For those of us who are old enough, we can still remember exactly where we were when 9/11/01 happened. For me, I was a senior in high school and I was sitting in my Latin Civilization class. Our teacher had just started ‘The Burning Season’, the film with Raul Julia. The opening credits hadn’t even finished when our principal came in and pulled out our teacher who, a minute later (at the most), came back in, stopped the movie and turned on the news channel where we saw WTC #1 in flames. Not five minutes later WTC #2 was hit. The person sitting next to me burst into tears as other students were frantically calling their family, friends, loved ones, whomever they could get a hold of.
I can remember more details about that day than I can nearly any other day of my life. But what I remember was the sense of community that poured forth. Yes, we were different cultures, different races, different ethnicities and different genders. But that didn’t matter because we were Americans and we were going to stand together and unite against this horrific attack. For months, the question, “Where were you?” needed no explanation. For one of the first times ever, we were able to understand each other in a way that had never been felt before. And for one of the first times ever, we stood by each other, comforted each other, and helped each other out in ways that had never before been seen.
So, by now, I’m certain that many of you readers are wondering why I’m even discussing this on BD Music. It is because of the camaraderie and sense of community that was once so strong that I am writing this. The vast majority of music that I write about on here is metal, or some variation thereof, and for years I’ve noticed the complete disconnect between us metal heads. I find myself constantly asking myself, “Why do us metal fans, who already face the scorn and condemnation of the vast majority of society, turn on each other?”
Let me give you an example: Korn, Godsmack, Disturbed, and Five Finger Death Punch. To all of the metal “purists”, these bands would not be called metal or even hard rock in any way, shape, or form. But why? Why the negativity? To be sure, they might not be as heavy as Cannibal Corpse or Meshuggah or Behemoth, but they’ve got the attitude and the want to bring heaviness to the masses. Every night they go up on stage they bring this urge with them, this need to show fans a way to connect the dots; that metal and positivity CAN be one.
Now, let’s talk about bands like Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate, Motionless In White, and Black Tide. Again, purists wouldn’t dare call these bands metal, but give me a reason why. If you don’t like their music, that’s fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But don’t go around saying, “These guys are all emo fags and their pussy music isn’t worth two shits.” Instead, respect that they are trying to do what all other metal bands aim to do; put out what they believe is heavy music to inspire and open people up to new musical horizons.
Be honest with yourself metal heads, did you really start listening to Opeth right off the bat? I’m sure that you had to go through a few years of finding the style of metal that suited you right, be it through AC/DC, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, whatever. If you look at the audience of those “emo” bands, you’ll probably realize that they are mostly made up of younger teenagers. Take the opportunity to let these kids know what else is out there, that these bands are NOT the “end all be all” of music. Let them know about bands such as The Haunted, Within Temptation, and Dark Tranquillity. Get them listening to the Big Four. Turn them onto Black Sabbath, Dio, and Kiss. Teach them about Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Rush. Show them what an astonishing, beautiful, and powerful history we metal heads have come from.
What we fail to understand, or perhaps know and just ignore, is that by attacking those who listen to metal genres that we don’t like, we only harm our own community. What good does it do to prove society right? Instead, we should be looking at each other, respecting everyone’s musical choices even if we don’t like them, and helping each other find new and exciting material. For all you know, that “emo fag”, who you have been mocking and hating, knows of a song that will change your view of their music. It ends up being your own fault for denying yourself that experience.
The biggest block in the path of metal heads and respect is the common misconception that metal music is all negative, violent, satanic, etc… To say that this is not true is not even scratching the surface of how ignorant that statement is. Metal has been shown time and again to be an effective method of catharsis. I personally listen to metal not to build up anger, but to release it. I listen to metal to wake up and get pumped up for the day. If the lyrics are satanic, so be it. For every metal band that writes satanic lyrics, there is another metal band that writes lyrics about change and positivity.
Metal, just like horror, is not just what we enjoy but also a huge part of who we are. The music I listen to is a part of my identity, just as the movies I love are important to who I am and can help someone understand my character. I belong to the metal community and I have no shame or regrets about standing next to my metal brethren. However, I mourn our self-imposed segregation. So I end this by asking that we remember those feelings of community after 9/11 and try and bring them back. If you see someone wearing a t-shirt of a metal band that you don’t haven’t heard of, ask them what their favorite song of that band is and give it a serious shot. What’s the worst that could happen?
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