on this topic - I genuinely found it fascinating. It's nice to see stereotypes being challenged.
@@andydee1304Bro or sis it’s literally in the name. Modern pop is also Pop even if it doesn’t sound like ABBA, Modern metal is also metal even if it doesn’t sound like Black Sabbath
Going to metal/goth club and DJ unironically drops Delirium - Silence (feat. sarah McLaughlin), a LITERAL trance anthem, and the dance floor DOES NOT EMPTY. Metalheads Rock.
I’m quite surprised that Symphonic Metal wasn’t in the part of your discussion about the study. My favourite sub genres are Prog and Symphonic, Prog fits with my self analysis reasonably nicely, so it’s probable that whatever their study shows on Symphonic Metal is very likely to fit with me. I’m not all that keen on most of the rest so I think I shouldn’t force myself to.
I was surprised it was not included in the study as well! There were several notable missing genres, I felt. Hopefully they will be addressed in future studies!
For me, lyrics have always been secondary, and often I don't even catch what's being said or understand what the song is about. I'm in it primarily for the music, or at least that is my conscious belief. I have to wonder if the lyrics to any of the music I like were radically different if I'd still like the music, since it wouldn't be true for me to say that the lyrical content never matters to me. My "metal" preferences are what the study may be categorizing as traditional (eg Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden) and progressive (eg Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Rush, as well as non-metal progressive bands such as Genesis, Yes, Moody Blues). I do sometimes wander into what may be otherwise categorized as a different genre (eg Faith No More, Marilyn Manson, Tool). I liked the presentation here, thank you.
Melodic/Symphonic Death Metal is my main "go to" for music so it made since when I resonated most with both Power Metal and Death Metal. Awesome study! Side note; how am I just now finding this channel??? New subscriber! :D
@@BassMessiah100 There is no meaningful difference between art and entertainment. Both are means to evoke a response from an audience. When looking up what others believe the difference is what you'll get is nonsensical, pretentious blather attempting to differentiate the inextricable. Because I guarantee that whatever you believe is singular about either can easily be flipped and just means the example wasn't thought completely through.
You actually get a wide variety of lyrics within the genre. Most people (especially non-metalheads) think it's all like "Hammer Smashed Face", but bands like Morbid Angel and Deicide focus on anti-religious/occult shit, Nile does some wild ancient Egyptian-style stuff, Origin is all about cosmic/Lovecraftian horrors and Blood Incantation has followed suit.
Death metal, brutal death metal, slam death metal, technical death metal, hardcore metal, deathcore metal, black metal, blackened death metal, doom metal, djent metal, industrial metal.
thrash metal, nu metal, metalcore, gothic metal, melodic death metal, melodic black metal, symphonic black metal, folk metal, grindcore....... look I can also type sub generes!! Btw "hardcore metal" is not something that exists lol it's either hardcore or metalcore and the same with "deathcore metal"... it's just deathcore AND DJENT IS JUST DJENT NOT DJENT METAL
As gamer and rpg player, even though I don't play much anymore nowadays, power metal definitely resonates with me. Over 20 years ago was like a new world opened for me when I discovered that bands sing about Lord of the rings and such, since I was bombarded with mainstream music back in time.
More of a classic metal and progressive rock genre here. This is a fascinating study. Would be interesting to see if this would apply to other genres of music. 🤘
@@psychologyofrock i listen to so much stuff including doom that it’s hard to pick favorites, but lately I’ve been loving the shit out of Sleep and Electric Wizard, oh and of course classic OG Black Sabbath….
Really cool, as an equal part death metal, traditional metal and thrash metal fan. All of these points hit the nail on the head perfectly for me personally, which is odd cause I normally fit outside the norms for studies that tackle societal commonalities
Been a metalhead since the mid 80's when I was introduced to Dio. Traditional metal along the lines of Dio, Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, and Judas Priest are my comfort zone. Mainly because of the way the lyrics are sung in an operatic style in most cases. That being said.. I instantly fell in love with Thrash metal when introduced to the big 4. I then found my way to bands like Kreator, Possessed, King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, and similar bands. Thoroughly enjoy them all. Later I found Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend and grew to enjoy symphonic metal to a degree.. though it is hit or miss with me. Then I started to enjoy extreme vocals through Devin Townsend, Jinjer, Gojira, etc... Also enjoy Ghost... Kinda hard to pin down a specific genre because I pretty much enjoy them all. Interestingly, I also enjoy some Skynard, Eagles, The Police, Styx, Chicago, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, and other top 10 type things from the early 80's as well. I think I just enjoy good music... regardless of what it says about morality
I went trough similar path, but you lost me at Ghost... ;) Started with then TV friendly stuff like 1990s Ozzy, then older Iron Maiden and Judas Preist, and then German power bands as Germany is right next to us and their scene was very influential here. I absolutely love Devin's work, and always like me some Jinjer or Gojira. And 70's psychedelic rock, kraut rock etc is also great.
Same here- we have EXACTLY the same taste in music. Hell yeah for mentioning Ronnie James DIO 🤟🏼🤟🏼. I also LOVE sludge metal (Down, Acid Bath, Exhorder, Eyehategod)
Very interesting! Certainly helps to put a spotlight on which sub-genres I am personally attracted to and yes I found it to be accurate to me! Thanks for the video!🤘
This was fascinating. The descriptions of different styles of moral thinking were more detailed and nuanced than I expected. In descending order of resonance to my own thinking, the descriptions corresponding to Prog, Doom, Black and Thrash resonated best, and that tracks my musical taste surprisingly well. More insight than I expected. Thanks!
I do enjoy listening to all of metal music. The study was very accurate. The complexity and details were something I've never heard in any other studies I have read. Thank you for sharing this.
This is true. If you can effectively rule yourself, then no one else needs to rule you. Morality, however you come by it, is your internal law that helps you control yourself and how you treat others. If we all were good at it, then there wouldn't need to be anyone imposing standards on us from the outside which would be complete freedom.
@@angelaharris53As we align ourselves with the objective morality of our universe, our universe tends to work in our favor. I highly recommend that we all align ourselves with the Pillars of Enlightenment, The Trivium Process, and the Hermetic Principles including the 8th Hermetic principle of Care.
I listen to most genres of metal so it makes sense that I felt more duality for life, I value what i believe is good but life would be ultimately meaningless without balance between dark and light
Nah. There can definitely be a lot less dark and make life more meaningful and fulfilling. Don't know wtf you're talking about. You'd change you mind pretty quickly if you were one of the people offered to the dark to bring a false sense of balance.
@@williamhutton2126I'm a minority so I know darkness and I'm saying that life would be boring and repetitive if everything was rainbow's and kittens with nothing ever going wtong we'd take it for granted
Hi. I'm new and if this video is any indication of what to expect, I'll definitely sub! As for my results, any time anyone asks me what my favorite metal band is my answer is always the same: Iron Maiden or Megadeth, depending on the day. According to the study, and going solely on an overall summary of the subgenres, my morality would seen somewhat fractured (power metal vs thrash metal). I'm really all over the place but this is just going off the subgenres that my two all-time favorite bands belong to. I also like prog and death metal. 🤷 I will say this: I finally went to my first death metal concert about a month ago with some friends from work. Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, and Carcass performed. At the end of each set each of the singers final words to us was to take care and love each other. It was an excellent night.
Unfortunately, symphonic metal was not covered in the study, but I do plan to do a video about Alice Cooper! There hasn’t been any research on him, but I want to do a personality analysis. I met him forever ago and we had a really great conversation. Huge fan 😊🤘🏻
To be honest, I don't follow genres but rather bands. But above all, the music is all to me, not the lyrics. Sometimes I don't even listen to the words themselves but rather the sounds they make. A lot of people don't understand the languages but they enjoy the songs, like Sabaton singing in Swedish, Moonspell singing in Portuguese or X-Japan mixing Japanese with English.
As a fan of symphonic death metal, metalcore, and deathcore, yeah, sounds right. There's a reason I love bands like Lorna Shore, Shadow of Intent, Bleed From Within, etc.
