THE BEAUTY OF; METAL.

I just finished watching Metal: A Headbanger's Journey for the 5th time. And yeah, it inspires. Being a "devotee" of metal, the documentary film speaks to those non-metal believers. We are who we are, and you can't stop us. Being so much as an outsider since, i could say primary school times. Metal is a release of emotions and senses.

Metal brings us metalheads together. It binds us in one true form, and at the same time, it gives us the chance to be individuals. Each and every one of us having a different view on metal, but unite as one. It makes it alright to make that Devil's Horns hand gesture and to say "fuck" more than anyone else in one sentence. Metal is our freedom. All those who haven't embraced it, maybe losing out, and it's okay to lose out.

Taken from "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey".

Sam Dunn said: "So here we are, 35 years after Black Sabbath first played the Devil's Note, and metal culture is still thriving. A new generation of fans has emerged, and the old guard is going strong. But I set out on this journey to answer one question: Why has heavy metal been consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned? And what's become clear to me, is that metal confronts what we rather ignore, it celebrates what we often deny, it indulges what we fear most. And that's why metal will be a culture of outsiders."

Fuck yeah.

The best part for me in the whole film, is the Metal Tree. Yeah.

Enlarge these to see better.

Rolling Stone's Metal Family Tree


A Simplified Version


The tree stops at New Wave Of American Metal. I'm no genealogist but i know that after that will come sub-genres that may include bands like All Shall Perish, early Job For A Cowboy, Divine Heresy, Bring Me The Horizon, As Blood Runs Black, The Acacia Strain, Carnifex and more that is classified under Deathcore. Maybe also Rapcore, Screamo, Post-Hardcore, Viking Metal could be added. But it will sure take a damn long time to compile. And i would also add some of my favourite bands under the Progressive Metal list such as Protest The Hero, X-Japan and Necrophagist. But to tell you the truth all these classifying of which band is under which sub-genre has a pretty fine line. Cause all bands will play what might sound like the other, we all might play the same notes, in a different way which makes us unique. As they said, we all play the "Devil's Note".

A mixture of Guttural Gore, Squeals, Screams, Death Growls, Guitar Screeches, Bass Running, Double Bass Pedals and more into one song makes it generally metal. And that's what i'm proud of.

People can't copy what metal is but there are always those who ruin it. Take for example, in Singapore, where the underground metal scene is being flooded who uses it for fame and getting the opposite sex to like you. Those "posers" as we call them influence new kids who are really into metal to become posers themselves. In the end, we all die. But i, and neither the whole Slaughterhouse Massacre team, is not allowing that by making the self-organised anticipated metal gig, Welcome to the Slaughterhouse Massacre, an annual ritual.

My roots of metal came when i was really young. When i was taken care of by my Mak, when Cik Dani introduced me to or rather made me like Metallica. Haha. Yeah. I loved the evil sounds of the songs. Especially the part where a child sang in Enter Sandman. It's intriguing and mesmerizing. Cool. Years after that, i have Obscure Phionix and Death By Clowns. And my influences expand. Metal: my language of freedom, self-expression, power and motivation. That's who i am and you can't stop me.

And Sam Dunn also said: "...you either feel it or you don't. If metal doesn't give you that overwhelming surge of power, and make the hair stand up on the back of your neck, you might never get it. And you know what? That's okay. Because judging by the 40,000 metalheads around me, we're doing just fine without you."

And we are fine without you who are not metal.

So i conclude in my view that Metal is the most powerful form of music and culture out there. Even though people tie metal up with Satanism, suicide and what not. It still moves and the power is great.

I am part of Metal and forever will be. Cause after that first show, it builds up as an addiction. And after being called Singapore's Arch Enemy, Obscure Phionix, ever humble, because we will never be like Arch Enemy, will continue to entertain you.

insanely yours,
Qhai Beast.
Immortalis Zombeast Deathdivine.
A Metal Fan.
A Metalhead.
A Devotee of Metal.

GORE.5:05 PM