DOES METAL NEED TO LIGHTEN THE FUCK UP?
Metal fans get accused of lacking a sense of humour, while comedy bands often get a kicking from the elitists. It’s time we asked…
No, metal should be taken seriously – otherwise, no one else will take it seriously and then it will become a fad or something dumb and childish that deserves to be mocked. If classical music, drama or modern art are taken seriously, so should be metal.
JORGE NAVARRO
Yes. What happened to the fun bands like we had in the 80s and 90s? It feels like there’s only Steel Panther flying the flag of fun now. Lighten up, people. Stop the angry growling – let’s hear a lighthearted lyric or two! SIMON JOHNSTON
No, metal doesn’t need to lighten up… it’s the fans of metal that do. If you listen to any band except Slayer or Amon Amarth then you get the shit ripped out of you for it. Obviously, not all metalheads are like it, just the ‘metal elitists’.”
KELLY HOGGINS
Well, seeing as there are tons of comedy metal bands
around today... no. And any notation of metal taking itself seriously is moronic. Mac Sabbath, Steel Panther, Avatar, Gama Bomb and Dethklok aren’t exactly serious bands. Quite a few meathead fans take it too seriously but who cares about them?
OWEN TASKER
Gama Bomb, Municipal Waste, The Donner Party, Desolator and Steel Panther are, as I like put them, under the ‘party metal’ banner for me. I have seen most of these bands live and they have kicked major arse.
These bands prove that it’s never too late to have fun in a music genre that’s about rebellion.”
ALEX CONNOR
This past month the majority of the world has been arguing about white supremacy, climate change and Donald Trump. Over in the Bloodstock Fans messageboard group, we’ve mainly been talking about Toto and telling bad jokes. I think we’re fine. TIM BOLITHO-JONES
I’m in love with Dethklok. As a parody band, they blend ludicrous lyrics with cheesy yet terribly efficient metal riffs, thus remaining credible musically with a side of tongue-in-cheek lyrically. This is what I love most about them.
NICOLAS CHAUMEL
I think it really depends on the bands. It’s one thing to take the band as seriously as a job and not screw around so you can get the albums done and be on time for shows, but they can also have fun, not be afraid to experiment, and interact with the fans more! I love the bands who talk to the audience, tell jokes or any other interactions. I also love the bands who take their time to meet the fans, or even show appreciation for fan art.
MICHELLE POUNDS
It depends on the band and the lyrical themes employed, but I will say I’m glad fun bands such as Alestorm and Lordi exist. As much as I love songs about war and stuff like that, to hear something like the aforementioned bands is refreshing. I would personally say find a good balance of both if you can, so as to not bore yourself of either one or the other. JOHN MILLER
Taking itself too seriously is one of the defining traits of metal, otherwise it’d just be rock.
TRISTON WINTER
remember Venom invented a whole genre based on making fun of metal’s stereotype of being ‘Devil Music’, and then in the 90s people took that genre and started burning down churches to it. So, you know…
MATT ELLISON
It should. It’s the classical music of the alternative world. It is the most structurally sound music there is outside of classical music. It requires serious practice, dedication and mastering of the craft to produce proper quality metal. So it should be taken very seriously.
But not in an elitist way that makes you sound like an asshole.
JAY STEVENSON