I like old school Death Metal and thrash, but I don't consider myself a metalhead. I like pop punk, punk, hardcore, drum and bass, and cheesy 1980s pop music sometimes too.
I don't think that the lyrics themselves are what matter to most metalheads, but the overall feeling and atmosphere that they convey. The visuals are what make me feel attracted to a certain band rather than the lyrics, at least as a non-English native speaker. I think that's why bands from Scandinavian or Slavic countries are also quite successful when singing in their native language, or when the singing is all incomprehensible growls or pig squeals - because it's more about the overall sound, visuals and feeling instead of the lyrics in particular. I would suggest that future studies should also look into these aspects.
AT LAST A GOOD VIDEO ON THE SUBJECT ! Thanks a lot ! =) As a teenager, I remember that in the group of "Outcasts" we were, all of us liked a different genre. A friend and I, who were the novels and comic books fans were in the Manowar and Maiden vibe (+ Ensiferum and Dragonforce, later in the year), the girls were more like in the Nightwish + Evanescence side (+ Cradle of Filth, later, we had something in common), and the nerds friends were more close to Rhapsody, System of a Down and video games OST side of the Force. ^^ YES, the type of music you listen may have a link with your character/temper, or influence your construction as a person. =)
I actually don't care about the sub-genre. Because: what would it bring for me? Else than restriction? I.e.: Black Sabbath is still hard rock to me. The term "metal music" was not even invented, back then. And those pioneers where experimental. Quite much, so. In result (for me, at least), the definition of a genre or even sub-genre is rather closing doors than opening them. Which would be the exact opposite of what these bands where trying to create. Think of the 1st Led Zeppelin album: having a guest to play tabla on one of their songs: trying to expand the range. And in 2025, here is me: a listener, not even a musician myself, categorizing music into even sub-genres? It doesn't really make sense to me. That would feel like I was: "acting against their will". As a fan, and using every chance to promote them, I wanna come up with an example. I became a fan of Black Sabbath in 1975. I just had become a sci-fi fan. Into the void was perfect for me. So I became a fan of hard rock music. 2 songs 4u to listen to, that I wanna share. One of old, one new one (both crazy high in my list of great songs): 16tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Fair warning: 2 links in my upcoming comment. This comment will get blocked @1st, 'cause of those links. Next will be Morganway from England: Feels like lettin' go. Both songs are no way "metal". But the latter one fits like a glove for this topic, in my book: does a genre or sub-genre really matter? Or is it just about a catchy tune? While I dislike some genres: Rap, hiphop, german Schlager.... but: other than that: I'm open to listen to what these creative souls wanna come up with. I'm gonna search for those 2 links now. Hoping to surprise you in a good way!
The term Heavy Metal was actually invented to describe the band Led Zeppelin by the Rolling Stone magazine making a joke that they are going beyond hard rock, that they're so heavy that at this point they're no longer just hard rock but they're heavy metal (which was meant to be a humourous nonsensical term at the time), and Black Sabbath is literally the band who read this and took it to their hearts that they don't want to be just hard rock and embraced the idea of heavy metal and popularised the term, pioneered it as a distinguishable genre from hard rock. Musically, before the term was invented, the song Helter Skelter by the Beatles is considered to be the first Heavy Metal song ever recorded, but there are older proto-metal recordings out there amongst especially rock and blues musicians.
I've never liked the way everything in metal has to be organized into sub-genres. Sometimes when someone finds out I'm a metalhead, they want to know what sub-genre I listen to. My usual answer is "I don't listen to labels, I listen to whatever tickles my brain." If they want further explanation or ask what bands I like, they'll find that I can go from Orbit Culture to Electric Callboy to Slaughter To Prevail to Ice Nine Kills to Frank Sinatra to Ghost to Lorna Shore without batting an eye. Maybe it's my age (I'm 61), or maybe it's my AuDHD, or maybe it's just that my favorite music is just music. So, I have no idea what that says about my moral profile.
Cool and all, but Frank isn't a part metal, I'm sorry to tell that. Jokes aside, labels may be useless to you, but a lot of people like a certain subgenre so labels may seem useless and you don't like or understand why they're there but they have a purpose for some ppl
Exactly, I love most types of music. I listen to ghost, ozzy, 80s metal, the doors even a big chunk of 2000s metal. Labels are pointless, you can't put people in box.
Yeah, it's really about what resonates with you, right? I think, like anything else, things tend to get organized into categories to help people find what they are looking for, whether it be food or music. But I totally get what you are saying! 😊🤘🏻
I'm similar, though half your age. Whenever I fall in love with a band, it's not for their sub-genre. It's because I think they're really fucking good. There are some similarities between most of my favourite bands which I've noticed, but for the most part, I haven't found words for them yet. Maybe I'm just not good enough with words, maybe I just don't have a good enough technical understanding of music. I don't know. But there is *something* they have in common beyond just me liking them.
Sorry, maybe I am too gatekipping, but subgenres are not just labels. They are representation of certain music sound, which buch of bands like to follow, image, behaviour, ideas and even ideologies in lyrics (depending on subgenres). All of this form unique athmosphere and distinctive features, which in one or other form unite different members of these scenes. Also subgenres helps easier to navigate in music. Like simple example: if your favourite metal bands are, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Led Zeppelin etc, I would not be recommending you black metal bands like Darkthrone, or death metal bands like Entombed - not because I like to pu labels but coz these bands belong to subgenre with absolutely different sound and lyrical topics, has different vibe in atmosphere not only in music sound and imagery but in scene overall which you may not like just coz its different and not yours.
My husband and I both enjoy classic metal and power metal. His favorite band is Iron Maiden while mine is Ozzy. We're both history nuts too so the history aspect to heavy metal lyrics is spot on.
I'm 50 and been a metalhead since 1980's. I like many subgenres of metal, from pop rock to psychedelic black metal. If the music works for me, I listen. I'm not loyal to a subgenre at all. Right now, Igorrr Infestis is my thing next week it might be Ghost.
The genre I listen to the most is defo power metal. With an enjoyment from prog rock and prog metal as well. I also have a love for bands like system of a down due to their energy and lyrics that points out hypocrisy and injustice. Honestly as I have come to understand myself I have realized that I am very much a justice, right and wrong, motivated person. I bemoan that corruption that I see and long leaned into a rebellious idea of banding together and tearing down the institutions that have used their power to harm others. As much as I find paladins cringe from the religion aspect, I myself tend to be a paladin type when it comes to morality. But I am also the type to put myself into others shoes and understand their motivations. Like IE one stuck to dogmatic faith would write off exceptions, whereas I feel that there are exceptions to everything. I also feel that there is a great difference in severity when it comes to crimes, doing wrong, etc. I believe that wronging someone in a personal sense is a deep slight, wronging someone in an impersonal sense (ie a stranger) is superficial, and I believe wronging an institution is victimless. IE if one steals from the government it is expected and only harms a metaphysical idea, their existence is not threatened. If one steals from a stranger it is shitty and you have ruined the persons life but you both move on. If you steal from someone you personally know you have broken social taboo, you have broken an invisible contract, that betrayal cuts deep, and you have broken their trust not just of you but of people going forward. In my eyes personal betrayal like that is akin to stabbing them in the back, a treacherous crime that historically has been punished with the utmost severity. I think that also colors my morality, a holdover from my christian upbringing, a feeling that punishment must be dealt to right the scales. I think of Prometheus being feasted upon every morning. Of Judas, Brutus, and Cassius, gnawed on in the three headed mouths of satan in the ninth circle of hell in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. To me that is the default, through reasoning and insight this becomes a more complex image. As one of my favorite stories from buddhism is the one where a mass murderer is given the chance to turn his life around and ends up becoming a dedicated monk. I feel a deep sense of justice but also feel that everyone should be granted the right to turn a new leaf.
Hey! I thought this study was fascinating and I am curious to hear if you agree with the findings. There are some notable subgenres that were missing from this study, so I hope this research continues! That being said, what is your favorite subgenre and does the moral profile match up with you?
