Music is such a quick, easy way for people to connect. Everyone listens to music. Which means it should be easy to find someone who likes what you like. Right?

Well, not always.

I love music. It’s a huge part of my life, always has been. About three years ago, I really started getting into metal. I’ve definitely calmed down about it a bit compared to when I first got into it, but if anyone were to ask what kind of music I’m into my first answer would be metal.

This isn’t to say I hate other genres, I’m no elitist. I really just listen to what’s good. 

For me, listening to metal is just how I get my brain to turn off and chill out. Alongside that, I’ll play it when I’m having a hard time focusing because it provides good background noise. 

It isn’t easy to find people who are also into what I’m into though. A lot of the time, when I do find someone else who likes metal, they tend to be older. Rarely, if ever, do I find someone my age who likes metal.

It’s hard for me to find where I fit within the community too. While it is a fairly accepting community to be in, it’s a lot easier for men to find that rather than those who aren’t. The one explicit criteria is to like metal, but it’s generally a very male-dominated community. There’s also discourse within the community as to what subgenres should and shouldn’t be considered acceptable in the world of metal.

“I feel as if a lot of people in the metal community have discourse over certain genres that aren’t ‘valid’ or ‘metal enough,'” expressed Zoe Williamson, one of the students here at Oakmont. “A big part of the metal community is about hatred, but that doesn’t mean you need to start discourse for no reason with other genres under the same umbrella of music you listen to. I’ll never get that.”

The first time the phrase “heavy metal” was used was in Steppenwolf’s song “Born to be Wild,” released in 1968. By the 70s, heavy metal was being used to refer to a genre of music classified as intense and powerful with loud, distorted guitar and heavy bass and drums. Bands like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, and Led Zeppelin began to emerge. Judas Priest is reported to be the first band to actually call themselves metal.

During the 80s, metal began to really gain traction. Oakmont’s music teacher, Mr. Kris Demoura, reported, “When I was in middle school, going into high school, I was a huge fan of Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death, Sepultra. Those late 80s, early 90s bands.” In the 2000s it’s popularity began to wane, but some would say that it’s starting to make a comeback now. 

Metal eventually began to branch off into different sub-genres. Heavy metal is like the blueprint, it’s the original. All the classic stuff. 

Thrash metal is classified by its aggression, fast paced tempos, and shredding lead guitar. Some of the big bands in thrash are Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax

Nu metal made an appearance in the 90s. It had the sound of heavy metal but took influence from rap and hip-hop. Limp Bizkit, Korn, Slipknot, and System of a Down are popular nu metal bands.

I’m into hair metal, which is more influenced by pop and upbeat. It’s flashy, it’s obscene, it’s glamorous, and I love it. Motley Crue was the first hair metal band I started listening to and I’d still consider them a favorite of mine. 

It isn’t just the music that draws me in though. The community is just as important. It gives a space for those who feel like they don’t really fit in with the general public. As reported by Mr. James Ethier, one of the history teachers at Oakmont, music is a culture. Especially when it comes to metal. 

It’s no surprise to anyone that the culture and community of metal is, of course, aggressive. The music is loud and oftentimes angry. But I, and others, would argue that this isn’t a bad thing. “It gives those that listen to it an outlet for expressing their anger, in a way. Someone who has high frustrations can get it out in music,” Mr. DeMoura agreed.

So, yeah, maybe go and give it a shot. See why so many people like it, figure out what style fits you. There’s something out there for everyone – for me, it’s metal.