Hair metal fans vs. hardcore metal fans?

Question

Last night I wrote a short piece about the differences between hair metal and hardcore metal.  Let me know what you think of it and feel free to share any related opinions.  

	I was just thinking about how metal fans have different tastes and developing theories on why, because I think it’s interesting.  People prefer different types of music because the way it makes them feel.  The reason why people listen to any type of metal is because they want to hear something heavy with attitude.  I just spent some time listening to both hair metal and traditional hardcore metal like Slayer and tried to figure out crucial differences, which lead to different fan appeal. 

Both hair metal and hardcore metal convey attitude, but in different ways.  Simply put, hair metal is heavy pop music and structured very similar in an organized fashion.  Hair metal often has pronounced intros, melodic choruses, catchy hooks, bridges, etc. much like pop music.  The main difference is heavier drums and guitar, along with more vocal attitude.  Hair metal also commonly has vocal harmonies, which is rare for hardcore metal.  

Hardcore metal on the other hand is very raw and has a tendency to rebel against organization and structure.  It is typically driven by fast constant drums and guitar riffs along with angry yelled vocals.   The style of hair metal guitarists and hardcore metal guitarists is fundamentally different.  Hair metal guitarists play catchy repetitive riffs from a handful of chords that drive the song and typically with minimal or no strumming.  Hardcore metal guitarists typically play fast speed riffs to match the drums, and are often characterized by lots of strumming.  Hardcore metal is very often driven more by the drums than guitar, unlike hair metal.  Hardcore metal is also not very focused on building climax due to the regular absence of choruses and hooks.  Instead, the typical philosophy of hardcore metal is to constantly rock at almost the same pace throughout the whole song.

satty jr · Accepted Answer

Well, I like both. I love the heaviness and craziness of hardcore/heavy metal (I'm not a music expert so i don't know the differences, nor care), but I love catchy bridges and choruses and changing melodies and tempos in the same song. So, when the two genres are mixed, that's the best, and definitely possible. And having nice visuals doesn't do anything but make the band more interesting!

Example, one of my favorite bands -OZ-.

Catchy, lighter song:
"Detox": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXURVYtkApU

Heavier,crazier song:
"Perfect Ruler": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLlvfMpMb2Y&feature=related

But both songs have elements of both genres.
But again, I'm not really a fan of the "traditional", main-stay bands in either genre, either.

? · Answer

Hardcore Metal For Life, I'm Not Really Into Hair-Metal....Here  Are Some Bands I Like.. ;

Slayer (Obviously)
Cannibal Corpse
Necrophagist
Children Of Bodom
System Of A Down (Not Really Hardcore But Still Awesome)
Terror
Pantera
Metallica

(Thats Some 'hardcoremetal' bands i like)

Kate · Answer

Because they knew that you weren't being sincere about your enthusiam about their music, because nobody is, including the kids you were yelling at. This is mostly because emo sucks. As a metalhead, I can answer the second part of your question easily. As someone else stated, metal is all about the music, and for the most part, metalheads try to stick together. When someone they don't know demonstrates such excitement, (even if was for an experiment such as the one you were conducting), we respond positively, as our numbers are dwindling due to other genres, like rap and emo. The newest generation of kids seems to have very little promise in the world of metal, with the exception being nu-metal, which is MTV fueled crap, (not that every metal band on MTV is bad, but the ones MADE by MTV, like Limp Bizkit and KoRn, do in fact suck).

Autumn Shantel · Answer

Everyone has a right to their opinion... And I wouldn't be as into rock music without my hair metal. Of course it isn't my only favorite rock genre, I'm not elitist... But hair metal just makes my day better when I'm not having a good one. lol I LOVE the vocals, and as long as the riff is catchy, I love their repetativeness.

Edit: I'm kinda impressed that no one gave anyone a thumbs down. And that no one started a fight. XD

phatzwave · Answer

Hair Metal was an attempt to turn the original Metal of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest into something tamer and more acceptable for radio. Thrash was the 1st stepping stone out of this misconception that Metal should ever be bastardized to conformed to radio standards.

Anonymous · Answer

My vote goes to hardcore metal. Given a lot of it does suck but a few bands are passable by many standards.

Hair metal, I cannot ******* stand. I can't listen to Poison and not throw up. Motley Crue is the only one I can tolerate, since they had some kind of raw metal attitude in their golden years. To hell with that glammy pop metal.

My name is...... · Answer

That is very true. I can't stand hair metal. Hardcore all the way.

brooke · Answer

hardcore definitely-hair metal is kinda annoying

☆ for senate! · Answer

Roger that.

This should be title: 'Why Hardcore Metal Sucks'
which it does.

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Hair metal fans vs. hardcore metal fans?

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