Not enough shoulder space to squeeze me in one sub!! I'm into the sound quality. Voice, Drums/ Percussion, Bass and Guitar. I like some 1930's- 50's but mainly 1960's to 1981ish and spotty from there to now. Love a lot of Female fronted bands of late;
DOROTHY ❣️
THE PRETTY WRECKLESS
PARAMORE 🌹
IN THIS MOMENT etc. ☯️☮️
Anointed in servitude.. internal bleeding
No moral profile matched me because you skipped Industrial Metal with bands like FF or NIN...
There are at least 45 metal sub genres that I am aware of. My STRONG preference is SYMPHONIC METAL. Which touches Mythology, Fantasy Science and Mortality, for the most part. Symphonic metal was not one of the genres mentioned. It might have been studied.
I began my metal journey with Doom and Sludge Metal. I wasn't with it long, maybe two years, but the Emotional depth and Majesty description would be fitting..
I bounce between subgenres, though I don't really listen the black metal unless Nuclear Blast plays some on their stream. I don't think this study can pin me down.
The Study: So you're a bunch of moral philosophy nerds who happen to like a good drink and really loud music?
Metalheads: Duh, have you met us?
🖤🤘🏻😊
EXACTLY!!!
🎶🎸🤘😝🤘🎸🎶
🤘METAL 4 LIFE🤘
🎶🎸🤘😝🤘🎸🎶
Can't condemn Us, to what we really are!
It's not wrong. :D
Saalam alaykum my Brother, you well know that alcohol is haram. Happy Eid my strong Muslim Brother. Brick by brick we shall retake our lands promised to us by Allah.
Mashallah.
"doom metal prefers themes of sorrow, darkness, and futility"
Sleep: "let's write an album length song about smoking weed in the desert"
The link is that many people turn to recreational drugs in order to cope with the misery of life. Stoner metal coming from doom metal makes perfect sense in that regard.
@@Pazuzu4All❤
That's why it's called stoner metal, plus, most doom subgenres are depressive as fuck (funeral, death doom, epic doom, trad doom, blackened doom).
Also Sleep: "Spend all the money on all the weed."
Then we have electric wizard...
Ive never heard of a metalhead that confines themselves to a single subgenre
true!
I've seen a lot of folks who list bands that are "just" considered heavy metal, but you can put those bands into even more granular sub-genres like NWOBHM or NWOAHM - it depends on how granular you go. But there's tons of folks who just prefer heavy metal OGs for example
I stick to 80s heavy metal and a little bit of power, speed and thrash metal every now and then.
I prefer prog overall, but my branch spans to metal core, nu metal, rock, death core, tech death, and melo-death
I have. Tons of them.
What about folk metal? A bunch of jolly people cherishing nature, their cultural roots, mead, beer, mythology and fun?
LOL… Folk metal often feels like a parody to me.
If you truly want to connect with nature and honor your cultural roots, I think pagan black metal or atmospheric black metal offer a much deeper and more sincere experience.
There are only a handful of folk metal bands that really take their craft seriously - the rest often lean more toward gimmick than substance.
I grinned when I discovered that "folk metal" was an actual thing, because I remember David Lee Roth, back in the early 1980s, saying something like, "Metal is just folk music played at high velocity."
@@agentrobococktheentertaine8327 Honestly you just don't get it then. Which is fine. I get something very different out of it.
@@agentrobococktheentertaine8327 those are also sleepy genres, the lofi hip hop of metal
Not in the slightest. There are a few gimmicky Folk Metal bands that have broken out into the mainstream of Metal, but the vast majority of Folk Metal bands do take themselves and their topics seriously. Many of these you will rarely find outside of Folk Metal/Pagan festivals, but if you only look at the Folk Metal bands that play at the more mainstream Metal festivals you are likely to think the genre is a gimmick.@@agentrobococktheentertaine8327
I’ve gotten repeated comments about the clip of Peter Steele with everyone saying that Type O Negative was placed in the wrong genre, but please note that is not TON, that is a clip of Carnivore, which was another one of his bands and was thrash 🤘🏻 Check them out if you haven’t heard of them!
I am a loyal Type O Negative fan. Peter Steele is my favorite Priest.
Ghost is excellent with all the Satanic vibes and he is my favorite Pope.
Marilyn Manson needs a shout out for being anti establishment, so he is my Sunday school teacher.
Music is like my own personal religion.
Top Metal Bands in order!!!💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤
@@lesafowers8142Manson wasn't included since industrial metal wasn't.
Crossover thrash
Poooooooosers complaining in the comments don't know the mighty Carnivore.
I also read something interesting long ago that struck a chord with me. Metalheads, if not listening to metal, are more likely to listen to classical music.
Particularly if they like Symphonic Metal. Have you ever heard Nightwish's live version of Ghost Love Score?
I’ve always been a fan of what was called “thinking man’s metal” back in the 80s
Because composers like Bethoven were Metal before Metal was a thing.
Metal and classical share a lot of the same musical themes, complex time changes, modal changes. I was a classically trained pianist 8 years....before I got my first guitar at 14 and a few buddies and I formed a band 3 years later. I"m 57 now, still love metal and still love classical.Haven't played my guitars in over 30 years tho I still have every one of them and still have my Yamaha baby grand my grandparents got me. Neither metal or classical are easy to play tho I find jazz a lot more difficult than classical...I don't listen to jazz tho
Very much so. Much of metal can be traced at least in theory to classical music.
If my choice in music and video games were capable of overriding my moral core, I wouldn't have much of a moral core to start with. That's what gets overlooked when some tragedy happens and the news starts blaming the music, games, guns, movies, whatever - everything except looking at the individual responsible and asking the most important question: What went wrong inside this person that they felt they had to make that choice? Once society learns to ask THAT question and sincerely look for the answers, a lot of broken people can start to heal and a lot of the horrors sung about in various forms of metal might become less of a reflection of real life.
... And my point was made on the news today, where someone felt the need to do something incredibly harmful outside a fertility clinic. This is all preventable. People like that need help BEFORE they get to this point!
My impression, having been in the black metal scene, is that the people there are intimidating on the surface, but very morally grounded and some of the most genuinely kind people I've ever been around. I think this type of music is more of an outlet than an embodiment of who someone really is. A lot of black metal fans for example are disillusioned idealists. They have empathy and tend to be highly introspective, but they also see how having this view is not reflective of the real world, so there is a tension there, and the music just explores that. They're very good and introspective people. I've never met a musician with a big head or who wasn't genuinely nice.
Please don't describing us, we have to be misanthropically suicidal all the time on the surface!!!11 .. xD
That's why people like varg are indeed posers, he's living proof why people that actually need drugs the most are against taking them. I always saw it as the genre that was willing to take religion down a peg and not an excuse to create a new one.
For myself, Metal is a source of inspiration and/or a pressure release valve for anger.
I find value in all of the Metal genre...depends on the day. I read all the lyrics of the songs I listen to.
Same! 😊🤘🏻
Same here. If metal isn't sufficient, then alcohol comes (goes) in. Once again another massacre avoided 🙂
Crazy thing is, I almost never pay attention to any lyrics. I usually actively do not attend to them mentally because I'm more interested in what the instruments are doing.
That’s a great point. Not everyone actively focuses on lyrics, but the study’s findings are still relevant. It doesn’t assume everyone analyzes every word. Instead, it suggests that the themes in lyrics we’re drawn to, whether consciously or not, can reflect deeper personality traits and moral values. Even if lyrics aren't the main reason someone likes a song, the patterns in what they repeatedly choose to listen to still carry psychological meaning.
11:20 when you mentioned that metal heads are drawn toward the confrontation and complexity of emotions and societal norms, that made me think that this should indicate that metal heads are perhaps MORE developed morally and philosophically.
