There are plenty of things you can do when you’re having a bad day. Some people say taking a walk or working out will help boost your mood. Others suggest talking to a friend or spending time with pets. Those are fairly effective. However, I find that putting on my headphones and cranking up some extreme metal helps to improve my mood. I’m not alone in this, either. As a matter of fact, the practice of listening to heavy music to boost your mood is backed by science.
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Dr. Genevieve Dingle and Leah Sharman, an honors student at the University of Queensland’s School of Psychology, conducted a study on the impact of “extreme music” on people who are feeling angry or sad in 2015. The study showed that aggressive music helped to calm the study’s participants. Moreover, the study found that metal and other “extreme” music can have the same effect as a warm hug on one’s mood. With that being said, let’s do some science.
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1. “Laid to Rest” by Lamb of God
In my opinion, Lamb of God’s 2004 album, Ashes of the Wake, is as close to perfection as one can get in the extreme metal world. Randy Blythe’s songwriting and vocals, combined with the guitar prowess of Mark Morton and Willie Adler, and driven by Chris Adler’s thunderous drums, are hard to beat. It’s one that I keep going back to more than 20 years later.
The album opener, “Laid to Rest,” is my go-to song when I’m having a bad day. The groove metal assault that is Lamb of God isn’t the only thing that makes this tune soothe the most extreme of bad moods. Blythe’s scathing lyrics act as a balm. There’s just something about I’ll make all your dreams come to life / And slay them as quickly as they came that just works.
2. “Your Treachery Will Die with You” by Dying Fetus
Straddling the line between brutal and technical death metal, few bands are as heavy as Dying Fetus. Their 2009 album, Descend Into Depravity, is a masterpiece of the combination of extreme metal genres. John Gallagher’s crushing and technically astounding guitar work, combined with his percussive guttural vocals, make this band one of my favorites when I’m having a bad day.
Unlike the rest of the bands on this list, I’ve never been able to decipher Gallagher’s vocals, no matter how many times I’ve replayed Descend Into Depravity and Reign Supreme. I’m fine with that, though. There’s so much more to enjoy here. This tune delivers sweeping solos, massive riffs, and blast beats for days. It’s hard to be in a bad mood after being aurally assaulted with this track.
3. “The Purest Strain of Hate” by Thy Art Is Murder
Old-school extreme metal purists will turn their noses up at deathcore bands like Thy Art Is Murder. I, on the other hand, appreciate the blend of genres. Deathcore brings in the riffing and blast beats of death metal with the breakdowns of hardcore. There’s just something about a good breakdown that makes me feel good, and Thy Art Is Murder delivers.
Taken from their 2013 album, Hate, this tune has pretty much everything I need when I’m looking for a musical mood elevator. The solos are great, the vocals and lyrics are just what the doctor ordered, and the breakdown that comes at the song’s midpoint is practically flawless.
4. “Twilight of the Thunder God” by Amon Amarth
No, this Swedish band isn’t Viking metal. That rests closer to power metal on the spectrum of extreme music. Instead, Amon Amarth is a melodic death metal band with lyrics inspired by Norse mythology and other fantasy elements. After all, they took their name from the Lord of the Rings universe and means Mount Doom in Tolkien’s fictional elvish language, Sindarin.
The title track from their 2008 breakthrough album, Twilight of the Thunder God, is based on the mythological Battle of Ragnarok. More specifically, it focuses on the battle between Thor and the World Serpent. It’s just so cool. The song brings killer riffs, Johan Hegg’s top-tier vocals, and an ancient story at the heart of its lyrics. It’s a combination fit for the soundtrack to Valhalla or a long wait in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Featured Image by Katja Ogrin/Redferns
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