Run To The Metal

Music completes us, adding flavour to our otherwise mundane lives. Certain people prefer a certain genre that they find interesting. Metal is one of the most famous genres of western music that dates back to the 60s. It is often linked with aggression and violence, which is apt, but an oversimplification of the genre as it entails so much more. According to music theory, a song is considered to be metal when it uses the blues pentatonic scale as a base, follows certain rhythmic patterns and has a powerful sound to it. To put it simply, metal can be described as heavy drums coupled with distorted, electric guitar solos and an unusual song pattern.

Metal has played a huge role in helping me create my own identity. The lyrics of metal songs mostly address the ways of the world and how one must not give into their anxieties and insecurities. The lyrics are complemented by heavily distorted, quick-paced electric guitar solos, and unrestrained drum beats which speak right to the heart of the listener. The electric guitar is the very soul of a metal song as it brings out the raw feelings behind the lyrics, amplifying their message. Guitarists like Marty Friedman, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett, Herman Li and Yngwie J. Malmsteen were huge inspirations for me as each of them had their own unique style and admirable skills. They inspired me to keep playing the guitar, become better every single day and consider music as a career.

My first encounter with metal was at a talent show where I had heard a song being performed by few of my seniors called “Master of Puppets” by the infamous band, Metallica. The song was so mesmerizing that I lost all grip over my senses, I didn’t even realise that I was sitting on a chair until the song was over. It made me feel alive and made me sure of one thing: I was born to play metal. From that day onwards, I practised guitar like my life depended on it. Metal not only helped me become a good guitarist but it also helped me understand myself better.

Metal was concocted by Black Sabbath and its lead singer Ozzy Osbourne. Bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priestwere huge in the late 60s and 70s and later inspired bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayerand Anthrax,known as the big-four, to go into this genre.These bands paved the way for the metal era.

In today’s world, metal is losing the traction it once had. It is sad but true: metal is dying. Its flagging popularity can be pinned on several reasons, the best being that social media and streaming platforms like Spotify promote only mainstream, pop songs. Another reason is that the duration of metal songs often exceeds four minutes and with a generation that lives on 15-second Instagram reels, that can be too long. After all, a lot of us are plagued with short attention spans.

Listening to metal helps one express their anger and feelings through music and helps them let loose. According to me, metal would be very helpful for people with anxieties and insecurities as it would help them overcome such feelings. It is especially very good for the kids of this generation as all the songs these days only talk about heartbreak and loneliness which might be relatable but they don’t do much to make them feel better.

Metal is a wild genre as it has no reins. There is no limit to what can become of it. Metal has become such a big part of my life that I can’t do anything without listening to it, as a matter of fact I was listening to metal while writing this article. I hope metal keeps on inspiring people. And now that you’ve reached the end of my ramblings, why don’t you check out the bands I’ve mentioned above?

– Sugam Deka