How to Listen to Death Metal

Death metal is like any type of music. It has melody, passion and musicianship. Unfortunately, most people don't give it a chance long enough to realize this. At first listen, it may sound like a train wreck with the Cookie Monster on vocals. Yet to the hard music connoisseur, death metal is more than just angry noise. Read on to learn how to listen to death metal.

Instructions

1. Open your mind. Sure, the first track may sound like a scene from the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," but let it play out no matter how uncomfortable you feel. It is amazing how our minds can adjust to something so intense after repeated exposure.

2. Ignore the vocals and listen for musical nuances. Take a song and focus on one aspect such as the drums or the lead guitar. By singling the instruments out, you will begin to open up the song while ignoring the harsh qualities that most people find intolerable.

3. Begin slowly. Like all music genre's death metal has its extreme forms and more progressive flavors. Try out groups like Opeth, Amorphis or Cynic who have soft qualities that intermingle with the heavy. These bands make listening to death metal easy because they interweave melodic vocals with raw and bleeding energy.

4. Throw out the art and lyrics. While several groups such as Orphaned Land and Frank's Enemy use Christian themes, most death metal music delves into the abyss of human expression. If you are the squeamish type, ignore any disturbing imagery and see if you feel a connection with the music before making judgments.

5. Sample the different varieties. There are numerous types of death metal--Black, Melodic, Swedish, Progressive and Metalcore--to choose from. Pick a type and explore several bands. For example, if you are experimenting with Swedish death metal try Entombed, Theron or Suffer to get an idea for the sound. If the Swedish style isn't for you, try another variety until you find a death metal type of your liking.

6. Go to a used CD store. Most guys who work in these places spend their weekends in the mosh pit. Find the most unassuming worker and ask him about death metal. Chances are, he will be itching to share his love for this type of music with you.

Resources

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