Metal Heads Assemble!!

[aaron]

I'm curious to hear what you metal heads have to say about this video:
Heado Bang! Heado Bang!.

I don't think I've seen any other band get metal so right and so wrong all at the same time.

ugh. i hate stuff like that. it's interesting but there are a few really good japanese metal bands that actually know what they're doing, so i'll probably just stick to those. i get the impression that this video is kind of a joke, though? maybe? it's so hard to tell.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm curious to hear what you metal heads have to say about this video:
Heado Bang! Heado Bang!.

I don't think I've seen any other band get metal so right and so wrong all at the same time.

I've got no problem with it. I've got a more realistic view of metal (and most things in life), and this is no more ridiculous than some of the ridiculous shit we already accept in the metal genre (banshee shrieks and wails, cookie monster growls, opera, pirate metal, the absurd and disturbing shit we see in black metal like violence and pagan worship, mosh pits, ridiculous looking head banging, people dressing like something out of a goth movie, people dressing like vikings, throwing up devil horns like we're followers of Satan, guys with absurdly long hair and too much eye liner, middle aged guys looking like members of a biker gang, writing songs devoted entirely to drinking beer or killing orcs, etc, etc.)

I love metal, but can take a step backwards, look at it objectively, and see how ridiculous it is too

I'd assume this is probably aimed at a younger demographic, but I could be wrong

[aaron]

I'm curious to hear what you metal heads have to say about this video:
Heado Bang! Heado Bang!.

I don't think I've seen any other band get metal so right and so wrong all at the same time.

I've got no problem with it. I've got a more realistic view of metal (and most things in life), and this is no more ridiculous than some of the ridiculous shit we already accept in the metal genre (banshee shrieks and wails, cookie monster growls, opera, pirate metal, the absurd and disturbing shit we see in black metal like violence and pagan worship, mosh pits, ridiculous looking head banging, people dressing like something out of a goth movie, people dressing like vikings, throwing up devil horns like we're followers of Satan, guys with absurdly long hair and too much eye liner, middle aged guys looking like members of a biker gang, writing songs devoted entirely to drinking beer or killing orcs, etc, etc.)

I love metal, but can take a step backwards, look at it objectively, and see how ridiculous it is too

I'd assume this is probably aimed at a younger demographic, but I could be wrong

with the exception of pirate metal and cookie monster growls, i don't think any of those things are ridiculous and, furthermore, you are in serious danger of having your metal card suspended or revoked.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm curious to hear what you metal heads have to say about this video:
Heado Bang! Heado Bang!.

I don't think I've seen any other band get metal so right and so wrong all at the same time.

I've got no problem with it. I've got a more realistic view of metal (and most things in life), and this is no more ridiculous than some of the ridiculous shit we already accept in the metal genre (banshee shrieks and wails, cookie monster growls, opera, pirate metal, the absurd and disturbing shit we see in black metal like violence and pagan worship, mosh pits, ridiculous looking head banging, people dressing like something out of a goth movie, people dressing like vikings, throwing up devil horns like we're followers of Satan, guys with absurdly long hair and too much eye liner, middle aged guys looking like members of a biker gang, writing songs devoted entirely to drinking beer or killing orcs, etc, etc.)

I love metal, but can take a step backwards, look at it objectively, and see how ridiculous it is too

I'd assume this is probably aimed at a younger demographic, but I could be wrong

with the exception of pirate metal and cookie monster growls, i don't think any of those things are ridiculous and, furthermore, you are in serious danger of having your metal card suspended or revoked.

I expected someone to respond like that. I think some metalheads take themselves too seriously. I don't. It's healthy to be able to poke fun at one's self, gives you a more realistic perspective on things.

[AppleQueso]

What's "disturbing" about paganism?

You do know where the "devil horns" thing came from right?

I mean I get what you're trying to say, and honestly I'd say most fans are pretty well aware of how over-the-top everything is. Thing is, the whole theatricality aspect of metal is a big part of the appeal, imo.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I'm curious to hear what you metal heads have to say about this video:
Heado Bang! Heado Bang!.

I don't think I've seen any other band get metal so right and so wrong all at the same time.

