What's a metalist?

Raval's picture

I’d really love to know where the origin of this word came from “metallist”

Every time someone discovers that you’re into heavy metal they always ask “are you a metallist?” or say “I didn’t know you’re a metallist” I really hate that!

I’ve always considered myself a Metalhead and I can never recall having a conversation with my metalhead peers and someone using the term metalist instead of metalhead.

Wikipedia’s definition of a Metalhead:
Metalhead is a popular term for a devoted fan of heavy metal music and is often used interchangeably with the term "headbanger"; since the early 1990s, however, the use of the latter term has declined in favor of the more fashionable "metalhead" tag.

So please let’s put an end to the term “metalist”

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
nickevil's picture

Re: What's a metalist?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm... metallist ... metalhead ... headbanger.... why cant they just call you Raval? you dont look metallic... no hair to look like a rocker (LOL) and oh well I guess its your metallic personality :D

Eyon's picture

Re: What's a metalist?

I don't acknowledge the term either as I find it
a bit juvenile.

Truly Devoted fan of True Heavy Metal Music does it for me
or the words Metalhead or Heavy Metal Fan

\m/ -E- \m/

Avinash Crow's picture

Re: What's a metalist?

Hmm, same here as with Eyon's comment...it's quite a "loose" and "uninformed" terminology used by the "lesser educated'...so to speak...In certain cultures,for example, in Latin America,a "METALHEAD" is referred to as a "METALERO"...Roughly translated, this would mean "Metaller"....another bit of somewhat erroneous jargon.

What is however clear from my personal perspective, is that you can "paint it" how you like, and "call it what you will"...but culture and art do not have definite, concise border-lines and there is no "precise label" to define a world of rapidly evolving and multi-integrating sub-genres.

Pure, 100 % "solo" genres are progressively more difficult to find in the "rock/metal" scene....and hence rises the difficulty of "labelling" what you/we are...

We are no better nor worse...not superior nor inferior...not "hardcore"...nor "punkcore"....
We are simply different...and in diversity there is a kaleidoscope of beauty.

Know who you are...(it is more important...and easy !! ... than labelling yourself )
"You label me...I label you..."

Post new comment

  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Potentially problem-causing HTML tags are filtered.

More information about formatting options