I think that's kinda what she said
Precisely! Yet the "Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian Moral Right" screams from the rooftops that they are the highest moral authority while they engage in, condone, and protect rapists and pedophiles... Yet we not only condemn such behavior, and reject Christianity for their well known hate rhetoric against anyone who isn't one of them and justifies the atrocities they commit against others, many of us actively hunt down the perpetrators.
Clearly you’ve never met Phil Anselmo lol
@@Shalalala_06 he is not all of us
I think the same argument can be made about atheists. If you look at the prison population, the proportion of incarcerated atheists is lower than the proportion in the general population. Hell, you'll find the most dangerous gangbangers in Mexican prisons with a huge Virgen de Guadalupe tattooed across their backs for protection against other inmates. Beyond the ways organized religion can be used to manipulate and swindle church goers, adherence to a sect can result in people shutting off their brains to the true considerations of what is right or wrong or "love thy neighbor", and instead they might think of themselves as being onside with morality simply because they go to a certain building every week or adhere to their religious institution's dogmas.
I don't listen to metal for lyrics, lmao. I listen for heavy riffs, blasting drums, and ripping guitar solos
Totally fair. I think those elements are a huge part of what makes metal so powerful and energizing. But it's interesting how even when lyrics aren't the main focus, they still often reflect themes and ideas that align with the overall vibe and values of the subgenre. The study touches on that.
Not just for lyrics alone, but from what I've learned in being a metalhead for 40 years now, I've met uncountable fans who are interested and care for lyrics as well. You might not be one of them, but no need to lyao, because there are many other fans out there. Not that they all build their life and personality on lyrics, but they listen to them, read them and sometimes like a band more or less because of them.
@gordonbrinkmannThis. Absolutely this.
That's because with most modern metal, you can't understand what they're grunting out anyways...
@gordonbrinkmannI'm one of them. I love great instrumentals, it's why I like prog so much. But. Lyrics and fantastic vocals are also a very big bonus to me. Einar Solberg and Mikael Akerfeldt are my two favorite vocalists in this genre and really in general. Only person who comes close to them that I like vocally imo is Travis Ryan, but that's more deathcore.
I'm an almost 70 year old newish convert to metal, mostly symphonic metal. My first thought was that it was a natural combo. In opera, lyrics are hard to understand due to the singing style, as is with metal growling/screaming. Bingo, a perfect match! Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation, Wintersun, Sabaton, Myrkur. In your description of character traits of typical listeners, I found myself agreeing with many of them. I guess I'm going to have to check out a broader range of metal styles
A few ideas: Strange machines by The Gathering made Floor Jansen choose to sing metal. (Live @pinkpop: great performance.)1st saw Floor with After Forever in 2001. Searched for more of her and found Star One, a project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen. The list of musicians he has worked with is a rabbit hole in it's own right ,-)
Blackwater Park by Opeth is a great album. Brittney Slayes (real name: Hayes) is amazing! Pls try: Awakening by her band Unleash the archers. I found her before Arjen did, but I found Toehider (Michael Mills) through a song by Arjen. Super-nice guy to meet, too! Pls try "How much for that dragon's tooth". It also showcases his wonderful sense of humour.
Not metal, but a new favourite band of mine are Morganway. Come over or Feels like lettin' go are only 2 great songs. Not metal, too: the new album Enn (=silence) by Eivor Palsdottir is putting the low frequency range of my speakers to the test. There is a live vid of Hugsi bert um teg on here.
Greetings from the far north og Germany!
@@peterdoe2617 Thank you for the suggestions!
@@notvochkin Have heaps of fun 🙂
Same here, and I think that's because a lot of symphonic metal tends to have a lot of bleed-over with the other sub-genres. For example, older Nightwish is a mixture of symphonic and power metal, and Epica is a mixture of symphonic and doom (?) metal.
Also, if you like those bands, I recommend Leaves' Eyes, Kamelot, Rhapsody/Rhapsody of Fire, any of Luca Turilli's side projects, Tarja (Nightwish's first singer who now has a solo career), Midnattsol, Xandria, Sirenia, old Tristania, and Therion, along with the other bands that Peter Doe recommended.
4:56 Power Metal
5:35 Death Metal
6:18 Black Metal
6:56 Traditional Classic Metal
7:45 Progressive Metal
8:55 Doom Metal
10:12 Thrash Metal
So none of the metal i listen to lol
@@AdmiralJT yeah I'd really like to see a part II including Folk Metal, Pagan/Viking Metal, Rap Metal, Reggae Metal, Nu Metal & last but not least: Metalcore! x]
No symphonic metal or mongolian folk metal 😔
Oh wow so mine not even in here 😂 shout out to nu-metal groove metal and stoner metal 🤷🏾♀️
Heavy Metal 🖤💙🤘🏻
It's been long established that metalheads are (on an average) rather kind, helpful and friendly people. Watch the documentary "Full Metal Village" about the Wacken festival - basically interviews with the local older ladies, the pastor and the farmers. They are all very positive about the festival goers. To their utter astonishment the church was not desecrated though the old ladies drinking coffee have heard that they sacrifice animals. But seemingly in a very polite way because it doesn't seem to upset the ladies too much. ;)
One of the most entertaining misconceptions about metal-heads of any preferred sub-genre is that we're angry, evil, degenerates, etc. Honestly, I've always found the aggressiveness of it both energizing and cathartic. Where other "happier" genres push "cheer up / be happy" messages to suppress the inner turmoil, metal explores it, and in the process helps release it and let go. And sometimes its just an audio kick of caffeine to set the mood to conquer the day. 🙂
Just like the music of Beethoven. It was a glorious expression of his frustration and defiance, a great big middle finger raised to his father. Pop music is shallow and inauthentic. Metal runs deep.
@@fruitiusmaximus925 One of Hanabie's breakout hits was a song called "We Love Sweets". Not sure how "deep" that metal song runs, but dang does it kick hard and energize me like the audio equivalent of a quad shot of espresso. Haha.
But yes, in general metal does run deep. Face life's challenges and frustrations head on.
I completely agree! Metal definitely helps me to process emotions also. Lots of science to back it as well 😊🤘🏻
@@psychologyofrock Not gonna lie, some good metal (and occasionally rave) really gets me "In the Zone" when I'm staring at Excel Spreadsheets all day at my wage slave job. Haha. Also feels like an auditory kick of caffeine to get me ready to attack the day!
If you can't separate fiction from fantasy, that says more about you than any moral code you might have.
Atheists believe that religion is both fiction and fantasy.
yet islamics and catholics and buddhists and our greatest allies in the middle east believe that their religions are incontestable reality and truth, this is known as conviction, neither fiction or fantasy.
"moral code" varies greatly in our global world. There are no standards. Even "murder" is looked at favorably in every society, depending on who was "murdered".
As per example, if I was "murdered", you would celebrate and encourage more.
this a very typical answer for many metal fans lol
Surprised metal core didn't make the list. Seems like the chosen metal genre for GWOT era combat veterans. Would love to get a profile on that.
I find it very difficult to accept that a group could accurately base something on the outward appearance of lyrical content while probably not understanding the substantive and poetical nature of them. Some bands, like Slayer, who are not Satanic, and whose lyrics subvert the idea that the content may "APPEAR" to promote a thing but, in fact, rejects it or objects to it. Songs like Angel of Death are certainly NOT condoning the holocaust and those responsible but points out the horror of the things that were done. Or Metallica's "Disposable Heroes" as another example of lyrics that might be confused as celebrating a thing when the message is to undermine it.
Exactly. Yet most of the Fundamentalist Evangelical perpetrators of the "Satanic Panic" from the late 70’s through the early 90's could not or would not see beyond the superficial surface set dressing and labeled everything as "Satanic" when it wasn't at all.
I feel like someone would have to be _exceptionally_ literal minded to somehow interpret disposable heroes as a homage to its subject matter, lol.
@@TheWolfgangGrimmer I was pretty young when that album came out and every adult that I explained that song to thought it was promoting war and mocking soldiers. So, it doesn't take someone exceptionally literal minded but anyone not open minded is susceptible to failing to grasp the concept of lyrical dissonance and contrarian poetry.
