Fan Subculture

This week, let’s talk about the most important members of the heavy metal community: the fans. Metalheads come in many different varieties. There are the angsty teenagers who listen to bands that just “understand” them like Emmure and Suicide Silence. Then there are the big bearded men who seem intimidating but are real softies--they listen to bands like Amon Amarth and Lamb of God. And then you have the social recluses who worship Wolves in the Throne Room and Ihsahn, but have hardly ever been outside into the daylight to get some fresh air. There are tons of different types of heavy metal fans, however they all have more similarities than differences.

All metalheads tend to enjoy their favorite bands by jumping into mosh pits or headbanging in a crowded room. Heavy metal tours actually do surprisingly well due to the fans’ strong appreciation of live music. Metal is a genre that needs to be experienced in person. A lot of times, listening to a record simply doesn’t cut it.

When metalheads go to their favorite concerts, they tend to wear their favorite metal t-shirts. Fans wear metal shirts (at concerts and in public) as a way of showing off their good taste in music. Wearing metal shirts also shows that someone is active in the metal community. It is important for fans to buy merchandise at concerts because for a lot of bands, it is the only way they make significant money. Wearing a metal shirt means that a fan has liked a band enough to proudly wear their shirt and support their future musical endeavors. Additionally, wearing metal shirts can be a major unifying experience for fans, as it is a way for metalheads to identify each other in public and form an unspoken bond. 

It is common for metalheads to use the devil horns hand sign at concerts and in public. It’s a sign of respect amongst metalheads. At concerts, horns will be raised in the air, as a sign of appreciation for the music that is being played. 

Beyond those things, there is one other quality that is common amongst many metalheads. Heavy metal fans have a reputation for being intolerant of other musical genres. This can be frustrating for many bands who wish to step outside the boundaries of heavy metal music. Personally, I don’t like the stereotype that metalheads are intolerant of other types of music, although at times it can seem to be true. Still, I think everyone has their favorite genre of music, and it’s hard not to primarily support the musical genre that one is passionate about.

Metalheads are a passionate group of music lovers and appreciators. A lot of fans would die for their favorite metal group. Heavy metal fans form a strong community through their enthusiasm and similarities. This has kept a generally inaccessible genre of music alive for several decades. Heavy metal has a bright future ahead, and it is all thanks to the genre’s wonderfully devoted fans.