I can bet my left testicle (actually both, kids are here already) that every metalhead around the world has heard someone say “the music is just bashing everything and shouting in the microphone, you can’t tell what they say anyway, why should there even be any real lyrics?”.

Well, that might be true, atleast partly. Especially for a  non-metal listener, it might be difficult to hear the lyrics in the vocals. However, consuming a lot of extreme music trains the ear to pick up the lyrics better, in the same way as a seasoned listener can distinguish bass lines, guitar riffs, drum hooks and everything else, whereas for the average Joe it could be just a massive wall of noise. To be fair, there is also vocalists and metal styles that don’t even intend to be understood, for example some old school grind stuff. Also different vocalists sound different. Some have a technique that is more mumbly, and others might have clearer articulation. I belong in the latter group, as my tone is formed deep in the core and that leaves the mouth free for clean articulation.

Regardless of whether lyrics are meant to be understood or not, I believe they hold an indescribably significant role, a sentiment heavily influenced by my own approach to creating music. Composing a new song often starts from a fragment of lyrics, an idea, or a mood. Partial lyrics often come to life before a single riff is written. These lyrics guide the riffs, structure, and particularly the mood of the song. They also direct the arrangement and the performance itself.

When performing, narrating a story conveys the atmosphere the song aims to achieve. Joy, sorrow, longing, fear, anger, disappointment, excitement—if music fails to evoke any emotion in the listener, I struggle to see its value. Immersing oneself in the lyrics while performing also makes the show significantly more intense. When the audience sees a vocalist shaking with rage while recounting the story of a child-murdering dictator or nearly breaking into tears while presenting lyrics that ponder life’s fragility and fleeting nature, they can sense that the performer is truly living those lyrics in that moment.

If the lyrics were omitted and replaced with random noises, I believe most of the emotion would be lost. In metal music, which often deals with extreme emotions, what would be left?

Of course, there is also incredible instrumental music, but that’s a story of its own.

Stay safe, stay metal!