Written by Timothy Saturday, 12 September 2009 10:06
We are a flitting race. We flit like the wind. But metal heads - what are metal heads if not a bit different from the flock that breezes south or north with the change of seasons? Full-blooded metal, in my opinion will always be about high ideals, and full-blooded metal heads will invariably identify with that statement. Though we flock to this one “genre” (way of life) from many backgrounds, heritages, and to feed different needs, metal is all about remaining true to some concept. Our black shirts are mostly gray; our hair is mostly long, but for what reason? What sets this “trend” (by appearances only) apart from all of the other bullshit that people try to preach or identify with?
High fucking ideals, that’s what separates us. Our shirts fade to gray because what better to wear in daily life? For those of us who don’t exclusively wear metal shirts, what makes us apparently metal to outsiders? Hair, piercings, tattoos… looking like William Murderface… But we are still in the superficial, my friends, and not everyone waxes metal the same way based on appearance. An honest, full-blooded metal head will not judge how true-to-the-ideal someone is based on appearance or he/she would indeed very shortsighted. Baldness is metal – look at Rhapsody of Fire’s drummer for confirmation. So what is at the root of metal once again?
 Musashi was metal. |
High ideals. A longing for love and a love of longing. A desire to not feel like shit in this place where it can be hard to feel like you're against the grain all of the time. I personally like to tie our metal ideals to ancient cultures. The codes of Bushido and chivalry come to mind immediately. No, we are not all warriors and we are not all polite, especially as members of the human race foremost, but remnants of those codes and cultures live on today. I would argue that those values still exist in part thanks to metal. A historian (who’s not a totally self-obsessed ass-hat – which is possible within the realm of any specialty [or lack of specialty, for that matter… hmm ass-hats are everywhere]) may not realize it, but they could be leading their life in a totally metal fashion by trying to respect the ancients without ever having needed to enjoy our favorite music. I feel for their loss, but I do respect them, because metal isn’t about the music. Metal is about being metal.
Let's take what I said about love and longing and discuss the metal-ness of those things. Is there a person alive who could actually write these things off? No. If you don't have understanding you are failing in an innate and internal Darwinian sense. People who are into metal may have things to be pissed off about, but if there is really someone who doesn't long for allies then they are actually missing more than just an idealistic concept, they are missing the point of LIFE. It should be evident to most of you that I'm huge power metal fan so how could I talk about any of this without pointing a finger at many culprit power metal songs? There's a whole lot of questing/fantasizing going on about the perfect woman and way of life there. There seems to be a common thread of what I'm talking contained therein. But it's all good though. Having desires and principles regarding what you want is so unquestionably metal. Metal is not about settling for oppression or mediocrity - it's about combating it valiantly!!! I am biased, but all of these are metal shirts to me! |
So what's the actual thread here? What are the ideals I'm speaking of? Integrity, honor, strife. Why strife? I don't know completely. Something is just off in this modern experience and it feels like it's because tyranny gets to take hold in so many ways. Sometimes tyranny is in the way that a good friend succombs to something you dissagree with. Sometimes it's found in the way people aren't always treated like people. It feels to me that the true metal heads out there would be ready and willing to just stand up and fight a good fight against these kinds of things that are so insideously out of our hands. How can it be helped that it's a lonely path? Every day and decision is just training for a great event. But Ragnarok isn't just a cool sounding bit of ancient religion, it's day to day life, and we're all the dying type in the day to day. What principles will guide us into the grave with a sword in our hands and our boots on versus the all of the unprincipled alternatives? I feel like having a code to live by - call it whatever you want, I call mine metal - is the kind of thing that can allow a person to live with dignity. And if one truly craves a noble path, he would do best not to muck together a lack of compromise and code of honor with undying self-servitude.
The sad thing about everything I'm talking about is that I’ve probably known more people who were metal just based on their conduct and principles than I have actual metal heads. I am sometimes sadly reminded that some people only listen to metal as part of a fashion statement and that they are not actually metal. This is what I mean about not judging based on the superficial but rather the person’s heart. Hell, someone might still be cool, but they can definitely suffer from NOT qualifying as metal. Not everyone gets a piece of Ron Lumberg’s birthday cake. (Hahaha I don’t know why I referenced Office Space, Lumberg is as lame as it gets!!! Well actually Peter Gibbons is totally metal, so there you go.)
It’s not the power squeals, though those number amongst the most bad-ass things imaginable. It’s not the style of music or the appearance of the artist or listener. Metal is metal. Metal is high ideals.
Keep true if only for the sake of your children’s children, my cohorts!
-The Philosopher of Metal (a.k.a. Ancient Ideals)
P.S. My two other "metal shirts" pictured say Power By Pavel (a la dragondoor.com) and Beastskills.com - How could a man doing a full split and a gorilla doing a one arm chin-up not be considered totally metal?
