Why Are Heavy Metal Fans Also Often Gamers?

Why do so many of us love both heavy metal and video games? Because they’re both awesome! That should be the end of the argument. But apparently, this doesn’t always satisfy those who for some reason are not fans of both metal and gaming – and who, in some cases, don’t like either.

For the sake of those people, let’s look at the matter objectively. It’s undeniably true that there is a sizeable crossover of interest between metal fans and gamers – the success of this very site is the proof. So why should that be?

High energy

The most obvious reason may be the similarity between the forms, and the way that they complement each other. Heavy metal is highly-charged, aggressive music that gets the adrenalin pumping. While staying true to this generalization, it also reflects a variety of different moods, from gentle melancholy to desolate beauty and fist-pumping joy.

Video games too are often highly-charged, aggressive and get the adrenalin pumping, but like metal, they are also capable of expressing a wide range of emotions and settings. While both video games and metal are capable of being about almost any topic you can think of, both forms frequently tend towards fantasy and horror themes, deal with war and conflict, and often feature exaggeratedly violent imagery.

We like to play

Maybe heavy metal fans are all big kids at heart, and we just like to play games. It’s not just typical gorefests or fantasy-themed shooters that appeal to heavy metal fans. Many also enjoy playing traditional casino games online, taking advantage of the Chumba Casino no deposit bonus in order to play for real money prizes. It’s no coincidence that many online casinos feature slots based on heavy metal bands including the likes of Kiss, Motorhead and Guns & Roses.

Let’s get technical

Another aspect that often attracts us to heavy metal music is its technical virtuosity. We enjoy and appreciate things that are difficult and sometimes insanely challenging, whether it’s a shredding Yngwie Malmsteen solo or getting through Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. We know that the best things in life require effort, and we’re prepared to put the hours in to get the most out of our pleasures.

Nerds anonymous

Let’s face it: a lot of heavy metal fans are nerds, and proud of it. We like what we like, and we don’t much care whether it’s cool or what the rest of the world thinks about it. We’re often very interested in new technology and are early adopters of the latest gizmos. We were some of the first to flock to the internet, because it was a way to explore our interests and to meet like-minded souls outside of the small towns many of us inhabit.

If you’re a weirdo who doesn’t much like socializing with normies then you’re going to end up spending a lot of time on your own in your bedroom. You’ll likely spend this time listening to heavy metal and playing video games. Both metal and gaming have been criticized for their violent content, but studies have shown that this is often cathartic, and that fans of both are generally some of the nicest people you could meet.

Metal-themed games

Some video games do seem to belong to the world of heavy metal more than others. Top of the list would be the Brütal Legends series, an explicit homage to both the reality and the fantasy of metal, featuring protagonist Eddie Riggs (voiced by Jack Black) and guest appearances from Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest’s Rob Halford. Fast-paced and gory, the games were obviously developed with tongue firmly in cheek – your guitar literally becomes an axe – but also with great love and knowledge of the genre.

The big daddy of metal games though has to be DOOM and its various sequels and offshoots. The original was inspired by Slayer, Metallica and Alice In Chains among others, all of whom featured on the soundtrack, and any game called DOOM was always going to be metal to the core. In 1996, the same team also brought us Quake, featuring soundtrack contributions from Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor.

Metal bands from Kiss to Iron Maiden have also had games based directly upon them, although none of these have really transcended the novelty of the concept. Ultimately they weren’t really needed, as any true fan can easily see the connection between the music and the games they love. So fire up your console, crank up the tunes, and feel the energy levels surge as you appreciate once again how heavy metal and video games were made to be together.

Author

  • Owner/Administrator/Editor/Writer/Interviewer/YouTuber - you name it, I do it. I love gaming, horror movies, and all forms of heavy metal and rock. I'm also a Discworld super-fan and love talking all things Terry Pratchett. Do you wanna party? It's party time!