This is such a great point. I just joined a metal band and started writing, and many of my songs may seem to glorify bad behavior on first glance. My intention is to show where this behavior leads, and none of the subjects I write are fulfilled, happy people. They've doomed themselves. But I could see someone giving a quick listen and thinking I'm promoting it.
Interpretation is in the eye of the beholder!
FACTS!@@crestinglight
Nina, does the study do any research into people who tend to cross genres often? I tend to find connection to something in virtually every genre and sub-genre of hard rock and metal...
Hey David! This study really was focused on the nuances in morality between the different genres, but there have been a few other studies that addressed morality in metal music and came to the basic conclusion that there is not evidence to support lower moral codes in metal heads 😊🤘🏻
@@psychologyofrockThank you! The sense of community that has been created among fans is an amazing, beautiful thing... It's too bad that the outward image is as negative as it is...
Yes, I totally agree! It’s hard to convince people not to judge a book by its cover lol
@@psychologyofrockHmmm I don't see that as much anymore. These days some are into music and some just are not. Compared to the 60's and 70's. You were judged for everything.
Sounds like you are a open minded Zen person. Too boring or to hard to stick one label on. Pick a side already! 😂☯️☮️
There's people in my family who say that the Heavy Metal I listen to is the reason I have Schizophrenia and can't be good for my well being.
On the contrary! I'm a very happy, bright and outgoing person who loves life and can't imagine what life would be like without my favorite music. My favorite bands are Sinister Ghost ( Melodic Black Metal), Immolation (Death Metal), Týr and Æther Realm.
Music is therapy and if it helps you then you need it. 🖤
Very cool analysis of the paper. Thank for the vid!
You are most welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. 😊🤘🏻
I love Symphonic and Power Metal
As a long time metal head who was born and raised in Jamaica as soon as I saw this I clicked (never seen any of your videos before this, it was a recommended video by the YT gods). Interesting stuff, you got a new subscriber.
Welcome to the channel! Happy you are here! 😊🤘🏻
Metal isnt just about the lyrics. Its more about the music! The power, The feeling and mostly the aggression is what pulls me in. It must have a groove 🤘.
Doom, Death and Thrash FTW!
I am not from an English speaking country, but even before I can speak English I was interested in heavy metal lyrics. Including the hair bands I listened to when I was in elementary. I had kind of cautious feeling about my own attraction because in the 80s the heavy metal culture was very much condemned by religious society like in my country.
Watching your video made me realize that morality is a complex thing. You can't judge a Cannibal Corpse fan as a sadistic psycho or a Mayhem fan as an evil satanic. This video enlightened me that there was a complex morality behind people taste, and it's not a black and white thing.
Now that I am 49 yo my taste is more to the emotional, philosophical, and life experience lyrics. Dream Theater, Nightwish, Epica are some of the best lyricist for me. Their lyrics can hit me deep and make me cry.
Thank you Nina.
I'm so glad it resonated with you!😊🤘🏻
I would love more on this !!
Especially interested in the Black Metal breakdown.
🖤🤘🏻
I'm a traditional metal/NWOBHM guy.
I love that all the songs basically boil down to being strong, rocking out, having a good time and fighting evil powers. With a good mythical heavy metal tale every now and then.
The whole reason why metal is so ridiculously subdivided, is because metal is "Musician's Music". Every musician loves at least one narrow category of "metal".
As a metalhead with a degree in MetaEthics, I find this fascinating.
I would like to mention how it is sometimes clear that the author of a study has a clear bias that influences how certain concepts are described. In this case, the Loyalty vs. Betrayal dichotomy implicitly assumes group membership, so any failure to be loyal to that group is characterized as betrayal, while ignoring the possibility that the concept of group membership is itself being rejected.
One cannot betray a group to which one never belonged.
Yes. Also there is no group that comes as close to my own moral standards than the metal community. But still I am an individual within the group. Also loyalty hints at hierarchy which is absent in the metal community
Your own bias is feeding into you concluding that its a bias on the researchers part and not an Observation Error.
If the culture of the group is the rejection of being part of the group, the rejection of groups is active participation in the groups culture.
Its an oxymoron. "We reject groups."
My favorite metal subgenre says I did it all for the nookie
lol
So you could take that cookie and stick it up your yeah?
I hope you're talking about Smut Metal icons like Steel Panther and not the buffoon who butchered Faith (by George Michael) and Behind Blue Eyes (by The Who). There are infinitely better examples of Nu-Metal out there, Exhibit A being SevenDust.
George Michael deserves to have his music butchered 😅 but yeah Limp Bizkit sucks. Static-X and Fear Factory were pretty awesome nu-metal bands back in the day @@TwistedMe13
@@MollyMcBooter No one deserves to have their songs get Durst-ed on. I could understand campy tunes getting the Frog Leap Studios treatment, because that would be awesome and hilarious. Agreed on Static-X and Fear Factory. I still prefer Sevendust for the sheer range.
Interesting study, but I wonder how age is a factor in this. For example, I am 53 years old. I started listening to metal in the late 80s. I was exposed to glam metal bands, traditional metal bands and thrash metal bands. I didn't know the other genres existed as some of them were just in their infancy at the time. So now, 35+ years later, I still like the music that sounds like what I was listening to when I was a teenager. I guess there is a nostalgia factor for me. There are some bands that I discovered later in life, such as Opeth, and they are one of my favorites. But for the most part, I like the music that I was listening to when I was 17.
I think you're totally right, there is definitely a factor of nostalgia for most people. This is absolutely true for me. Believe it or not, there is actually research on this! Rock and metal fans, more than any other, also tend to be the most loyal listeners of their genres and will often listen to the same artists for life. I think I have a short video about this! 😊🤘🏻
Most older folks do like music that they listen to when they were younger I think it has something to do with when they felt Freer I don't know at least that is how it was explained to me in my case that's not so
@@psychologyofrock I must REALLY be a freak then. Because I don't really listen to anything I listened to as a kid anymore. I don't really listen to music much older than 10 or so years old. And, as with the gentlemen whose post this is, I'm in my 50's.
@@williamhutton2126same here. I like to hear new stuff and not be stuck listening to things from my highschool days.
"Glam Metal" is oxymoronic. It's a term that never made sense to me. There's nothing metal about bands like Poison. Hence, I use the term "Glam Bands" or "Hair Bands".
After giving this video a thorough watch, I feel compelled to share my perspective on metal subgenres. I don’t confine myself to any single style, as my appreciation for metal is driven by individual bands that resonate with me.
Whether it’s the theatrical flair of cheesy power metal, the grandiose storytelling of epic Viking metal, the relentless brutality of deathcore, or the blistering pace of thrash, I find something to love in the diversity of sounds and emotions these bands deliver.
This open-minded approach lets me celebrate the unique strengths of each subgenre without being tethered to one camp. A killer riff, a soaring melody, or raw intensity can hook me, regardless of the label attached. Supporting bands that catch my ear keeps my metal journey vibrant and ever-evolving
Please note I used Grok to help me craft this comment and put my thoughts to text as I suffer from Autism and struggle with writing anything legible.
Great comment! Thank you for sharing! 😊🤘🏻
really interesting video, also had a fun time trying to name the bands used in background footage
So glad you enjoyed it! Were you able to identify most of the bands? 😊🤘🏻
“Face down, dead on the ground, find me before another is found!”
They think they know who I am, all they know is I love to kill....😂
I come alive in the darkness…
@@reachvictoria3386 left murdered and nameless
@@reachvictoria3386 Left murdered and nameless...
@@reachvictoria3386 left murdered and nameless
This was truly fascinating, and I'm not surprised to find that casual interest in many sub-genres of metal correlates well to my inability to define myself with a strong ideological stance in society. I'm paradoxical
I do care a lot about the lyrics. The riffs and drums are what I appreciate, but the lyrics are what I resonate with. There are some songs, when I first listen, I find it pretty decent, put it in a playlist for a few days, and forget about it soon. Because I don’t feel connected to it. I do pay more attention to the lyrics of some subgenres over others, so some of these profiles are actually more accurate than others. The more I care about lyrics, the more accurate it is.
