Why metalheads love metal...

Close your eyes and think metalhead. Do you see a long haired ganja smoking, expletives spewing guy in camouflage pants and a vest? Nope. That is not a metalhead. That is a long haired ganja smoking, expletives spewing guy in camouflage pants and a vest. What then does a metalhead look like? He looks like me. And he could look like you. Point is... a metalhead is a metalhead because of the way he or she thinks. So... does he or she think of alcohol and drugs all the time? No. I could accuse Honey Singh fans of doing the same. But I know better. You should too.

So is there anything common in all metalheads? I mean apart from the obvious fact that they love metal music? There just maybe.

 I'm ready to wager my very dear music collection (physical CDs I bought that I am VERY attached to) that most metalheads can play at least one musical instrument. And no... not just guitars and drums. A friend of mine, a most devout metalhead, also plays the tabla, besides the guitar and bass. And he can tinkle around with a keyboard well enough for it to not feel violated. Another friend of mine, who is a drummer, also plays the pepa, which is a traditional assamese folk instrument. So... there... next time you close your eyes and think metalhead try and conjure up a guy playing an instrument. And bingo! You are closer to the bullseye.

That leads me onto the next common characteristic of a metalheads. Metalheads strive to understand the music. They will try to figure out what the guitarist is doing. Then they'll often sit down and try to replicate it. A riff. A groove. A drum fill. A solo. Each new song is another chapter to be studied. This is why a common complaint among metalheads about new music is that a song is too generic. Meaning that it feels like a chapter already well studied and revised. 

I must, however, admit that the most basic appeal of metal music does not come from the chance it provides to learn, implement and innovate. That is just a common trait I have noticed among most metalheads. The basic appeal of metal music comes form the fact that once you learn to lose yourself in it, it feels like the most natural state of being. Headbanging feels like the natural thing to do. The mere thought of not headbanging would be the most alien thought you've ever had. And you will find yourself going back for more and more. Why do metalheads love metal? I invite you to come see for yourself.