Pretty bad. I like my parodies with a touch more subtlety. And the squeaky clean J-pop production is horrid.

[aaron]

I expected someone to respond like that. I think some metalheads take themselves too seriously. I don't. It's healthy to be able to poke fun at one's self, gives you a more realistic perspective on things.

i wasn't being serious at all. metal is ridiculous, but to varying degrees. just like everything else.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Have any of ya'll ever listened to Unleash The Archers? I just got suggested them by a friend of a friend (apparently I'm "that one redheaded guy who's into melodeath and shit" ). I'm pretty happy with them so far, although there is a bit of a cheese factor with the lyrics. (Sounds kind of like a bad hack and slash games soundtrack or something )

[Ack]

I've got no problem with it. I've got a more realistic view of metal (and most things in life), and this is no more ridiculous than some of the ridiculous shit we already accept in the metal genre (banshee shrieks and wails, cookie monster growls, opera, pirate metal, the absurd and disturbing shit we see in black metal like violence and pagan worship, mosh pits, ridiculous looking head banging, people dressing like something out of a goth movie, people dressing like vikings, throwing up devil horns like we're followers of Satan, guys with absurdly long hair and too much eye liner, middle aged guys looking like members of a biker gang, writing songs devoted entirely to drinking beer or killing orcs, etc, etc.)

Some of that I admittedly find ridiculous too. A couple of caveats though:

What's wrong with pagan worship? Yes, I am disturbed by the violence associated with black metal in Scandinavia, but pagan worship I find no more odd than any other religion.

Mosh pits came from punk and have since spread to the hip hop community, so we aren't the only ones doing this.

As for people dressing up funny and wearing too much eyeliner, I point this back to the days of Hair Metal and say that much of what we have still isn't as weird as Twisted Sister, and they were doing it for various reasons, but I always thought it was a joke at the masculine image. To a lesser extent today, sure, but it still questions that morale.

What's wrong with dressing like a biker gang? I've known old guys that do that. It's just a part of the related fashion, and not everyone who listens to metal does it, just like not all Sonic fans dress in animal outfits and go to furry conventions to hook up with guys in skunk suits.

The "devil's horns" bit actually has a large variety of meanings, depending on the culture, and its popularity in metal actually has an interesting history tracing back to various bands, particularly Dio and his Italian heritage. The symbol was also used by bands ranging from Parliament Funkadelic, KISS, Frank Zappa, and Coven, along with the Beatles on the cover of Yellow Submarine.

And what's wrong with beer? Must forms of music have some kind of associated drug...why can't beer be that one? Or would you prefer more Cannabis Corpse?

As for vikings, yes, I enjoy Amon Amarth, but I admit that some of viking metal I find tremendously silly. It's hard for me to take a band like Finntroll seriously. And then for Pirate Metal, you have Alestorm...I mean, really? But Hell, what about bands like GWAR, Lordi, or Mushroomhead? Then again, how are these any weirder than some of the stuff we see in pop music? Am I to believe that I was supposed to take Katie Perry's breasts shooting whipped cream as something serious?

But, I will give you that some of the rest you mention is pretty hokey and should be laughed at. In fact, Brian Posehn has done just that: Metal By Numbers.

[J T]

My thoughts on the BabyMetal video is that it feels like I'm trying to push repelling magnets together in my brain to listen to j-pop and metal all at once. I want to bang my head just because the sounds feel so wrong together. I find that entertaining, in a way, kind of like trying to eat Pop Rocks and Coke at the same time. I don't particularly like it, but the mouth-frothing overstimulation is good for a laugh.

In terms of being metal, there are few things more metal than corrupting the youth, and few things scarier than young creepy asian girls, as evidenced by movies like Ringu (The Ring). Still, all of their head banging and flashing of devil signs feels like they are just posteuring and not really understanding exactly what they are doing, but having a lot of fun anyway. I think the guitar work is pretty solid, and though the j-pop doesn't feel right, that makes it kind of rock. I can't decide if the j-pop is being corrupted by the metal or the metal is being corrupted by the j-pop. Ultimately, it's that battle that makes them interesting.