It’s not about the lyrics! It’s about the music!
Absolutely! And the science supports it :)
I absolutely love your stuff. I always think people think any headbanger is a big lumpy dummy that works at the circus and lives in his mom’s basement. Well I’m only big and lumpy not the other two!
This is the first video of yours I have seen and I am full on fascinated. I think you'll have 3 schools of thought on this. 1. The elitist that will hate you for even drawing attention to them 2. The gatekeepers that will disagree just because they were there when and 3. those that are open to a little introspection. Keep on, friend!
10:15 CARNIVORE! Sorry. Great video ma'am. I just did not expect to see Peter Steele.
I’m a HUGE fan!
Much more so of Type O negative, but still! 💚🖤
I am right there with you. I found Carnivore to be quite fascinating. Quite brutal. I have been a fan of Type O since forever I guess. Maybe like 30 years?😂😂😂😂
Same! Got to see them live once before they were big, and then twice when they were touring in support of October rust. I have a TON playlist on this channel. 🖤💚🤘🏻
TON is my favorite band! 🖤💚@@psychologyofrock
Speaking for myself, this research is pretty conclusive. Like most others probably, im not confined to just one subgenre but my preferred ones matches spot on. Question: where does Goth or Industrial Metal fit in? Keep up the good work!
Technical Death Metal is my main genre.
This would imply aspects of Death and Progressive, that fits.
🤘🏻
How did they miss alternitive metal? It is a very popular subgenre (with more emphasis on lyrics than some of the other subgenres) and my personal favorite.
I'm also suprosed to see symphonic metal missing.
If they didn't, I'm sorry I'm unable to see the link in your description.
This is a very interesting study; although I've found a vast majority of metal fans a the loveliest, most intelligent people around, so it's not that surprising. Also 11:01 SIT DOWN LARS! (sorry, just had to say it)
😂🤘🏻
Regardless of this attempt at gentrification,Metal heads unite together.Period.💪🤘
Totally agree that the metal community is known for its strong sense of unity. This kind of research isn’t meant to divide or water that down, but to explore what draws people to metal on a deeper psychological level. If anything, it highlights how meaningful and personal the connection to the genre really is. This is something that I focus on a lot on this channel.
Me before watching the video: this is probably some nonsense
Me after watching: this...actually makes a lot of sense.
Same here 😁
> this...actually makes a lot of sense
Not really. I've read the original paper. Referring to it and its references as "this is what science says about these topics" is being too charitable. It's just some preliminary research, and a sloppy one at that, if I'm being fully honest.
Awesome Vid!
Thank You very much for Your Work! Greetings from Germany!
So glad you enjoyed it! :)
Just to add to the diversity of personalities and personal taste, I listen to most metal-subgenres mainly because of the music, but if looking at the lyrics exclusively, then the span of my taste reduces. There are lyrical content that I do not subscribe to or even like, but the music is so damn good that I can still enjoy it very much. It's an interesting study, but I would like to see one like this focused more towards the moods and feelings caused by different subgenres from their music and overall vibe point of view. For example, I heard of a study that determined that metal fans were, on average, more emotionally balanced than non-metal fans. This is something interesting to explore.
So what about industrial metal, groove metal, modern metal and metalcore fans?
I don't want to speculate because they weren't included in the study, but I hope they do further research on this topic - I genuinely found it fascinating. It's nice to see stereotypes being challenged.
Metalcore isn't mental. It's a derivative of emo music which is really just pop music.
@@andydee1304Bro or sis it’s literally in the name. Modern pop is also Pop even if it doesn’t sound like ABBA, Modern metal is also metal even if it doesn’t sound like Black Sabbath
@@andydee1304 show me on the dolly where the metalcore fan hurt you. 🤣🤣🤣
@@andydee1304are you really saying killswitch engage is “just pop music” elitism is a hell of a drug. Also it’s metal not mental
Going to metal/goth club and DJ unironically drops Delirium - Silence (feat. sarah McLaughlin), a LITERAL trance anthem, and the dance floor DOES NOT EMPTY. Metalheads Rock.
Well, I like lots of metal....and Delerium too, they are great!
I’m quite surprised that Symphonic Metal wasn’t in the part of your discussion about the study. My favourite sub genres are Prog and Symphonic, Prog fits with my self analysis reasonably nicely, so it’s probable that whatever their study shows on Symphonic Metal is very likely to fit with me.
I’m not all that keen on most of the rest so I think I shouldn’t force myself to.
I was surprised it was not included in the study as well! There were several notable missing genres, I felt. Hopefully they will be addressed in future studies!
@@psychologyofrock 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
For me, lyrics have always been secondary, and often I don't even catch what's being said or understand what the song is about. I'm in it primarily for the music, or at least that is my conscious belief. I have to wonder if the lyrics to any of the music I like were radically different if I'd still like the music, since it wouldn't be true for me to say that the lyrical content never matters to me. My "metal" preferences are what the study may be categorizing as traditional (eg Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden) and progressive (eg Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Rush, as well as non-metal progressive bands such as Genesis, Yes, Moody Blues). I do sometimes wander into what may be otherwise categorized as a different genre (eg Faith No More, Marilyn Manson, Tool). I liked the presentation here, thank you.
Why is Peter Steele listed in the thrash metal category?
Because of his thrash band Carnivore. It was his other band. Check them out!
Melodic/Symphonic Death Metal is my main "go to" for music so it made since when I resonated most with both Power Metal and Death Metal. Awesome study! Side note; how am I just now finding this channel??? New subscriber! :D
I neever read death metal lyrics for the most part
I agree that some people are just much more drawn to the actual sound
that's a good start for a art vs entertainment discussion
Same. It's all about the instrumentals for me
@@BassMessiah100 There is no meaningful difference between art and entertainment. Both are means to evoke a response from an audience. When looking up what others believe the difference is what you'll get is nonsensical, pretentious blather attempting to differentiate the inextricable. Because I guarantee that whatever you believe is singular about either can easily be flipped and just means the example wasn't thought completely through.
You actually get a wide variety of lyrics within the genre. Most people (especially non-metalheads) think it's all like "Hammer Smashed Face", but bands like Morbid Angel and Deicide focus on anti-religious/occult shit, Nile does some wild ancient Egyptian-style stuff, Origin is all about cosmic/Lovecraftian horrors and Blood Incantation has followed suit.
Is there a link for the study?
The citation is in the description box 😊🤘🏻
Death metal, brutal death metal, slam death metal, technical death metal, hardcore metal, deathcore metal, black metal, blackened death metal, doom metal, djent metal, industrial metal.
Djent is not a genre 😜
@@SamuraiFTF😂😂😂 don't gate keep😂😂😂
Beatdown
thrash metal, nu metal, metalcore, gothic metal, melodic death metal, melodic black metal, symphonic black metal, folk metal, grindcore....... look I can also type sub generes!! Btw "hardcore metal" is not something that exists lol it's either hardcore or metalcore and the same with "deathcore metal"... it's just deathcore AND DJENT IS JUST DJENT NOT DJENT METAL
So death metal and black metal. That’s all you needed to say
As gamer and rpg player, even though I don't play much anymore nowadays, power metal definitely resonates with me. Over 20 years ago was like a new world opened for me when I discovered that bands sing about Lord of the rings and such, since I was bombarded with mainstream music back in time.
Fairly accurate. I would like to see a second part to the study.
Same! They missed a lot of important genres I feel 😊🤘🏻
I do like the study. It's great that our music direction gets any acknowledgement beyond it's obvious infamous labels.
This is cool, it all makes sense.... Curious to find out more in depth stuff about this
😊🤘🏻
My profile is Voivod.
Can't even elaborate.
This was really interesting!
