A Totally Uncool Metalhead Am I

[Analog Man]

I am a 20-year-old headbanger who listens to mostly bands from the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) era and also some other European acts ('70s and '80s mostly). In an age where good music is no longer to be found I find that women are put off by my music tastes. I am not stuck-up ad I don't force my views on anyone, yet women don't have an interest in me? They keep whining and complaining about the lack of "badass men" and yet I have long black hair (down to my chest area), have a tall build, and I wear leather and denim jackets.

 

Women just aren't into me, and I have no idea why... Is it because I am too different/unique to be compared to the thousands of other guys who have no real standing out? I must admit there is no thriving metal scene in my (small) city, so I do feel lonely. I would travel, but I'm broke and am afraid if I ever get homesick on the road.

 

I have never been to a rock/metal concert my whole life because I see nothing but posers with their Hot Topic bull and old, half-assed "rockers" playing Top 40 covers at random, crappy bars. I guess this mostly has to do with me being alone and having no friends, but having a girlfriend/soul mate would give me all I ever need to satisfy my desires in life. I am proud to "live in the past" and I have no regret for that; I don't like how everyone now just "communicates" through text messages and Facebook instead of face-to-face or at least by e-mail. I am an old geezer living in the body of a ripe, young man.

 

Now, on to my looks: I am not hideous by stretch. In fact, I would say that I have an attractive face (especially when I smile really big -- I have been told by some that I have beautiful cheeks). I am White/tan. I am not slim but I am not very fat (I weigh 220 lbs. at 5' 11"). I am friendly when I talk to people I am interested in.

 

I give that "cool" vibe to most people that I talk to. The only problem is, I am not good with knowing the right things to say; sometimes I will mess up and say something that probably shouldn't have been said, causing a bit of confusion/anger to the people I am conversing with.

 

I am not very social because a lot of people don't like me/don't care about me. I don't understand why, but I try not to let it bother me. I usually spend time by myself in my room (playing video games, listening to music, watching an old movie I love, reading comic books, etc.).

 

I am quite disconnected from my family because unlike them I don't subscribe to religion (I will not specify which religion because I don't want to give any bad impression of a *certain* religion so that the *other* religion or religions start to write up BS articles as to how *their* religion or religions are superior to a *certain* religion). Most are quite fanatical about their beliefs that whenever I pass by the living room or walk by them in the kitchen they're always listening to religious programming (whether on radio, TV, or broadcast on their family computer). Well, this is mostly my brother's family; otherwise it's just me and my dad. He's an alright guy and I appreciate him for always being there for me, despite having to put up with some ignorant remarks of his (i.e., "being gay is wrong").

 

In conclusion, I just wish I could find that "special someone" who has similar interests to that of my own. It would be so awesome to have a metalhead girlfriend but not someone who just wants to go party and get wasted but actually enjoy the music with me somewhere in private. (Like I said, I usually like smaller groups of people. I get anxious when I'm around hundreds of people at once.)

 

I play drums in a traditional-style heavy/power metal band so I won't have to feel anxious when I'm up on stage since drummers are usually in the back and there are no distractions. I play drums to let off steam and basically have a good time.

 

If only I could find "her." Until then, I am just a totally uncool metalhead. Not to mention a straight-up virgin who looks like the kind of guy that has sex all the time. I want romance first, sex second. Better yet, I desire romantic sex and sexual romance. I blush whenever I am around a girl who looks like an angel.

[TrueColors]

Analog Man,

 

I was going to suggest you getting it together with another poster on the Love Shack boards (not me!) - right up until you mentioned the religious aspect.

 

But sounds like you're her type:

Younger man

Rocker

Virgin

 

I'll leave it to you to figure out who I mean, but let's just say she's quite a character on here...

[AHardDaysNight]

I doubt it's your looks, or tastes in music.

 

Listen, I was at an Iron Maiden concert last year, and there were plenty of hot chicks around. Single, too!

 

You just need to get with someone who appreciates you for who you are.

[TrueColors]

I believe TrueColors means me.

 

Yep, the one and only!

 

@ GP & AM

You know what they say: be careful what you wish for, it just may happen.

[Analog Man]

Analog Man,

 

I was going to suggest you getting it together with another poster on the Love Shack boards (not me!) - right up until you mentioned the religious aspect.

 

But sounds like you're her type:

Younger man

Rocker

Virgin

 

I'll leave it to you to figure out who I mean, but let's just say she's quite a character on here...

Oh yeah, I am reading her latest thread at the moment.

 

I personally don't care what people believe; it's all about the person, not what they believe in...

 

Listen, I was at an Iron Maiden concert last year, and there were plenty of hot chicks around. Single, too!

How I wish Iron Maiden would come and play in my piss poor little town in Washington...

[TrueColors]

I personally don't care what people believe; it's all about the person, not what they believe in...

 

Nicely put!

[bertdru]

I have gone to very few concerts since in my country rock isn't popular.

 

Anyway just wanted to say NWOBHM is awesome!! Diamond head, Iron maiden, saxon, wow! On through the night and Lightning to the nations are my favourites of the genre(outside of Iron maiden).

 

I thought I would never meet another fan.

[AHardDaysNight]

I don't typically like hair metal bands, other than Iron Maiden.

 

But then again, I view Iron Maiden as crossover progressive rock/metal, rather than straight hair metal. So they fit nicely into my love of progressive rock!

 

It was a dream last year, when I saw Dream Theater open for them! Two of the best bands, together on one stage! The drummer of Maiden even played with them for two songs...just awesome!

[Analog Man]

I have gone to very few concerts since in my country rock isn't popular.

