Metal Reviews

What would some of you say the line, if there is one, between a "metal fan" and a "metalhead" is, personally? I would certainly consider myself a metal fan. However:

1. I don't "dress metal" or "look metal."

2. My tastes in metal are mostly thrash/prog/heavy/power metal. Death metal, with the exceptions of Death and In Flames (if you really consider In Flames true death metal), doesn't really do much for me. Nor does black metal. I also listen to a lot of non-metal, such as Alice In Chains and Queens Of The Stone Age.

3. I hang around mostly non-metal fans.

So, with these three criteria in mind, would I really be considered a "metalhead"? Some say that, since only about 1% of the population listens to metal, you're a "metalhead" if you're at all a fan of the genre. But I know others would disagree with that, and say that to be a "metalhead", you have to do more than just listen to metal. What do you guys think?

I dress pretty metal (long hair, band shirts). But then again, none of my friends lsiten to metal, and my favourite album of all time isn't even a metal album!

I dunno, does there need to be a difference? I almost exclusively wear band shirts and jeans and have long hair, and three of my friends are metalheads (with one of them being an extreme metal-hating pussy that loves cock rock ). But then most of my frinds don't listen to any metal at all, and don't dress like me.

I definitely don't "act" metal if acting metal means shouting "FUCK YEAH!" and starting mosh pits.

I cut my long ass hair about 4 months ago and still wear almost exculsively black band t-shirts.

My favorite album is not a metal album either, it's rush's power windows. My favorite band is Rush, so them mixed with all the best aspects of mid-80's pop music and I'm in heaven.

I love a lot of 80's pop music, nothing specific comes to mind as to what kind or who, just random songs I have always loved. I got a Big Country LP for free, listened to it and now am a huge fan. They seem to be the exception to the rule because every time I try to listen to 80's records they mostly suck save for the song(s) I'm familiar with. Ive discovered a few gems that never got radio play, but still, it's a disaster.

My favorite metal bands are huge on melody (good riffs create melody, chords are just as good as notes) low on bullshit, unnecessary speed and shock (schlock?) value (that means most black and death metal bands that can't deliver solid material are unbearable to me)

I think slayer leave a lot to be desired.

Most "classic thrash" is just dumb, fast riffs that suck compared to the stuff from 70's that I don't care about either.

I think Elf is probably better than Rainbow, despite Elf's billy joel-like boogie piano and lack of metal-ness

I think Yes is a great band

I think death metal / shouting vocals in the wrong context is just lazy. (see: COB, though I love them, they should have hired a singer, then we would have had a faster, better version of sonata arctica)

I think Chicago is far superior to King Crimson

I consider myself a metalhead because the majority of the music I listen to is metal (although I think more of my favourite bands are not-metal than metal... ) but uh... I don't really think it matters. It's just taste in music/taste in clothing/social circle and even though they can be related they don't have to be.

But who is actually a "metalhead"?

Listening to metal - i do it.
Drinking beer & whiskey - i do it.
Going to concerts - i do it.

Hanging out with other "metalheads" - i do it.
Trying to play any instrument (without success) - i did it

So am i not a metalhead? Oh, I see, it's cause i don't have long hair and black shirts?
Is that a factor that separates us "normals" from the real "metalheads"?
If yes, than it would mean that clothes determines our personality, and i think everyone agrees that is not true. Should someone that listenes to jazz dress like a jazzer? No. So why should we?

So the answer, if you ask me, Seinfeld, YES, you are a metalhead.

I love metal, but I don't have any band shirts and I rarely go to concerts...and I don't hang out with anyone that likes metal either (except for maybe a few bands here and there). I guess I'm pretty un-metal, but I still consider myself a metalhead. Woo-hoo

I certainly don't fit the stereotypical metalhead criteria that well, but I would guess 80% of the music I listen to is metal, I go to live shows as often as I can and my collection of band shirts is growing. Two of my best friends are into metal after being introduced to metal by me I don't have long hair though and some of the music I like is pretty much as far from metal as it gets.

I consider myself a metalhead because I listen mainly to metal. I don't dress metal nor look metal at all.

1. I look pretty metal, if I do say so myself.

2. I listen to a bunch of metal, but a bunch of not-metal too.

3. I have metal friends,but not-metal friends too.

I dunno.

A lot of my friends are metal heads, and i'm in a power metal band to, but i don't dress 'metal' or have long hair. And i listen to more dance music then metal these days, and thats not very metal at all. So i know what you mean Seinfeld, i would say i'm a big metal fan but not really a metal head.

I consider myself a metalhead. 90% of the music i listen to is metal and i have the most fun time when i hang around metal dudes. Looks don't mean shit for me.

I listen to 90% metal, don't dress metal... hang around a few friends, including my brother, who listen to metal and play in metal bands... uhhh... I don't know, what does that make me? I where a shirt and tie everyday for work...

I consider a person to be a metalhead if his first preference, when it comes to music, is metal. I couldn't care less if he likes Britney Spears or has Mariah Carey as one of his favs. Many of us have jobs where we cannot "dress or look metal". Some don't do it cos they don't like it or are not in favour of it. I don't wear metal T-shirts, or don't dress in black all the time. I do have long hair though. But, it is not that long that I can wipe my backside with it. It is longer than what is conventionally considered "normal". Being a metalhead has more to do with musical tastes than how you look or project yourself.

I listen to metal mainly, but not just metal.
I wear long hair, but not so long to be really metal, and is black & curly, so I look more gypsy than metal. I always wear some type of bear or goatie.
I usually wear Simpsons, Futurama or nerdy t-shirts.
I have friends that are pure metal heads, and other than no.
My wife doesn't like metal.

I'm a metalhead? not sure.

You don't have to do anything at all other than enjoy the music itself, herd mentality is just as prelavent amongst listeners of heavy metal than anything they mock.

I consider myself a "metalhead" , I mostly listen to metal(if not than hard rock) I hang out with other metalheads but we don't go to metal clubs because there are no metal clubs in my town(we tried to start mosh pit once (in non-metal club) ended with a fight), I usually wear dr. martens and all in black and metal t-shirts

Amen to that. Metal fans always accuse mainstreamers, etc. of having a "sheep mentality." Even though a lot of these same people are just as much sheep/followers. Only, instead of following one thing, they follow another.

- Deliberately trying to look like James Hetfield did in the 80's does not make you any less of a follower than somebody deliberately trying to look like Justin Timberlake.

- Hating the world around you because so many metal bands bitch about how much life and the world sucks does not make you any less of a follower than your average goth/emo kid.

- Hating religion because Kerry King hates it does not make you any less of a follower than somebody who blindly follows religion.

And so on and so forth. I'm not condemning doing these things. I'm just pointing out that metal fans should realize metal isn't nearly as much about "non-conformity" as it's cracked up to be.

The whole "conforming to a non-conformist ideal" sucks.