Is Metal Music Becoming Music for the Whole Family?

I just grabbed the latest issue of Finnish Sue music magazine. The magazine itself was pretty boring this time, but there was one interesting article. In the interview of Children of Bodom, Alexi Laiho mentioned that his teacher in music school said “heavy metal is a nice hobby but you should seriously consider playing some real music“. I guess that by playing metal music Alexi has earned at least 100 times more than his former teacher. Old dudes don’t always understand the music business.

In that same interview Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom mentioned another interesting thing. Alexi claims that metal music has suffered from the lack of respect due to popularization. As bands like Lordi win in European Song Contest, metal music comes closer to daily life. Because of this metal music becomes “music for the whole family”. 10-15 years ago metalheads used to be those who gave a shit for the rest of the world, while the rest of the world tried to lock metalheads outside the “normal society”. People used to consider all metal music fans some kind of “satanists”. Nowadays it looks like these two different worlds are becoming one. It looks like metal riffs are played at every second home, and what’s best, together with parents. Metal music is becoming “music for the whole family”. Every home has its own little “satanist” playing metal riffs with mom and dad. Please notice that I am exaggerating. My point is to show how I feel the future looks like. For me it looks like metal music is becoming “music for the whole family” due to popularization.

I don’t like this. Metal music is about rage, hate and revolution. Metal music represents something wild, fierce, furious and aggressive. It is not meant to be played together with mom and dad and grand parents. Metal music is a way to express your negative thoughts and feelings. Think about Arch Enemy or Satyricon. Could you imagine them winning in the European Song Contest (ESC)? Would you like to see the typical audience of ESC raising their fists up in the air during Arch Enemy’s gig? No, I rather keep these two worlds separated. As I come back home from my work, I grab a can of beer and head to garage. I listen to Arch Enemy or Amon Amarth and bang my head. It is my world there. I enjoy it alone. I want to keep metal music for metalheads and popular music for those who enjoy it.

There is one way to prevent metal music becoming “music for the whole family”. Stop winning European Song Contests with metal music. This year Finland is sending Teräsbetoni to ESC. Who will join it next year? Trivium? Lamb of God? Come on! It is nice to see metal bands winning, but keep metal music as its own world. Stop winning ESC with metal music.

Here is some metal for metalheads, not for the whole family. Amon Amarth - Death in Fire.

This post was written by Headbanger and its original location is in Metal-Music-Videos.Com blog. For more great metal music articles, please visit Metal-Music-Videos.Com!

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4 Responses to “Is Metal Music Becoming Music for the Whole Family?”

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1 Jodi(aka daizie) Apr 7th, 2008 at 10:41 am

Great piece! And it holds many many truths… Metal for the whole family? Yep. I think, it may be do to us Metalheads, who have children and it is incorporated into our daily lives. I havent changed my love for Pantera, of Slayer,etal…just because I grew older. I didnt change my change my tastes(if anything they grew as well).
I was one who was a punk(goth before goth) little chickie, and having a son 16 years ago, he has grown up with it…and now we trade off. “Hey did you hear this group?” It even has a bit of humor when we go to the music stores and I am buying Byzantine for me and the clerk talks to him. Hey its me buying it! He is a huge LOG fan and all the ones you mentioned. Of course his passion grew into becoming a fine guitarist at the wee age of 16, now and plans on furthering his career in music. I have to say its more or less due to, we, as parents understood the whole genre and lived it and passed it on. He liked your article as well and agrees.
We are in agreement that we like our metal bands to be underground(Look at Metallica, i loved them wehn but I dont like where their music went…but that is growth and I can appreciate them, I just prefer not to buy them)-

Anyhoo great article…gets a stumble from me and future visits! Sorry I babbled on!
Peace
Jodi
2 headbanger Apr 10th, 2008 at 11:34 am

Hi Jodi, sorry for my late reply! I’ve been too busy at work.

Thanks for your great and interesting comment! We have much in common. I have three kids at home, oldest 13 (son) years old. I don’t listen to black and death metal that much at home anymore because I noticed kids become restless. Anyhow, I listen various kind of music at home, so they see that I am much interested in music and I still live in metal genre although I’m 33 years old. I see that they are interested in music as well, and probably the biggest reason is that me and my wife both sing and play music. Our oldest son plays music and enjoys much today’s punk, such as Greenday, but doesn’t understand death metal. Well, it’s a different world and I think you gotta “discover” it in order to like it.

Was nice to read your comment. I wish you and your son all the best and I hope you’ll enjoy my writing in the future as well!
3 Jodi Apr 10th, 2008 at 3:00 pm

And we do enjoy!
4 headbanger Apr 10th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Good to hear! Thanks!