How to get into metal, stay metal and not get sick of it…

Originally Written 6/23/09

I HATE when people say that they have “gotten over metal.” If you “get over” something or stop liking it then you never really liked it to begin with. It was a passing phase for you because it was flooding your senses. Since I know this is an ADD generation and we all love lists because they allow for humour and increased comment generation, enjoy this list of various points on how to get into metal, stay metal and not get sick of it.

1) Know the basics. Any interest you will get into has the basics. In this case there are the standard bands/albums to know. Slayer, Metallica, Pantera, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and of course the great Black Sabbath. You don’t have to like all of them but, listen to them. If you like at least one of these bands then you will like a few others at least in the metal genre. If you can’t stand any of them…you don’t belong here and probably should just stop reading this.

2) Find out more. The classics are great but, you need to expand. Metal-Archives and myspace are great for finding new bands that might share similarities with the classic bands that you started with. Start making a little list of the bands to check out and maybe purchase an album from.


3) Take time to listen to the samples before making a decision. This will help save money in the long run and will hopefully help you to avoid buying bad albums with one good song on them. This way your entire metal collection can be gold!

4) Join a group. If your current friends are into metal, awesome but, even so, this is just one set of opinions. To progress further you need to join a group. There are various pro-metal groups out there that help to promote bands, concerts and discussion. The best group of course is Metal-R.Us. Here metalheads from around the world can discuss all sorts of topics ranging from metal to problems in daily life. Never has one place been able to expose me to so many new bands and styles.

5) Go to a concert. At least once. Even if you are the ultimate hermit, you need to go to at least one concert to know what its like before you can make a decision on whether to go to more in the future. If you really love metal music (which chances are you will at this point) then you owe it to yourself to go to a concert and watch your favorite bands live.


6) Expand your collection. Besides owning just CDs maybe its time to buy a vinyl, a cassette or, if you can find it, an A track. Get something autographed. Get a pin to put onto your backpack, hat or something. Get a sticker. Get some posters. This merchandise helps to promote the band and support them. Anytime you buy something from a band it helps them to make more music for you. So, delve in and expand that collection beyond just the CDs.

7) Get a shirt. You should own at least one black shirt. More importantly you should own at least one metal band shirt. It is important again to help support the band. Also, despite what some say about being different and doing what you want, there is a fucking uniform for metal and wearing a shirt that shows you support the music you love is a pretty easy uniform to follow so, suck it up and drop money on at least one shirt.


8) Don’t be an idiot…wear close toed shoes to concerts and fests. Do you like your feet and toes?

9) WEAR EARPLUGS! This is really how you stay metal here people. You can’t listen to the music you love if you can’t hear. When you go to those concerts, wear some earplugs. You will thank me the next day when you don’t have a ringing in your ear and you got more enjoyment out of the show the night before.


10) Go to a fest. Concerts are one thing but, a fest is a whole different monster. It is expanded, long and requires a level of endurance that not everyone is capable of. That said, you will never find a place that feels more like home then a fest. Everyone there is into the same thing you are. You have a bond and you can all talk and explore this interest together. The markets at fest are awesome places to find rare collectables and then some. At least go to one fest even if you didn’t like the concert you went to.

11) Know the following facts.
- Black Sabbath started heavy metal but, it wasn’t really heavy metal until the 80s.
- It’s not metal without guitar. It forms the core sound by which all metal is based off of.
- The metal horns were popularized by Ronnie James Dio.
- Glam Rock is not and has never been metal. The only metal bands of the glam era are/were: W.A.S.P. and Skid Row.
- Metallica stopped being a metal band in 1991.
- Herman Li is not the greatest guitarist ever.
- Varg is out of his fucking mind.

12) Have other interests besides music. Some people focus everything on music and then they get burnt out on a style of it because they obsessively listen to it. Take a break from the music and do something else. That way you will find the music has a greater effect when you do listen to it.


13) Listen to more then 5 bands. This is about expanding tastes as said above but, more importantly this helps to prevent burnout. I will say this though; nothing sounds so good as coming back to an album that is amazing but, you got burnt out on. It’s like you are listening to it for the first time.

14) Try to share your love with others. Not everyone will be a metalhead but, sometimes they may like one of the bands that you like. You have just shared something you love with someone else only to find out they love it. That is awesome.


15) Get laid while listening to Dream Theater or Lost Horizon. Yeah, the last band happened to me; and I thought they were epic before…

16) Travel for metal. Try to travel a decent distance for some metal meeting because you will not regret the adventures you will have.


17) Read and Write about metal. This can help you develop a deeper respect for the actual meaning and purpose behind your music. Additionally, it can allow you to meet some of your favorite bands or find out cool facts that you never knew about. Always strive to learn more about your interest.

I think the list is pretty decent but, now I pass it to all of you to give points of advice on the topic at hand. Everyone can always find more love for metal.