The debate has raged for decades: which is better, heavy metal or punk? Metal fans will tell you that metal is better because of the superior level of musicianship, longer, more epic songs, and more elaborate shows and criticize punk for its talentless musicians and elitist attitude, while punk fans will tell you that punk is faster music without all the bullshit and that bands are more driven by their fans than by money and fame. They would criticize metal’s arena-sized shows, unsophisticated messages, and its longer, more drawn out songs. A punk watching a live performance of Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” would probably be thinking “Get on with it!” as Jimmy Page strums his guitar with a violin bow for four bloody minutes before the song finally picks up. Similarly, a metalhead at a Sex Pistols concert would probably yell at Steve Jones to “learn to play your fucking guitar! There’s more than three bloody chords you talentless punk.”
Metal fans and punk fans for the most part hate each other’s guts. In many instances the debate between the two has gotten very heated and even violent, especially in the late ‘70s when punk was in its heyday and metal was being revived by the new wave of British heavy metal. While there are a lot of differences between these two genres, they do share some important similarities. Both genres are characterized by highly energetic music, both pander to the rebellious nature of their fans, and both developed in response to the naïve, peace-loving counterculture. Ironically, the new wave of British heavy metal actually got its roots from punk. It started out as a transition from punk music to a new breed of heavy metal with some of the musical qualities that were present in punk. New bands, like Iron Maiden, ignored the labels’ encouragement to turn punk and developed this new style. If you listen to Iron Maiden’s first studio album, “Iron Maiden,” you can hear the similarities between the two.
I am one of a rare group who looks past this disagreement between genres and listens to both heavy metal and punk music. So, as a fan of both genres, what is it that I like about each genre and what differences are there between them that I like? First off, I will admit that I am a bit more partial to heavy metal than punk. I love heavy metal’s dark themes, sick musicians, grand presentation, its heavy reinforcement of masculine stereotypes, and long, epic stories, but I also like the fast, quick songs and sarcastic, satirical nature of punk. Bands like Iron Maiden make me want to walk circles around my room as I beat the air with my fists and scream along with the vocals, but bands like the Ramones can occasionally make me laugh while I am screaming and beating the air. Metal is much more serious, and I like that. Except for bands like Gwar, metal is almost always dark, demonic, and packed with adrenaline. Punk on the other hand has a bit more of a sense of humor. Its themes are still very serious, but it presents them in a very sarcastic manner. The Ramones’ song, “We’re A Happy Family,” is all about a dysfunctional family and is full of comical references: “We ain’t got no friends / Our troubles never end / No Christmas cards to send / Daddy likes men.” Metal puts a smile on my face with the energy it gives off and punk puts a smile on my face with its sarcastic messages.
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