Not to target anyone, but reading these forums (and the net in general) I get the feeling that a lot of people seem to think that listening to music is some kind of competition. In the light of all this "how many bands do YOU check out, non contributor to the world of metal that I so wholesomely envelope myself in" and "blah, I want intelligent discussion about obscure niches of music and religion and shit, metalheads should be above average intelligence because, after all, we are smarter than the rest of society because we listen to this stuff" and all that shit I started to feel like a lot of people aren't metalheads at all.
For me, at least, being a metalhead means that I love listening to metal, watching bands and generally soaking up as much of the culture as I can, because I enjoy it. I don't check out a lot of new bands because, to be honest, I hate most of it and can't be bothered because I don't care anyway-I won't lose sleep because I didn't check out some shitty melo-death album that scored a 93 and has 'beautiful moments' or some shit like that. In the past 6 months I've only started regularly listening to one new band; Danzig. Does this mean I appreciate the music less? No. Does it mean I'm not open minded enough to be considered a peer by those trusted few elite on the internet who have a vast knowledge of metal? I guess so, but I don't give a fuck.
And since when do we have to be civil towards each other? (keep in mind children, this isn't real life-you're posting on the internet) Maybe I'm just juvenile but the whole metal culture to me has always been more abrasive and energetic than other musically influenced groups of society, where partying and rocking out is what it's about, that's why I love it. Metal isn't about debating artsy fartsy fucking piano music with spoken word interludes and grinding passages or whatever shit it is these so called 'metal' bands are doing nowadays.
Maybe yet again I'm just not smart and open minded enough to cruise with the big guns, but the way I see 'metalheads' acting on the internet is fucking gay, if this is what I thought metalheads where like I'd never have gotten so deeply involved in it. I don't try to 'expand my musical horizons' with bands nobodies heard of and shit, I don't defend listening to The Mars Volta (or some other equally gay band that DOESN'T BELONG HERE) to seem open minded whilst reminding everyone I've been listening to metal for X amount of years, and I certainly don't think that metalheads are, or ever where, supposed to be musical connoisseurs of the geekiest fucking degree.
Quote:
I gave my heart and soul to you my friend
You let me fall
If you could only see what's in my heart
You'd take my hand
I've lived this life as a man would do
Why's it so hard to find the truth?
My faith is strong within myself
I bleed of pride
Inside
I won't forgive
You can't take it back now
It's to hard to swallow
No words
No conviction
I've found the truth inside myself
But I am still doing time
Opened my eyes to what is real
This world is hard
It's cold
It's agony
When I listen to a song like that, the lyrics mean something to me, and the song has a lot of impact. I don't listen to a song once or twice because I need to check another band out, I listen to it until it's embedded in my brain because I love the music and often the message behind it. Maybe I'm the poser here, but I think a lot of people have something to learn about the music they 'love', because it looks to me like a lot of people don't have a clue.
Maybe that was all bullshit, but I felt like I needed to say something. Also, one last word-if you're one of them people who hates people moshing, headbanging, rocking out or just getting a release from the music in some kind of physical way then DON'T GO TO METAL CONCERTS. End of, you don't belong there. Fuck off. I read all the time about people who just wanted to enjoy a concert but it was 'ruined' by somebody going apeshit next to them-you shouldn't be there, I don't know about anyone else but when I think 'metal concert' I don't think of a room full of geeky, self proclaimed intelligent arseholes who like to passingly check out bands, I think of people getting drunk and rocking out.
Well, there you go. If somebody responds to this by individually qouting one or two lines at a time and contradicting me with little smart arse sentences then just try to remember: Your favourite band would probably be ashamed to know that you are a fan.