Mental Health and Metal

Any metal fan knows that the lyrics to a metal song can deal with some serious topics. There is no way that I could write about the complexity of the relationship between metal and mental health in this short article.

Recently, Falling in Reverse debuted their take on Papa Roach’s hit Last Resort and I decided to look up where the idea for the song came from. The story can be found on Vice’s YouTube channel under “the Story of Last Resort by Papa Roach”.

I highly recommend watching the Vice video to learn about Papa Roach’s journey to success and how this song came full circle for the band. Just a warning, the video (like the song) talks about suicide.

I think it’s fair to say many of us use metal songs to work through our own personal issues. I’m sure this can be said for other genres, but metal deals with mental health in a way that can’t be compared. It doesn’t sugarcoat the issues, and the rawness of this style of music gives the listener a sense of freedom and understanding.

I have often heard it said (and I fully agree) that metal music is calming. It is. It allows us, as its listeners, to vent the anger, sadness, passion, frustration and pain of our mental health.

TBM Horror’s Poetry Archives said it best:
“Poetry is the way your mind says the things you shouldn’t. Those are the most throbbing and beautiful words that will ever come out from your fiercest thoughts.”

And what is music but lyrical poetry.

I do know my own mental health has benefited from the music I listen to.

You can find the original version of the song and Falling in Reverse’s reimagining on YouTube.