It’s time to lose the negative connotations.
When I express my love for metal music, I get comments like, “I hate metal, it sounds like noise” and “Oh God, my ears are bleeding. Turn it off!”. The look of horror when I show a non-believer live recordings is classic, the victim in question recoiling in disgust and covering their ears. It’s all too familiar.
These negative reactions to metal make me want to challenge the connotations associated with the genre even more, particularly the concept of it being “angry noise” or “bad for the ears”. It’s important to remove the stigmas around this misunderstood genre because, as it turns out, it’s helped many people struggling with their mental health and has provided a strong, supportive community.
Psychology researchers Paula Rowe and Bernard Guerin investigated the benefits of metal music, focusing on 28 young Australians who are passionate about the genre. They discovered these fans were all part of a community that builds friendships and helps create a safeguard against mental health issues. Their love for metal helped them construct identities, while also building resilience to combat anxiety caused by challenging environments. In the study, the participants shared experiences of being bullied at school and would often build up their metal identities in order to fend off bullies.
Another study conducted by Leah Sharman and Genevieve A. Dingle from the University of Queensland’s School of Psychology investigated the ways in which metal affects people’s emotions. The study looked at 39 adults aged between 18 and 34 and discovered that subjects felt inspired and calmer when they listened to heavy metal. It also found people often seek music which matches their emotions as it enhances their connection to the music.
Sharman and Dingle discovered that participants who listened to heavy metal felt less hostile, irritable and stressed than they did prior to listening. It appears metal music actually helped them calm down and process their emotions.
In their research paper Extreme Metal Music and Anger Processing, Sharman and Dingle concluded that extreme metal music didn’t increase the anger of listeners. Rather, it seemed to have the opposite effect; reducing anger and anxiety and inducing a relaxed state of mind. So it would appear that metal doesn’t elicit an aggressive response from listeners.
While each listener’s experience is subjective, metal music shouldn’t be recognised as a bad influence on people. Instead, it should be acknowledged as an aid for alleviating negative emotions, creating room for positive ones and generating a welcoming and inclusive community for metalheads.
