TBH, I just find death metal to be a comical cliche.
Lets look all tough.
Lets offend people with artwork and lyrics.
Blah blah. Boring.
Fair enough, but it isn't limited to death metal:
Ozzy Osbourne ate animals' heads
Robert Smith dressed in a goth sort of way
Britney Spears ffs offended people with here "If you seek Amy" lyrics
That attitude is because of this:
Heavy metal isn't all about social commentary. It's not all dark either.
Poser generic heavy metal largely is - fits right in with the scene metal teenybopper demographic who all think they're enlightened, thus allowing them to rage against the government or religion.
"Oooh, look at me, I'm so offensive and anti-establishment!" is absolute wankdickery.
A lot of great heavy metal is about dreamscapes, alternate reality, spiritual development, macabre storytelling and a kind if "fantasy-fiction" like subject. The best artwork is beautiful and not offensive or disgusting.
Metal often takes you on a journey and is not offensive or angry, aggressive or tough. Black, Doom and Death all have aspects of this.
I'm not surprised that people on here who think they're metalheads actually have this false opinion, though. After all, I keep reading about how awesome Opeth are. :lol: :crazy:
You are right - it isn't all about social commentary and it's not all dark.
For the record, one of my favourite bands is The Sword (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFWoDlygXKM). They're neither dark nor making statements about society or anything. They're just playing good, old-fashioned metal and telling a story. I know, I know. I'm a stupid kid and I should STFU because I know nothing (although I would have assumed I wasn't that much younger than you, HJ, seeing as I am 24).
TBH I don't see myself as a 'metal-head' because I like music that isn't really metal. But I do like to dabble in metal itself.
And with my point earlier I was simply trying to explain why certain bands may choose to be so raw in their sound. Perhaps I was wrong, but it was simply my interpretation.
Lastly, I realise you despise Opeth and that's fair enough. I, for one, will stop talking about them.