The ins and outs of heavy metal

music for every outsider

For music, too, there may perhaps again come a better time (it will certainly be a more evil one!) when artists have to make it appeal to people strong in themselves, severe, dominated by the dark seriousness of their own passion: but of what use is music to the little souls of the vanishing age, souls too easily moved, undeveloped, half-selves, inquisitive, lusting after everything!

Nietzsche, Daybreak §172

This week I gave a guest lecture on heavy metal.

It was in a course on gender studies, focused on the idea that music creates communities for rebellious outsiders. Whole genres of music - blues, punk, rock, for example - have come about in some kind of protest against mainstream culture.

One of the most interesting developments in the heavy music scene over the last 5 years or so has been how it has become vastly more inclusive. Female frontwomen have become more common, including women who can use extended vocal technique - the screams and growls that metal is basically synonymous …