Why are death metal fans so narrow minded?

Post Reply New Topic

Specifically, I'm referring to the type of fans who don't even consider melodic death metal to be death metal, and by melodic death metal I mean not even Gothenburg styled stuff, but just death metal that is more melodic. Like, what the crap? If that's not death metal, than death metal isn't metal.

because there is no breadth to what they think. it is all longitudinal and aimless. narrowness of mind is necessary to keep on track in their world.

Its kind of a tautology isnt it?

Why do narrow minded folks tend to be narrow minded?

If someone is fan of "death metal" (but not of black metal, nor of folk metal, or generic metal, or classic rock metal, or of viking metal,or of folk metal,or of symphonic metal, etc etc etc), and only that subgenre of metal then-- by definition they would have to be rather narrow in their musical tastes. So you would expect them to be rather narrow in their thinking about stuff in general, including about their favorite musical micro-sub-genre.

In general metal fans can slant pretty close-minded when it comes to music. Not all, of course, but many. I'm guilty of this. I like maybe 5-6 metal subgenres and that's about it. It's just what I like. And I personally prefer deathcore to death metal or melodic death, tech death, etc. I just like breakdowns and groove personally. It could be called narrow minded, and I was fairly extreme in my opinions, but for the most part people just like what they like.

But the over classification of metal has gotten way out of hand. I only know some of the names to communicate certain ideas, but it's gotten silly.

Do other styles of music have dozens upon dozens of sub genres like metal does?

I enjoy death metal, though its not necessarily my favorite metal genre. I don't really understand those people either, most death metal I listen to is more of the melodic type such as Children of Bodom but I like regular death metal as well. I imagine it's sort of similar to black metal fans who think anything other than raw black metal is false or whatever. I like bands from pretty much every genre of metal and bands out side of it, being narrow minded when it comes to music is a good way to miss out on a lot.

I certainly have preferences but I try and give everything a chance, before I decide whether I like it or not.

You like deathcore, so you are definitely not the type of metalhead I'm complaining about. The type of metalhead I'm talking about often refuses to admit deathcore is even a form of metal.


Actually, yes, EDM has it even worse.

People who refuse to admit deathcore may be a different sort of music than metal like most core genres, seem narrow minded to me. My understanding is those genres have elements of metal sometimes specified genres and hardcore...so wouldn't that make it its own fusion sort of genre? It's just never made sense to consider it specifically a sub-genre of metal, but It has metal influence. Sort of like thrash metal has punk influence but it's not a type of punk.

Also I think it can be fun to sub-categorize bands and look into all the sub-genres not to mention overlapping sub-genres and such but for general conversation I see no issue with simplifying.

I have never met a death metal fan who thought this way.

Yeah that's what I mean. -core bands generally aren't even considered "real metal". Which, I personally don't get. It's the same concept, just yours is more granular.

And sweetleaf nailed it. Bands have different influences and hybridize them with metal influences and spit out a creation that's inspired by both. Maybe it's not "pure" then. Friggin metal nazis trying to engineer a pure race I suppose...

To me if it's heavy, loud and aggressive, it's metal. Period. I don't like all kinds, but that's ok. It's still better than country or rap...

Is it odd that I like grindcore better than most death metal?

Well both punk and metal can be loud, aggressive and heavy...the difference is more in origins of styles, also metal tends to be a lot more intricate, complex and melodic whearas punk particularly the more hardcore forms focus more on just being loud and aggressive...nothing wrong with that just different styles.

I think it's because some people like what they like as a form of bonding and finding a social group, and less so because they like that area of interest for its own sake. It's about finding a prescribed identity, so they must exclude anything which blurs the definition of that identity.

As a music fan I've never understood other fans who say things like, "I want to get into [artist/genre], where do I start?" First, you can't want to be interested in something and then will an interest from that. You either have some interest or you don't. And, second, why not just explore for yourself and see what you like, then talk with others about it and share perspectives? That's what I've always enjoyed. I feel like people who ask where to start or who ask what's good just want to say they appreciate what is considered "smart" so they can feel cultured, or fit in, and so on. Sorry to sound cranky, but it's this bucket list, "100 Best [albums/books/etc]" kind of thinking which I find irritating because there's no thought involved. It's just checking off lists of things experienced instead of learning and forming personal, unique opinions.

Also, many people, for some reason, seem suspicious of melody. I don't think it matters what their genre preferences are. They seem to think "serious" music can't be catchy, but I think it's much more common for people to develop technique with an instrument than to compose engaging, unique, and memorable melodies. There are more people who shred than there are people like Burt Bacharach. What's the point of technique without something interesting to communicate?

That is true of so much hardcore, but do you think metal is really more melodic? What about the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, or Jam? Or XTC, Talking Heads, or Television?

Because they are using music as a social climbing strategy and if they are actual metal musicians they are competing against each other for status and prestige. Not unlike indie rock hipsters.

Not really, everyone has somewhat different preferences just indicates you tend to enjoy grindcore more than death metal. I certainly prefer death metal.

I haven't really listened to those bands so I couldn't be entirely sure. I guess I wouldn't say all metal is more melodic than punk,like early heavy metal such as Black Sabbath and more recent Doom Metal bands are more atmospheric and heavy than melodic. But have yet to hear any hardcore, punk, goth or post punk that I'd call very melodic in the same sense as what I'd consider melodic metal. I do like some but it's not where I'd search when I am in the mood for some crazy melodic sounding stuff such as Children of Bodom.