It's a hard thing to explain, so I'll try to use some examples, organized by sub-genre (NOTE: there are always some few exceptions):
-METAL-
Thrash Metal:
- Expresses strong beliefs in it's lyrics, backed by music themed to for the overall feeling of the song.
Ex. -
"
Master of Puppets I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind, smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream"
- Metallica - Master of Puppets (duh)
The song is about being controlled by a drug addiction, and the thrash music just adds to that enraged feeling.
Speed Metal:
- The same basic principle as Thrash, but the sound of the music is different, attempting to blaze forth through the whole song.
Ex. -
"All of life decays
Rapes my eyes
Screams never silence the pain
Death is like an old friend
I can't wait to watch you die"
- Slayer - Scarstruck
Every song on the album is based on a guy just having the worst day of his life, and wanting everyone dead basically.
Death Metal:
- Of course, it's about death. The mood of the music should make you feel that death is near, and you just growl at it's face.
Ex. -
"
RO RO RO
DEATH FACE EAT FLESH
RAPE SODOMY BLOOD KNIFE
KILL KILL KILL
RO RO RO"
- Me - I just sort of made it up.
Power Metal:
- My second favorite genre. There are two main classes; those bands whom try to just be epic and put no real feeling into their songs (though they may still be nice to listen to in some cases.) And those who genuinely try to express a theme or story.
Example of "cheesy metal" that is to say, bands that don't put art in their songs.
"On a cold winter morning, in the time before the light
In flames of death's eternal reign we ride towards the fight
When the darkness has fallen down, and the times are tough all right
The sound of evil laughter falls around the world tonight" - Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames
It pained me to even copy and paste that. I hate Dragonforce so much. I don't even have to explain what the song is about, because it's not about anything. The instruments are fast, but music should not have to rely solely on speed.
Example of good power metal -
"Mother always said "my son, do the noble thing..."
You have to finish what you started, no matter what,
Now, sit, watch and learn...
"It's not how long you live, but what your morals say"
Cannot keep your part of the deal
So don't say a word... don't say a word
It won't be long now, love, like mist I slowly fill the room
I place a black candle on your chest,
The path of night is manifest
I never wanted us to end up in this catatonic phase
It wasn't me who ran away, you made me stray..."
- Sonata Arctica - Don't Say A Word
The song is the second installment in a series about a stalker, and the trials he is going through while seeing that she is happy with another man. He plans to kill her. It is also their most aggressive sounding song, and the lyrics fit that perfectly.
Progressive Metal:
- Fueled by whatever the writer has a passion for, while sticking to an ever changing formula for the sound. Songs can range from a mere minute to an hour in length. Technical proficiency is at it's peak, with this genre claiming most of the great musicians of our time. Most people just don't have the patience for the length of the songs, or an ear for the sound. Their songs range from Metal to Rock to Folk to Classical and everything in between. By far the most artistic of any genre besides Classical.
Ex. -
"She dresses in black everyday
She keeps her hair simple and plain
She never wears makeup
But no one would care if she did anyway
She doesn't recall yesterday
Faces seem twisted and strange
But she always wakes up
Only to find she'd been miles away"
- Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence part VIII - Losing Time/Grand Finale
The song is over 42 minutes in length, the subject of all the lyrics being various mental illnesses and how people, both suffering from the illness and those around them, deal with it. All of the songs are from the point of view of the ill. Discussed are: Bipolarity, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Schizophrenia, Postpartum Depresion, Autism, and Dissociative Personality Disorder.
Another Example -
"I never knew your name but I will miss you just the same
I was to live for you I lost the will to live at all the day you came
It'll never be the same but I will love you just the same
You were to be the first, how wonderful
Now I will always fear to hope again"
- Pain of Salvation - A Trace of Blood
The song is from one of their many concept albums (for those who aren't familiar: a concept album is an album that tells a single story) and is about the man in the story remembering when he and his wife suffered through a miscarriage, and how that pain was one of the things that shaped him into what he is today. It makes sense in the concept.
As you see, Metal as a genre...is an art form above all else. An ultimate way of expression to the artists.
I have also listened to a lot of Metalcore, I had a friend who used to force me to listen to it for hours. So here I go, to show why metalcore should not be included.
Metalcore:
- Formulated by linear song structures, sub-par musicianship and whiny scream vocals.
*chug**chug**chug**SQUEAL**chug**chug**chug*
*chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug*
*chug**chug**chug**SQUEAL**chug**chug**chug*
*5th breakdown*
*chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug*
*Insert angsty lyrics about whiny stuff (screamed, of course)*
*WHHHHHHIIIIIIINNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!*
*chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug**chug*
*chug**chug**chugitty**chug*
- Ever Metalcore Song Ever.
Turbotoki7 wrote:
how come in every "metal discussion" some
people got to argue about the damn sub genres and deathcore and etc etc
dude if u like it listen 2 it and dont give a *** wat other people say
as long as its not rap of country
I let everyone listen to whatever they want, but if it's not metal, DON'T CALL IT METAL. That's my point in all of this.
And people say it's my opinion that it's not Metal. The fact is that Metalcore is not metal, or else it would be called Metal. Blues is not metal, therefore, it is not Metal.