So glad you enjoyed it! 😊🤘🏻
More of a classic metal and progressive rock genre here. This is a fascinating study. Would be interesting to see if this would apply to other genres of music. 🤘
Those are my top preferences as well! And I agree that would be very interesting to see if this applies to other genres of music! 😊🤘🏻
Of COURSE you would find that fascinating. You're a prog fan 😉
@@xivivix7195 well my first rock concert was Yes soooo ...
I really like that no part of this video tried to demonize any particular metal subgenre.
DOOM METAL starts at 08:54
What are your favorite bands?
THANK YOU man of culture
@@psychologyofrock i listen to so much stuff including doom that it’s hard to pick favorites, but lately I’ve been loving the shit out of Sleep and Electric Wizard, oh and of course classic OG Black Sabbath….
@@raybradley1408yw, have a great day!
@@psychologyofrock Saint Vitus, Candlemass, Pentagram.
As someone whose into metal I’m not doubting this but I’m curious what study your referring too. Also for metal imma go with
Death
Classic
And Prog.
The study is cited in the description box and at the beginning of the video :)
We need Sludge Metal in pt 2
Hell yeah- Acid Bath, Crowbar, Pantera, Exhorder or Eyehategod. I saw all of these bands many times, it gets the blood flowing.
Can you add a list of bands under each sub genre?
I listen to metal, but never identify as a metalhead. I hate the stereotypes. Apparently, my comment made some people very butthurt.
a part of being a metalhead is not giving a damn fuck about stereotypes or other negative comments
@@Gangula-z1kexactly
actually, same. But I think this study was actually trying to prove the stereotype wrong, which I think it did :)
Uh huh. Hence the profile pic
❄️
Really cool, as an equal part death metal, traditional metal and thrash metal fan. All of these points hit the nail on the head perfectly for me personally, which is odd cause I normally fit outside the norms for studies that tackle societal commonalities
Been a metalhead since the mid 80's when I was introduced to Dio. Traditional metal along the lines of Dio, Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, and Judas Priest are my comfort zone. Mainly because of the way the lyrics are sung in an operatic style in most cases.
That being said.. I instantly fell in love with Thrash metal when introduced to the big 4.
I then found my way to bands like Kreator, Possessed, King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, and similar bands. Thoroughly enjoy them all.
Later I found Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend and grew to enjoy symphonic metal to a degree.. though it is hit or miss with me.
Then I started to enjoy extreme vocals through Devin Townsend, Jinjer, Gojira, etc...
Also enjoy Ghost...
Kinda hard to pin down a specific genre because I pretty much enjoy them all.
Interestingly, I also enjoy some Skynard, Eagles, The Police, Styx, Chicago, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, and other top 10 type things from the early 80's as well.
I think I just enjoy good music... regardless of what it says about morality
I went trough similar path, but you lost me at Ghost... ;) Started with then TV friendly stuff like 1990s Ozzy, then older Iron Maiden and Judas Preist, and then German power bands as Germany is right next to us and their scene was very influential here. I absolutely love Devin's work, and always like me some Jinjer or Gojira. And 70's psychedelic rock, kraut rock etc is also great.
@@richardaubrecht2822 Hehehe I have always considered metal to be more of a journey.. always seeking more and new musical experiences.
Same here- we have EXACTLY the same taste in music. Hell yeah for mentioning Ronnie James DIO 🤟🏼🤟🏼. I also LOVE sludge metal (Down, Acid Bath, Exhorder, Eyehategod)
@@Fleghorn504 So much good music and not enough lifetime to listen to it all.
Very interesting! Certainly helps to put a spotlight on which sub-genres I am personally attracted to and yes I found it to be accurate to me! Thanks for the video!🤘
This was fascinating. The descriptions of different styles of moral thinking were more detailed and nuanced than I expected. In descending order of resonance to my own thinking, the descriptions corresponding to Prog, Doom, Black and Thrash resonated best, and that tracks my musical taste surprisingly well. More insight than I expected. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it! I found the study fascinating as well! 😊🤘🏻
I do enjoy listening to all of metal music. The study was very accurate. The complexity and details were something I've never heard in any other studies I have read. Thank you for sharing this.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😊🤘🏻
The study answered a few questions I have had about myself. I am a few steps closer in understanding myself.
That’s awesome! ♥️
As morality increases, freedom increases. As morality declines, freedom declines. ⚖️
This is true. If you can effectively rule yourself, then no one else needs to rule you. Morality, however you come by it, is your internal law that helps you control yourself and how you treat others. If we all were good at it, then there wouldn't need to be anyone imposing standards on us from the outside which would be complete freedom.
@@angelaharris53As we align ourselves with the objective morality of our universe, our universe tends to work in our favor. I highly recommend that we all align ourselves with the Pillars of Enlightenment, The Trivium Process, and the Hermetic Principles including the 8th Hermetic principle of Care.
I love industrial metal bc for some reason it helps me to focus and stops overthinking lol
I listen to most genres of metal so it makes sense that I felt more duality for life, I value what i believe is good but life would be ultimately meaningless without balance between dark and light
True! 🤘🏻
Well said
Nah. There can definitely be a lot less dark and make life more meaningful and fulfilling. Don't know wtf you're talking about. You'd change you mind pretty quickly if you were one of the people offered to the dark to bring a false sense of balance.
@@williamhutton2126I'm a minority so I know darkness and I'm saying that life would be boring and repetitive if everything was rainbow's and kittens with nothing ever going wtong we'd take it for granted
Hi. I'm new and if this video is any indication of what to expect, I'll definitely sub!
As for my results, any time anyone asks me what my favorite metal band is my answer is always the same: Iron Maiden or Megadeth, depending on the day. According to the study, and going solely on an overall summary of the subgenres, my morality would seen somewhat fractured (power metal vs thrash metal). I'm really all over the place but this is just going off the subgenres that my two all-time favorite bands belong to. I also like prog and death metal. 🤷 I will say this: I finally went to my first death metal concert about a month ago with some friends from work. Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, and Carcass performed. At the end of each set each of the singers final words to us was to take care and love each other. It was an excellent night.
What about symphonic metal ? Also would like to see a study on shock rock aka Alice Cooper !
Unfortunately, symphonic metal was not covered in the study, but I do plan to do a video about Alice Cooper! There hasn’t been any research on him, but I want to do a personality analysis. I met him forever ago and we had a really great conversation. Huge fan 😊🤘🏻
To be honest, I don't follow genres but rather bands.
But above all, the music is all to me, not the lyrics. Sometimes I don't even listen to the words themselves but rather the sounds they make.
A lot of people don't understand the languages but they enjoy the songs, like Sabaton singing in Swedish, Moonspell singing in Portuguese or X-Japan mixing Japanese with English.
I love how it seems every report on taxonomical generalities has to include a disclaimer that outliers exist.
As a fan of symphonic death metal, metalcore, and deathcore, yeah, sounds right. There's a reason I love bands like Lorna Shore, Shadow of Intent, Bleed From Within, etc.
I like old school Death Metal and thrash, but I don't consider myself a metalhead. I like pop punk, punk, hardcore, drum and bass, and cheesy 1980s pop music sometimes too.
:)
Good to have broad horizons, man🤘
I don't think that the lyrics themselves are what matter to most metalheads, but the overall feeling and atmosphere that they convey. The visuals are what make me feel attracted to a certain band rather than the lyrics, at least as a non-English native speaker. I think that's why bands from Scandinavian or Slavic countries are also quite successful when singing in their native language, or when the singing is all incomprehensible growls or pig squeals - because it's more about the overall sound, visuals and feeling instead of the lyrics in particular. I would suggest that future studies should also look into these aspects.
