Is this Metal Enough?
Illustrated by Molly Richards (she/her)
I’d say it is ironic how musically-charged my upbringing was, considering my lack of musical talent. Unfortunately, I have never been a gifted muso. I think my Nan had some degree of hope when she bought me a flamenco guitar at six years old. I wonder what my life would have been like had I learnt to play it. I didn’t, but that’s not to say my life has been devoid of music. Quite the opposite in fact. I grew up on all the classic ‘70s and ‘80s artists that my mum and dad had collated neatly in a CD tower. From Queen, Bon Jovi, Duran Duran, Dire Straits, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin to Meatloaf. The greats of my household.
Despite the lacking musical talent in my house, we made up for it in our listening. So, it is no surprise my Spotify Wrapped gets up to 97,000 minutes of listening per year. I shifted away from the CDs when I finally got access to my very own Spotify account, and I think I’ve gone through all the expected phases in my musical journey so far. Yes, I had the emo phase, and to be honest, I don’t think I ever left. Unsurprisingly, I ventured down the rock ‘n roll road and now I have ended up in my metal era. It is at this time of writing that I realise I was never that far off.
At the same time, I have always been a film nerd. I got the music from Mum and the films from Dad and the two go hand-in-hand. A notable story I’d just like to throw in there because I’m still reeling comes from my mother. Originally, our family resided in the ever-sunny UK. My mum would tell me the story of Robert Plant (from the ever-famous Led Zepplin) and how he would often play at the local pub. Specifically, The Plough at Kinver. It’s close to Worcestershire, not the sauce, and it must have been 1988. That is still one of the coolest things ever to me and I am very proud.
Back to the matter at hand. Film and TV (and other of facets of popular culture) impact what we listen to. I know it has for me. Most recently and notably, in Stranger Things... Eddie Munson’s totally metal guitar solo from Metallica’s 1986 Master of Puppets (off the album of the same name) had me in awe. This scene revived the metal lover within me. I would be ashamed of this if Lars Ulrich (Metallica’s drummer) wasn’t so “psyched” with the pairing. I suppose that the thing. It’s totally okay to be a new or returning fan. I often feel like I’m a fraud, that I’m not metal or not this or that enough to enjoy something. That I’m not a true fan, which is complete and utter bullshit.
I spoke with fellow metalhead and resident writer Aiden Wilson about metal, some recommendations, and the new fan tension. What is metal enough? The original fan stigma is a curious one. It’s normal to feel protective over something that you hold dearly. I get it. I don’t get why I feel bad for coming in late. I’m no less of a fan, yet I feel a fraud.
Metal, from my understanding, is about freedom, rebellion, and as Aiden so eloquently put it, “telling people to shove it.” We spoke about Bring Me The Horizon’s FU to the haters with their song “Heavy Metal”. I love the song and I felt guilty about it, which in hindsight is just dumb. Why should I feel bad about liking a song just because people have their own preconceptions of what something should be? If I don’t know all the bands and their corresponding songs, does that make me a fraud? No, but it sometimes feels like it. As Aiden said, “who cares if it’s not what your narrowminded view of “Heavy Metal” is. Let me enjoy what I enjoy, however I found it, however it sounds.”
Now, I have decided to say uh whatever when some pumped up disk jockey asks me to name three songs. It’s not my problem, so don’t worry about it. I’d say it doesn’t get more metal than that.