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Subscribe to this comment's feed Joe said: 
 | ... well stated. we are indeed the warriors of steel, that have been forgotten by the mainstream of the world, but who the fuck needs them, anyway?! we are the truest of the true and though like every subculture and every way of life and every religion, there will always be those who will give us a bad name. you know what i speak of: those who would call us devil-worshippers, blasphemrs, punks, deadbeats, and losers. they could not be farther from the turth: we are headbangers: brothers and sisters of shining steel. we fight our obstecles and overcome them and do not slink away. i have loved metal for almost five years now and i have only scratched the surface of what it is. is it a way of life, a religion, a music genre, or something much more? hail to the heavy metal! so say the black knight! so say we all! |
Angelique Smith said:
 | ... Thank you, Timothy and also to all the other fan's comments. You truly speak for all of us - so glad to meet other metalheads who understand the Way of Life the way my husband and I do. I'm pregnant and my husband and I decided that our child, Catherine will have a good musical grounding. We both love classical, rock 'n roll, metal, hard rock, jazz, blues, crooners - everything bar the noise promoting hate, violence, rape and fear. Why is it that Induhviduals prefer that which is dead in spirit? Despite the endless judgement we endure through the years, I shall not judge others. All I know, is that there is the strong and there is the weak. We who are strong of character, mind and spirit must continue on our path. |
Stephen said:
 | Well Worded I enjoyed your piece, and your piece of mind. Turning 50 soon and still loving the metal life and inner life -- I'm always glad to tap into someone else's mind -- especially when they "get" metal. Good job! |
Gnagnell said:
 | Not absolute truth m_) While we (us) do not have absolute truth in our hands, we (metal) definitely seek over and over. It is a life-long experience, always preparing ourselves for the time when it will shine on us -be it alive or dead. m_) I'd like to add the word passion as a most fundamental term to consider. Indeed, the word metal should officially be a synonym these days. Dictionaries may never approve it, but has been updated in all metal minds already. m_) What back in the Renaissance Era was known as enlightened men/polymath, now can easily be translated as METAL. Yes, you know this is purely true. Please don't take my speech the wrong way as in "we are all genius, the rest are ordinary". I do not know much about that, but I know for certain that we all are determined and fight towards a meaningful process for the sake of LIFE itself. m_) High values and purpose is what describes a true metal individual. No wonder, you will find that most metal melodies are based from the ancient masters -or take a look at any true metal album case, and tell me: what do you see there? Just a front cover? Of course not, but a masterpiece of the finest degree. m_) Writers, Painters, they find their methods to reach passion. Some don't need Metal to let this grow. Metal, however, is the stream of our days from which passion can be best transformed. Its beauty meets no limits therefore we find alike minds in almost any part of the world. Internet proves it clearly. Truth is always unbreakable, so does metal and its essential roots. |
Jonrattlehead said:
 | ... "Metal is metal. Metal is high ideals"... So true my friend! so true, i wish there were more people who could crawl out of thier little hole and see that. unfortunitly thinking for yourself isnt something thats encoureged (i dont know if it was ever in style) but it sure as hell isnt now. |
Timothy said:
 | ... I'm glad to see there is still a lot of interest in my articles and that all of the feedback has been good. Yes, I am planning to write more, in fact I will write one very soon. A lot of stuff going on right now and many projects underway. I seem to constantly take on too many creative tasks at once... Anyways, yeah. Chris totally said it all right there about why Goleta is a strange haven. I don't know though, sucks not to have a metal scene! Sometimes it feels necessary to drown out the beauty of a place with some shred, especially when people are contently living in ignorance of the rest of the world. |
Christopher said:
 | Goleta Metal Heads I don't meet Metal Heads from Goleta very often, but when I do, they seem to get it. I think it's because of the area we live in. We live in Santa Barbara/Montecito area where ritzy rich people live based on materialism, and we Metal Heads see it in disgust. It really makes us question who we are and why Metal is so important to us, not just as a musical genre, but as a means of life. |
Satan said:
 | Well played sir. Dude you need to write more articles. I don't even need an article section, when you can say everything I want to in better English. We come from from completely different backgrounds in metal, yet you pretty much wrote what I wrote as a 5 page essay for English 110 in a page and a half (and way better might I add). Make the world suck your cock and come back for seconds, no fucking compromises. What is it about Goleta? I've met more real metal heads here than I have everywhere else and the internet combined. |
Joel said:
| research paper I'm agree with Suricata! It's really interesting article. I want to tell you if you're interested in writing research paper you can get it at affordable prices. |
Irving said:
 | Mind Blown .....wow.....this really made me speechless..It kinda made question myself really....about why I like metal and why I want to it to stay alive.... very nice article! |
Timothy said:
| :) I'm glad if I can occasionally be a channel for something intelligent.  Thanks a lot for reading and taking the time to comment! Haha I have a feeling that this article (and I suppose all of them) is destined to be disliked or misinterpreted but if there is no reason to go there then there is no reason to write any opinion-based article. There aren't that many metal heads in my city because it's a fairly desirable place to live... that is if one likes to spend money on things. So as a byproduct I have talked a lot more about principles with friends and mentors than music. |
Suricata said:
 | The absolute truth I really enjoyed this article, not only because of the passion with which it's written or the beauty of the concepts exposed, but because of how acurate it is. Philosophers usually state opinions instead of facts, but this seems to be one of the exceptions. Brilliant. |
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