I love progressive metal. This profile pretty much describes me to a T 😂
Same! 😊🤘🏻
@@psychologyofrock 😁💖🤘
AT LAST A GOOD VIDEO ON THE SUBJECT ! Thanks a lot ! =)
As a teenager, I remember that in the group of "Outcasts" we were, all of us liked a different genre. A friend and I, who were the novels and comic books fans were in the Manowar and Maiden vibe (+ Ensiferum and Dragonforce, later in the year), the girls were more like in the Nightwish + Evanescence side (+ Cradle of Filth, later, we had something in common), and the nerds friends were more close to Rhapsody, System of a Down and video games OST side of the Force. ^^
YES, the type of music you listen may have a link with your character/temper, or influence your construction as a person. =)
I definitely agree! So glad you enjoy the video! 😊🤘🏻
I actually don't care about the sub-genre. Because: what would it bring for me? Else than restriction? I.e.: Black Sabbath is still hard rock to me. The term "metal music" was not even invented, back then.
And those pioneers where experimental. Quite much, so. In result (for me, at least), the definition of a genre or even sub-genre is rather closing doors than opening them. Which would be the exact opposite of what these bands where trying to create. Think of the 1st Led Zeppelin album: having a guest to play tabla on one of their songs: trying to expand the range.
And in 2025, here is me: a listener, not even a musician myself, categorizing music into even sub-genres? It doesn't really make sense to me. That would feel like I was: "acting against their will".
As a fan, and using every chance to promote them, I wanna come up with an example.
I became a fan of Black Sabbath in 1975. I just had become a sci-fi fan. Into the void was perfect for me. So I became a fan of hard rock music. 2 songs 4u to listen to, that I wanna share. One of old, one new one (both crazy high in my list of great songs): 16tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Fair warning: 2 links in my upcoming comment. This comment will get blocked @1st, 'cause of those links.
Next will be Morganway from England: Feels like lettin' go. Both songs are no way "metal". But the latter one fits like a glove for this topic, in my book: does a genre or sub-genre really matter?
Or is it just about a catchy tune? While I dislike some genres: Rap, hiphop, german Schlager.... but: other than that: I'm open to listen to what these creative souls wanna come up with.
I'm gonna search for those 2 links now. Hoping to surprise you in a good way!
Interesting! Thank you!
The term Heavy Metal was actually invented to describe the band Led Zeppelin by the Rolling Stone magazine making a joke that they are going beyond hard rock, that they're so heavy that at this point they're no longer just hard rock but they're heavy metal (which was meant to be a humourous nonsensical term at the time), and Black Sabbath is literally the band who read this and took it to their hearts that they don't want to be just hard rock and embraced the idea of heavy metal and popularised the term, pioneered it as a distinguishable genre from hard rock. Musically, before the term was invented, the song Helter Skelter by the Beatles is considered to be the first Heavy Metal song ever recorded, but there are older proto-metal recordings out there amongst especially rock and blues musicians.
I know only two genres; One I like and one I don't like. Both are not exclusively confined to metal.
Hi Nina! This was really fun to watch! I definitely resonated with the death metal description! Love your channel! ❤
I’m so glad to hear that! What are your favorite bands? 😊🤘🏻
I've never liked the way everything in metal has to be organized into sub-genres. Sometimes when someone finds out I'm a metalhead, they want to know what sub-genre I listen to. My usual answer is "I don't listen to labels, I listen to whatever tickles my brain." If they want further explanation or ask what bands I like, they'll find that I can go from Orbit Culture to Electric Callboy to Slaughter To Prevail to Ice Nine Kills to Frank Sinatra to Ghost to Lorna Shore without batting an eye. Maybe it's my age (I'm 61), or maybe it's my AuDHD, or maybe it's just that my favorite music is just music. So, I have no idea what that says about my moral profile.
Cool and all, but Frank isn't a part metal, I'm sorry to tell that.
Jokes aside, labels may be useless to you, but a lot of people like a certain subgenre so labels may seem useless and you don't like or understand why they're there but they have a purpose for some ppl
Exactly, I love most types of music. I listen to ghost, ozzy, 80s metal, the doors even a big chunk of 2000s metal. Labels are pointless, you can't put people in box.
Yeah, it's really about what resonates with you, right? I think, like anything else, things tend to get organized into categories to help people find what they are looking for, whether it be food or music. But I totally get what you are saying! 😊🤘🏻
I'm similar, though half your age. Whenever I fall in love with a band, it's not for their sub-genre. It's because I think they're really fucking good.
There are some similarities between most of my favourite bands which I've noticed, but for the most part, I haven't found words for them yet. Maybe I'm just not good enough with words, maybe I just don't have a good enough technical understanding of music. I don't know. But there is *something* they have in common beyond just me liking them.
Sorry, maybe I am too gatekipping, but subgenres are not just labels. They are representation of certain music sound, which buch of bands like to follow, image, behaviour, ideas and even ideologies in lyrics (depending on subgenres). All of this form unique athmosphere and distinctive features, which in one or other form unite different members of these scenes. Also subgenres helps easier to navigate in music.
Like simple example: if your favourite metal bands are, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Led Zeppelin etc, I would not be recommending you black metal bands like Darkthrone, or death metal bands like Entombed - not because I like to pu labels but coz these bands belong to subgenre with absolutely different sound and lyrical topics, has different vibe in atmosphere not only in music sound and imagery but in scene overall which you may not like just coz its different and not yours.
Hope there's a part 2 or 3 because there's more genres/subgenres.
Yes, there were notable subgenres missing from the study, but I hope they continue this research!
This is cool, it’s pretty close to how I always guessed it would be.
My husband and I both enjoy classic metal and power metal. His favorite band is Iron Maiden while mine is Ozzy. We're both history nuts too so the history aspect to heavy metal lyrics is spot on.
I'm 50 and been a metalhead since 1980's. I like many subgenres of metal, from pop rock to psychedelic black metal. If the music works for me, I listen. I'm not loyal to a subgenre at all. Right now, Igorrr Infestis is my thing next week it might be Ghost.
Nena! You helped me understand myself through my fav music. Thx!
You are so welcome! Very happy you enjoyed it! 😊🤘🏻
@@psychologyofrock I enjoyed it like a monumental doom metal masterpiece ;) Thanks again!
🖤😊🤘🏻
I listen to most, if not _all,_ of these genres. Kinda depends on what mood I'm in. Cheers from Denmark 🍻🤘
It's not something I've thought about before, but it actually fits pretty well with my preferred subgenres (doom, power, and classic)
The genre I listen to the most is defo power metal. With an enjoyment from prog rock and prog metal as well. I also have a love for bands like system of a down due to their energy and lyrics that points out hypocrisy and injustice.
Honestly as I have come to understand myself I have realized that I am very much a justice, right and wrong, motivated person. I bemoan that corruption that I see and long leaned into a rebellious idea of banding together and tearing down the institutions that have used their power to harm others.
As much as I find paladins cringe from the religion aspect, I myself tend to be a paladin type when it comes to morality. But I am also the type to put myself into others shoes and understand their motivations. Like IE one stuck to dogmatic faith would write off exceptions, whereas I feel that there are exceptions to everything. I also feel that there is a great difference in severity when it comes to crimes, doing wrong, etc.
I believe that wronging someone in a personal sense is a deep slight, wronging someone in an impersonal sense (ie a stranger) is superficial, and I believe wronging an institution is victimless. IE if one steals from the government it is expected and only harms a metaphysical idea, their existence is not threatened. If one steals from a stranger it is shitty and you have ruined the persons life but you both move on. If you steal from someone you personally know you have broken social taboo, you have broken an invisible contract, that betrayal cuts deep, and you have broken their trust not just of you but of people going forward. In my eyes personal betrayal like that is akin to stabbing them in the back, a treacherous crime that historically has been punished with the utmost severity.
I think that also colors my morality, a holdover from my christian upbringing, a feeling that punishment must be dealt to right the scales. I think of Prometheus being feasted upon every morning. Of Judas, Brutus, and Cassius, gnawed on in the three headed mouths of satan in the ninth circle of hell in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. To me that is the default, through reasoning and insight this becomes a more complex image. As one of my favorite stories from buddhism is the one where a mass murderer is given the chance to turn his life around and ends up becoming a dedicated monk. I feel a deep sense of justice but also feel that everyone should be granted the right to turn a new leaf.
Ooooh! This was interesting. Thank you
You're welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 😊🤘🏻