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Students, faculty and all readers of The Daily Gamecock, I have a confession to make.
I am an avid listener of heavy metal, the type of music that too often is construed as having to do with violence, hatred and all things "evil" by the casual listener.
While I do enjoy all types of music (even country), buzzsaw tempos and guitar riffs reminiscent of the sound of an atom bomb are literally music to my ears.
The New Brookland Tavern right here in Columbia is hosting a local metal show this coming Monday, and I encourage every person with a curious ear to take a shot and see what a metal show is like.
The West Hell MetalFest will feature local acts Diavolo, Undefined, Your Chance to Die (that name really isn't helping me), Into the Depths and Aiken natives Aralic, all of whom are vying for a shot to be included on a mix tape being sent to the legendary Metal Blade Records.
I'm pushing this show because I believe heavy metal, and aggressive music in general, gets a bad rap and is often written off too easily by critics.
Like Converge's Jacob Bannon, I feel that too many listeners are turned off by the aggressive nature of heavy music, as well as by the overall volume with which it's presented.
While I admit the classic themes of demon worship, evil imagery and violent messages are all present to this day in select metal bands such as Morbid Angel, metal can also come with an incredibly positive message.
Bands like Furious Styles and Thick As Blood stress unity and internal strength while maintaining a drug-free lifestyle, yet they still deliver uncompromising music.
I do agree, heavy metal isn't the most relaxing or soothing music to delve into, but you won't find a more pure and honest form of expression musically anywhere.
Why? Heavy metal has never been mainstream (save for Pantera's debut at the top spot on the Billboard charts in 1994), and because of that, the fan base and those who produce the music listen and make heavy metal because they adore it.
This isn't writing off all other forms of music as insincere or fabricated, and I'm not placing metal bands on a pedestal either, saying they're all holier than thou.
What I'm saying is that heavy metal, for the most part, is often discarded too hastily in the eyes and ears of many a listener.
It's always going to be loud, always going to be fast and always going to be aggressive, but there's no better experience than going to a high-energy show and seeing average people play extraordinary music.
Come out with an open mind and give metal a shot this Monday. Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney and John Mayer will all be at home waiting, I promise.
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