Same here. In America metal has gone down the drain since the rise of nu-metal and -core. I don't hate on either, but I'm just not into them. I am big into thrash and speed metal!

 

Anyway just wanted to say NWOBHM is awesome!! Diamond head, Iron maiden, saxon, wow! On through the night and Lightning to the nations are my favourites of the genre(outside of Iron maiden).

Cheers! All great bands/albums! I also enjoy the more obscure acts such as Venom, Angel Witch, Tygers of Pan Tang, Tokyo Blade, Saracen, Jaguar, Holocaust, Avenger, Cloven Hoof, Praying Mantis, Persian Risk, etc.!

 

We'll get along nicely!

 

I thought I would never meet another fan.

Did I hear an echo?!?

[KR10N]

Nu metal is D-E-A-D! Has been for years.

[Analog Man]

Nu metal is D-E-A-D! Has been for years.

Well, the cause may be dead BUT the effect remains. Grunge died 15 years or so ago and yet its spirit is still carried on through the more recent bands like Nickelback (yuck) and Foo Fighters (meh).

 

Metal lost its popularity in the mainstream 20 years ago but it never died in the underground! I feel good knowing that "the '80s are coming back" with all these cool young retro bands coming out of Europe, South America, and even Asia! I just wish more people into heavy/speed metal existed in my area; I am literally a sheep in a lion's den (the den of deathcore/poser "metal"). :\

[KR10N]

Surprizingly, there are a vast number of metal heads in the south.

[Abhuman]

Metal head from the south reporting in. You think liking NWOBHM is rough. Nah try liking old school death metal. And playing in a small timer local death metal band. Meet tons of chicks into it, not. I'm pretty shy too and it's weird because on stage I'm not. Different world. Anyways.

 

Start saving your money to go to a Maiden gig they are supposedly going to tour all over the US next year.

 

Don't worry too much about sub genres, hot topic trend followers, what killed what and just enjoy the music you like and don't worry about the rest. When you start talking about what is and isn't metal or even ridiculing people for liking -core, it's really douchey. That's a vibe you don't want to give off. You can still not like the stuff, just don't rub it in ppls faces.

 

Hint: lots of metal chicks these days are especially into the -core stuff. Look at it this way, they're usually open minded to listening to other types of metal too. Show them the way! Opeth and Katatonia works wonders for getting them into better metal. PS: they're touring the US this fall, almost everywhere. Check it out.

 

When it comes to dating I don't specifically look for metal chicks. I look for women who will accept me for my interests and lifestyle. Provided I can do the same for theirs. But if they make fun of my bc riches, they are out tha door.

 

Oh yeh, metal heads aren't supposed to be cool. We're supposed to be metal. \m/

Edited August 25, 2011 by Abhuman

[Analog Man]

Metal head from the south reporting in. You think liking NWOBHM is rough. Nah try liking old school death metal. And playing in a small timer local death metal band. Meet tons of chicks into it, not. I'm pretty shy too and it's weird because on stage I'm not. Different world. Anyways.

 

Start saving your money to go to a Maiden gig they are supposedly going to tour all over the US next year.

 

Don't worry too much about sub genres, hot topic trend followers, what killed what and just enjoy the music you like and don't worry about the rest. When you start talking about what is and isn't metal or even ridiculing people for liking -core, it's really douchey. That's a vibe you don't want to give off. You can still not like the stuff, just don't rub it in ppls faces.

 

Hint: lots of metal chicks these days are especially into the -core stuff. Look at it this way, they're usually open minded to listening to other types of metal too. Show them the way! Opeth and Katatonia works wonders for getting them into better metal. PS: they're touring the US this fall, almost everywhere. Check it out.

 

When it comes to dating I don't specifically look for metal chicks. I look for women who will accept me for my interests and lifestyle. Provided I can do the same for theirs. But if they make fun of my bc riches, they are out tha door.

 

Oh yeh, metal heads aren't supposed to be cool. We're supposed to be metal. \m/

Well, death metal has become so polluted with posers (i.e., deathcore) that I rather think that NWOBHM is a more obscure style/movement of metal than these so-called "death metal" bands we get around here. I am a fan of OSDM (Death, Pestilence, Atheist, Sadus, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Malevolent Creation, Obituary, Cancer, Possessed, etc.) but I would imagine that death metal is more popular in the underground here in America than the NWOBHM. Mostly because death metal is heavier and more chaotic than most bands from the NWOBHM in general (most NWOBHM bands ended up playing AOR/glam metal so I think this is why most metalheads in America mainly stick to the more extreme stuff, but I could be wrong...).

 

However, NWOBHM seems to be pretty big in Europe. Lots of kids over there dress as if they literally fell off a time warp from the '80s (e.g., spandex, ripped denim, neon clothing, pretty-boy long hair a la glam/speed metal, etc.). Not saying there's a chance people like that don't exist over here...

 

Anyway, me and the boys are considering relocating the band to Seattle within a year or two (so that we can have more options up there than here in the Tri-Cities area).

 

You're right. I'm not a dick towards anyone who likes their emo **** or whatever. I don't try to shoot them down just because of their music tastes. And I am trying to work hard on starting a more legit metal scene. Just found out there's a dude a little younger than me who is starting a thrash metal band with his friends.

 

I don't specifically look for metal chicks either; I just want someone who can accept me for who I am as a person (as you pointed out). Having a metal girlfriend would only be a bonus (although not necessary). We would be listening to good music at home 24/7!

[Abhuman]

Seems like metal in general, regardless of which kind, is more accepted over there considering how many festivals they have. I'm jelly

 

Good luck with your relocation. A change of scenery will probably help motivate you to go out and meet new people and give you more chances to come across a woman who digs you. It did for me, a little, until I got comfortable again.