Concentration of heavy metal around the world - no, the music kind

[Duke87 1,070]

An interesting map.

Naturally it's more popular in the west. Scandinavia seems to lead the pack... I was not expecting that.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Truly interesting map, at least for a bit of a metalhead like me.

I had no doubt that the highest density would be in the Scandinavian countries, there's an uncountable number of metal bands, good metal bands, up there, impossible to know them all. This map only corroborates what I was thinking. It's just more than music, it seems.

Also, who could think there would be one metal band in Greenland?

Being a bit picky now, it would be interesting to see this kind of map centered only in Spain. The red would increase drammatically in and around Madrid if the most well known ones are taken into account. Just a curiosity.

  Edited April 16, 2012 by TekindusT  

[Alejandro24 575]

Cartography at his limits!!!!! This is amazing, what a strange combination.

Ah, and of course, the big concentration is in Scandinavia. That's the capital.

Mexico is colored in green. I suppose that's correct, but could be more yellow near Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and the border with United States.

  Edited April 16, 2012 by Alejandro24  

[Cantona_21 3]

Im in a metal band and the once place I want to play a gig is somewhere in Scandinavia. Once we record our debut album I want to try and get us on a tour of central Europe too, just buy a van between us and set off with our gear and go from town to town asking for gigs. My logic is that if we can build a fanbase in a country which appreciates our music, then we have a chance of getting on the bill of a Scandinavian Festival or something, and from there Im hoping it will domino

[Meg 368]

A co-worker of mine had a screen saver that scrolled through a list of odd names that I had never heard of. I asked him about it. He said they were Christian heavy metal bands.

It took me a while to wrap my head around that concept.

[Easy Bakes 253]

No surprise to me at all,There are a few metal bands i like and would pay to see play live.

These bands are very big in those Central European countries,its were most of their album sale's are now so its not a complete surprise that is were they go to play their shows.

Even if you barely know your Def Leppard from your Deep Purple, you won’t be surprised by the obvious point of this map: Scandinavia is the world capital of heavy metal music.

BTW Def Leppard is not Heavy metal.

[Cantona_21 3]

Def Leppard is not heavy metal. But they are still damn awesome!

[T Wrecks 10,209]

@ Meg: Yeah, well... while Heavy Metal doesn't have to be about a particular topic in terms of lyrics, there is a tendency towards venting all kinds of emotions (often negative ones) with that music. The thought of a deeply religious Christian of the kind that will smile at you with endless patience and keep repeating "God will know what it's for" stepping onto a stage, shredding like a boss and screaming at the top of his lungs is a bit odd.

Then again, Metal is a genre that's wide and varied enough to accommodate a zillion of different styles and sub-genres.

Back to topic, I think nobody who lives in Europe is surprised by the fact that Scandinavia is leading in terms of density.

Anyway, thank you for showing that map, Duke - very interesting stuff! What I hadn't expected, for example, is that Greece has such a high concentration. I know some Greek bands, and I knew they must have a good metal scene, but the extent surprised me.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I'm a fan of a variety of music tastes. Heavy Metal is part of my taste. <3

I don't think it's odd that there are Christian Metal bands. Though...I am certainly an odd fellow...hmm...

[Wiecher 192]

Hey, someone who knows the strange maps site too!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

As a music genre, I class metal just above rap.

[TekindusT 3,809]

@A Nonny Moose: Then metal is a bit better than "truly awful and un-melodious sound" for you. Too bad, some of the bands represented in the map play truly exciting melodies. Not everything is just growling and flames.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 9, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Shadow Assassin 336]

An interesting map.

Naturally it's more popular in the west. Scandinavia seems to lead the pack... I was not expecting that.

Duke... erm... there's absolutely no surprise that Scandinavia leads the pack (for me anyway)... after all... they're the Vikings. They like singing about blood, violence and guts.

Also, I find screaming (in the growly sense, ie. metal) to be quite therapeutic and relaxing.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

@A Nonny Moose: Then metal is a bit better than "truly awful and un-melodious sound" for you. Too bad, some of the bands represented in the map play truly exciting melodies. Not everything is just growling and flames.

I am slightly biased, I admit. My son-in-law is a metal musician. I generally like everything musical but I draw the line at distortions caused by abusing instruments and electronics.

[Duke87 1,070]

Duke... erm... there's absolutely no surprise that Scandinavia leads the pack (for me anyway)... after all... they're the Vikings. They like singing about blood, violence and guts.

If you had asked me to name a European country to associate with death metal, I would have said Germany. Then again, Rammstein is the only non-English speaking metal band I can name offhand, so...

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

I used to work for a guy who is really into metal. He goes to Graspop (Gras Pop?) every year and is friends with a buncha metal bands. I've even met Lamb of God, although I couldn't tell you anything about their music. Metal doesn't make it in any of my playlists. There's one band with the hot chick lead singer whose name I can't remember, they're pretty good though.

[TekindusT 3,809]

There's one band with the hot chick lead singer whose name I can't remember, they're pretty good though.

LOL, there must be a dozen (relatively known) bands that meet that requirement!

  Edited April 18, 2012 by TekindusT  

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 9, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Alejandro24 575]

Duke... erm... there's absolutely no surprise that Scandinavia leads the pack (for me anyway)... after all... they're the Vikings. They like singing about blood, violence and guts.

If you had asked me to name a European country to associate with death metal, I would have said Germany. Then again, Rammstein is the only non-English speaking metal band I can name offhand, so...

Germany is the capital of industrial metal, there are no doubt about that. The bests bands of Industrial metal comes from Germany, and many of them are cataloged as NDH (Neue Deutsche Härte). The best band of NDH that I've heard is Wiessglut. Of course, Megaherz, Eisbrecher, Unheilig and Oomph! (this last, founder of the NDH movement) are not so far from them.

In my opinion (as fan of electronic music and metal listener), Industrial Rock/Metal are the best genre of Metal and Electronic Music because it is very well done crossover between two genres that someone can think are totally incompatible.

  Edited April 20, 2012 by Alejandro24  

[hamsterTK 93]

There's one band with the hot chick lead singer whose name I can't remember, they're pretty good though.

Nightwish?

There have been two female leads in their history, first Tarja and now Annette.

Anyways, I have never been a fan of death metal or cookie monster vocals(except Rammstein), but I like the more industrial or symphonic metal.