Slayer

The gentle art of loud music
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By AB Kade Rogers

To the uninitiated, the prospect of spending a few hours at a metal concert jammed in among the longhaired, fist-pounding, chaotic mass of tangled bodies paying homage to bands with names like Slayer, Damaged, Anthrax, Fear Factory and Flesh Mechanic can seem a little absurd.

But metal is not all unholy primal screaming and subliminal verses from beyond the grave … (well, it is actually) but, believe it or not, there are certain courtesies to observe.

The Music

• Metal is to be played LOUD.
  
• Metal is for metal-heads. Don’t play it in your girlfriend’s car.
  
• “Nu-metal” is not metal.
  
• Metal is obnoxious, offensive and is not a legitimate art form.
  
• Metal is not “cool”.

• Mosh pits and beer don’t mix too well. Not only will you spill your tasty beverage, you will incur the wrath of a rather large, cranky bouncer.
  
• Wear the appropriate apparel. While you may get away with wearing a Slayer shirt to a Fear Factory gig, an Aqua shirt would be deemed unsuitable.
  
• If you don’t know who the band is on your t-shirt, you will be in trouble.
  
• Don’t try to hold a conversation with your metal brethren in the mosh pit. It’s pointless.
  
• If somebody falls down in the mosh pit, help him or her to his or her feet.

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