Metal Music as Medicine
Its real, powerful...yet misunderstood.
What do people think of when they hear of metal music?
- Screaming.
- Evil/Satanic Music.
- Anger.
- Outcasts in society.
- Drugs even?
Ya…I get it. A lot of people have a dim view of metal. Even as a young person, it took me a while to appreciate and understand it. A friend who introduced me to it, helped me see why it has great value and it's much deeper than people realize.
Is there screaming? Yes, but people scream over sports and plenty of other things, so what is so terrible about expressing emotion, through song, in a different way? Metal uses everything from screaming to singing and rapping. So it's a huge spectrum. Also. suppressing anger is horrible for your health and causes mental/emotional problems. Letting it out through music is incredibly healing.
Is some metal satanic? It exists, as a tiny minority. The vast majority is not and there is even Christian metal. If people want to put metal down for this...I hope they don’t forget to include rap songs that are all about violence, drugs, and abuse? Ya, all quiet there aren't we? Funny how that’s way more acceptable in mainstream culture than a metal song they haven’t even read the lyrics on and judge because there is *gasp* screaming!
Are drugs in the metal scene? Nothing worse than any other genre. Some bands don't even drink or do drugs, like in any other genre.
Is it evil? I'd say no, not even close. In fact, a lot of it actually faces darkness, evil, and problems in our world and addresses them through song. Maybe that's another reason it’s not popular. Because it’s not about burying your head in the sand, it’s about facing your darkness and the world's, and many people don’t want to face that.
Are a lot of them outcasts? Ya, so are a lot of creative, musically inclined people. It also helps reach people who feel alone or who are angered at aspects of our world. I sure can't blame them. And it’s a healthy and powerful way to reach people who may have otherwise never heard of an important topic.
What is metal really?
- Raw emotion.
- Real.
- A good way to cope with hard times.
- Unpolished and honest.
- Energy to overcome challenges.
- A vehicle for painful, tough topics.
- A voice for the voiceless.
- People being their own unique selves.
Ya, there are some rough forms of it...Like death metal, etc...Plenty of it I don't listen to, and some I do listen to. The stuff I listen to I love. There’s plenty of variety for all.
I thought I'd outgrow it. I just found different types I enjoy and evolved while it did too.
Some things I’m grateful to this genre for:
When I was too tired to workout and my inner negative critic was saying “You can’t”, metal gave me the strength to say, “Get the f*** up you got this!”
The strength I needed to get through hard times where I felt alone, metal got me through.
Metal has such a variety of styles and types everything from reggae metal to electronic metal. It opened my mind up and allows me to be more creative.
It made me a better guitar player and helped me discover new ways of playing.
It helps you be honest with the struggles of living. Of seeing the suffering others don't care to look at it of the world around you. It gives you that raw honesty.
If you read the lyrics, the screaming is very easy to understand most times. Depending on the band, it barely seems like that anymore. Read and listen sometimes. You'll see what I mean.
Here’s three awesome songs I love and maybe you will too. I’ve laid them out in the order below, enjoy.
Band/Title
Video
Lyrics
Fire From The Gods - Soul Revolution
[Verse 1]
There’s always something trying to break me
Fuck what they’re saying
From the fire I am christened
My mortal form I have ascended, I don’t listen
Fuck the vibe killing bredren, I’m never descending
Never coming down, look at the sky
I find my place amongst the stars
This gravity, it holds no weight
Vibe can't change
Still in my lane, nothin’ can phase
I’m on my jays, I'm in a haze
The sun I praise under the rays
Under light I let it shine, I feel divine
I’m cleaning out the spirit and the mind
I let the wounds heal over time
This is exactly what it seems
Out of the darkness of my hell I scream
[Chorus]
Feel it in your heart, feel it in your soul
Feel it in your blood and you’ll know
It’s a revolution, soul revolution
Feel it in your heart, feel it in your soul
Live by the code
This is a revolution, soul revolution
(Son of a gun)
[Verse 2]
My spirits infinite definitely
Vomit on these hypocrites
These idiots aren’t legitimate
Hey, move your shit, you are evicted
I cannot quit now that the fires lit
Outta pocket open up my 3rd eye socket and unblock it
(Yo hold on, hold on, hold on)
Elevate the wheel that turns, I'll never stop it
Capital killer, slay the industry gorilla
Stepping on you devils, mandem call Godzilla
Labeled outsider, I’m the audio pariah
I set the world on fire
Fuck the New World Order, fuck fighting for oil and water
All power to all people, we are law and order
Fuck your bottom line, it don’t mean shit to me
'Cause your house is built on blood lines and hypocrisy
[Chorus]
Feel it in your heart, feel it in your soul
Feel it in your blood and you’ll know
It’s a revolution, soul revolution
Feel it in your heart, feel it in your soul
Live by the code
This is a revolution, soul revolution
[Bridge]
They take a mind of the average man
Take out the human and replace it with a savage and
God is fighting over hatred and their ignorance
Manipulate the masses, disintegrate to chaos
Disintegrate to chaos
Chaos, oh
[Chorus]
Feel it in your heart, feel it in your soul
Feel it in your blood and you’ll know
It’s a revolution, soul revolution
Feel it in your heart, feel it in your soul
Live by the code
This is a revolution, soul revolution
Parkway Drive - Vice Grip
A system of complete control
The pressure builds
It wraps its hands around your throat
A constant battle
A silent war of mind and soul
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Get up, get up
One life, one shot
Give it all you got
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Get up, get up
Keep the flame alive
Hope for the hopeless
A light in the darkness
Hope for the hopeless
A light in, a light in the dark
A light in the dark
The chains set to break your soul
Day by day
You know the choice you have to make
Freeze up and fade
Or be the flame that lights the way
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Get up, get up
One life, one shot
Give it all you got
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Get up, get up
Keep the flame alive
Hope for the hopeless
A light in the darkness
Hope for the hopeless
You've got one life, one shot
Give it all you got
It's got a vice grip like ice running down your spine
This world, it's got you in it's sights
Rise, rise
Rise, rise (it's all or nothing)
Rise, rise
Rise, rise (it's do or die)
Rise
Rise
Rise
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Get up, get up
One life, one shot
Give it all you got
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Get up, get up
Keep the flame alive
Hope for the hopeless
A light in the darkness
Hope for the hopeless
A light in the dark
We stand for the faithless and the broken
Hope for the hopeless
A light in, a light in the dark
Killswitch Engage - Strength Of The Mind
Strength of the mind!
Looking back on the life that I lived
What I leave behind
Mistakes and memories serve to remind (they serve me to remind)
The reflection staring back from the mirror
No longer looks like me, like me!
Strength of the mind to fight what’s inside
It takes strength of the mind
Before I lose control
Who can raise you from the fall and save you? Only you
Who can take the pain away and change you? Only you
A thousand miles between this never-ending feeling
Just looking for something more
Searching for a release
I’ve seen rock bottom and I’ve smashed my fists against it
Just keep telling yourself it will be alright
Who can raise you from the fall and save you? Only you
Who can take the pain away and change you? Only you
Gather all your pain and suffering
Turn them into strength and weaponry
To overcome the enemy that’s in you
Come face to face with a war that rages in you
Who can take the pain away? Only you!
Who can raise you from the fall and save you? Only you!
Strength of the mind!
Before I lose control
Thank you and consider this music style...It offers a lot more than you may have realized.
3 Articles On The Benefits Of This Genre:
Yes, Listening to Metal Can Benefit Your Mental Health
The Surprising Mental Health Benefits Of Listening To Metal Music
Very creative post honey!!