During the last several years, heavy metal music has been getting a bad rap by the media and many experts and theorists about child behavior. These experts believe heavy metal music leads to increased violence and other “problems” we see in young people today. But is this really true?
This week a study from Britain found that heavy metal music may help to relieve mental tension in young people. Psychologists at the University of Warick in England interviewed more than 1000 students at the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. Researchers report, “They tend to listen to it to release the tension and pressure they feel, a kind of cathartic release.”
Young people report liking songs about politics and about darker, more complex material than your average pop song. Researcher Ken Waller concludes, “It’s probably a perfectly healthy way to cope.”
If you want to listen to the full segment on the BBC’s The World, go here: http://www.theworld.org/ and listen to the archive for today, March 21.
The music of each generation is a reflection of the times in which they live. This music is often deeply criticized for the decline of youth by the older generation.
In my parents’ generation, it was the jitterbug. When I was young, it was the dangerous hip swinging of Elvis and the long-hair radicalism of the Beatles. For today’s young people, it is rap, hip hop, heavy metal and the controversial music of Marilyn Manson, which my son Orion informs me is industrial heavy metal.
Heavy metal music was the music I used to find most abhorrent…until Orion became the drummer in a heavy metal band. I see how much he loves it—the darkness, the complex rhythm patterns, the rawness, the emotional edginess.
Doug and I go to many of his concerts. Much to our amazement we love them! Most of his shows start at 11:30 PM to midnight. This means we leave the house about 10:30, just when our bodies and minds are screaming, “What are you doing? It’s time to go to bed!” It’s worth every minute of it.
By the way, his band Echoes of Fear have a recording from their new CD online. Simply click here, http://www. myspace.com/echoesoffear Then turn up your speakers, sit back and enjoy!!
Remember, the amazing drummer is my son!
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Im really happy that this isnt the typical bashing of heavy metal music, anyone who doesnt listen to the music themselves is unable to understand what is going on in the mind of someone who enjoys the music. Most people who decide to critic heavy metal only look at the bad sides of the music, and disregard the fact that if there were no controlled concerts where people can mosh out their frustrations with friends, that they might end up with too much stress and end up hurting themself or someone else in attempt to calm down. I really do think heavy metal is a good way for people to express their emotion, but as an avid listener, I can also see how some people might think that heavy metal is bad. All in all, I ask for more people to have a more open opinion about it and to really give it a fair chance. One could also argue that pop and hip hop are more controversial due to the overwhelming amount of swearing, drug and drinking references, and the derogatory way they handle women in videos, and lyrically. Theres two sides to every fight, and Im getting tired of everyone only seeing the bad side of metal.