Identifying Traits of a Metal Poser

Review your daily listening habits. Ensure that you genuinely engage with metal music on a daily basis. Merely listening to a few metal tracks at a friend's place or during a game doesn't qualify you as a metalhead. If you use music software, you can easily review your listening history by date and the frequency of certain songs.

• Your recently played playlist should include at least a couple of tracks from metal bands.

Familiarize yourself with classic metal. To consider yourself a true metalhead, you should be acquainted with the pioneers of metal. Additionally, recognize that some bands blur the lines between metal and classic rock. Genres are fluid and shouldn't be strictly adhered to. Examples of classic rock/metal bands include Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Van Halen, and Iron Maiden. Other classic metal bands comprise:

• Metallica
• Megadeth
• Slayer
• Death
• Judas Priest
• Pantera

Grasp the nuances of sub-genres. Ensure you're familiar with several bands from each subgenre of metal. Major subgenres include thrash metal, death metal, black metal, power metal, and speed metal. Some metal enthusiasts view individuals who listen to metalcore and claim to be metalheads as pretentious. Metalcore, a blend of extreme metal and hardcore punk, often alienates traditional metal purists.

• Metalcore bands include Trivium, Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, Bullet For My Valentine, Poison The Well, and Motionless In White.
• The tips section provides a list of bands and their respective subgenres.

Expand your knowledge of metal trivia. Learn obscure facts about bands like Motorhead, Metallica, Pantera, Death, Iron Maiden, Children of Bodom, and any other favorites. Statements like 'Slipknot Sucks!' or 'Metallica is the only good metal band' are common among metal posers. If you're fixated on just one band, you're not truly a metalhead but rather a 'Bandhead'.

• However, there's one exception: if someone exclusively enjoys Metallica, they can still be considered a genuine metalhead, albeit an inexperienced one.
• Explore metal information through shows like “That Metal Show”
• Guitar player magazines and select music/rock magazines are valuable resources for metal enthusiasts.

Embrace diverse musical tastes. Being a metalhead doesn't entail rejecting all other music genres. Metalheads, like everyone else, should keep an open mind and be accepting. While metal may be your preferred genre, it's essential to recognize that not all good music falls under the metal umbrella.

• Expressing your passion for metal doesn't mean ridiculing others who share their musical interests.
• There's a burgeoning community of electronic and experimental musicians heavily influenced by metal. While noise isn't a metal genre, the artists creating it are often rooted in metal.

Surround yourself with fellow metalheads. Ensure you have friends who share your passion for metal. Being around other metalheads allows you to discuss and learn about metal, but remember to include friends who don't share your taste in music. Friendship transcends musical preferences.

Practice compassion. Avoid being rude or hostile. While metal can be intense, it doesn't justify aggressive behavior. Metal serves as a conduit for expressing human emotions, particularly darker ones. While metal may evoke strong emotions, it shouldn't influence how you treat others.

Respect the title of metalhead. Merely claiming to be a metalhead doesn't make you one. Understand that metal isn't about fashion; it's about authenticity. While wearing band t-shirts or leather jackets is fine, it's not a requirement. Being a metalhead means embracing the music for its own sake, not for external validation.

Embrace metal attire. While attire doesn't define a metalhead, you can still express your style while supporting your favorite bands. Look for merchandise online or wear classic metal band t-shirts. Accessories like guitar pick necklaces can complement your look.

Avoid falling into poser trends. Many aspiring metalheads get caught up in fleeting fashion trends. While stores like Hot Topic may offer band merchandise, avoid investing all your money there. Authenticity is central to being a metalhead; it's not about following passing fads. Being a true metalhead is about your dedication to the music, not your wardrobe choices.

Master an instrument. Choose an instrument commonly associated with metal music: guitar, drums, bass, or keyboard. While keyboard may not be as prevalent in metal, it still has its place. Select the instrument you're most passionate about. If you find yourself air guitaring to a Van Halen track, consider picking up the guitar.

• If you catch yourself tapping out rhythms while listening to Motorhead on the bus, consider taking up drumming.

Learn iconic metal tunes. Once you've mastered the basics of an instrument, try playing songs you know well. It's easier to learn songs you're familiar with by heart. This way, when you're reading tabs online, you won't need to listen to the song repeatedly.

• You can make significant progress by learning classic metal tracks like “Master of Puppets,” “Thunderstruck,” or “Iron Man.”

Form a metal band with your fellow enthusiasts. Start by assigning instruments among your friends. This allows each person to choose an instrument to learn and dedicate practice time to. Once everyone becomes proficient, attempt to compose a song together.

• Initiate this discussion before Christmas if possible.
• Pre-compose guitar riffs before rehearsals to save time and enhance productivity.
• Building familiarity by learning metal songs together is beneficial.
• Ensure you have a suitable space for band practice.

Attend quality metal concerts. Explore local venues hosting metal shows in your vicinity. Many venues enforce age restrictions like “18+” or “21+,” so check the venue's website beforehand.

• If you're a fan of a specific metal band, keep an eye out for their upcoming tour dates.

Stay true to your metal roots as you mature. Many individuals embrace metal during their middle school years but may drift away from it as they grow older. It's important to remain loyal to your metal roots if you wish to be a genuine metalhead. Even if you take a hiatus from listening to metal for a month or a year, your love for metal can still endure.

• Some notable black metal bands include Immortal, Emperor, Gorgoroth, Carpathian Forest, Mayhem, Watain, Taake, Besatt, Carach Angren, Dark Funeral, Belphegor, and Dimmu Borgir.
• Several prominent death metal bands are Sadistic Intent, Death, Desecration, Opeth, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, and Deicide.
• Notable speed metal bands include Death Mask, Motorhead, Accept, and Powermad.