Metal - The most Misunderstood genre in Music

When i first started listening to Metal music, i may never have imagined that i will write such an article.

To most people, Metal may typify as Noise! :-D Cant really blame them because that was the way even i've felt (sometimes) in my very initial stages of listening to this genre.

There are some kind of movies where u did not quite comprehend much, and hence feel a re-watch is needed. And it is only after the re-watch u appreciate the true greatness and value of the movie There are some other similar kinds of movies in which u do not feel too good after the end, and u think u will never see this movie again. But later when u start thinking about the entire movie as a whole, u start to appreciate it a lot more, to the point that u want to watch it again. Quality Metal music can be compared to either of these kinds of movies.

Because of its "heavy" nature and relatively limited audience (compared to easily appealing genres like Pop and Rock), very little Metal music is heard in Mainstream music. (Mainstream music refers to the Commercial world of music like in Airplay and Music Videos, the kind of music We hear most of the time, on Radios and TVs). Hence few people actually get to know more about this genre. The common misconception that this kind of music is Noisy and bad for the ears, is Nonsense to say the least. It is just the same as any other kind of music in that sense.

As it is obvious Metal requires some patience in listening to. To me the extent to which a music is "Good" depends on how much it sustains the interest in me Everytime i listen to it. The layers of music in a song is what will eventually keep this interest. In other words it is the Richness of the music which sustains interest.

In my short talk above u would have realized that i am talking only about the Music in a song. Thats right. I don't give a damn for the lyrics in a song. One reason for that s i feel music is a language of its own and the music is what captures me most. Besides i feel lyrics in most songs don have much value or sometimes even meaning ( unlike poetry!). It is only in the rare case that i start enjoying a song So much that i try to make out its lyrics. And of course the above statements don't apply when i listen to Hip-Hop songs :) :)

Coming back to Metal, i can say that it is one of the most instrument-centric genres. Most listeners of Metal don pay much attention to its lyrics. They listen to it for the way the music is created. Most of the time this is done by the Classic instruments of Drums and Electric Guitars. They are the mainstay of Metal music.

Metal is a very diverse genre in itself with tens of other sub-genres originating from it. Each of the sub-genres differ in one or more of the following Major ways :

1) Kind of Vocals used
2) Song Structures
3) Pace of the music
4) Tone, Bass
4) Instruments used

I must add here that Linkin' Park, a band which is especially quite popular in India, come under the category of Nu-Metal (or so they say!!). I should however say, that their music is average or below average imho. And if you want to listen to some "real" metal, they're certainly not it!

To most of the relatively new listeners of this genre, some genres may appeal more than the rest. But for the experienced listeners it All ultimately boils down to Great Music.

For those who enjoy music, and really dig instrumental stuff, i recommend giving Metal a try. And remember, it does not come on easily at first. :-)