I confess I have not read anything but the original post on this thread. However, I’d like to offer my own take. I’ve listened to metal for over 25 years. First Metallica, Megadeth…then onto more extreme bands like Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Mayhem, Emperor, etc. I too have struggled with the lyrics–I love bands that are extreme in sound but aren’t about satanism or promote violence or things like that. I used to like bands that were violent lyrically. In fact, I’ve written and recorded songs myself that have violent lyrics…but to me, they don’t seem as violent as others because they are an expression of what I feel. It’s a release for me.

Or it least it has been. I say this because I went though a very hard time earlier this month, where I had a difficult time listening to anything that wasn’t positive. Dream Theater has helped me with that part–a progressive metal band that has lyrics like “To really feel the joy in life / You must suffer through the pain / When you surrender to the light / You can face the darkest days”. That portion really speaks to my inner soul. I love those lyrics. And yet in my lifetime I certainly have hearkened to lyrics about killing and death. Morbid Angel basically got me through high school, because I could express fantasies when listening to them instead of actually doing what was on my mind.

Anyway, the trials of this month have made me feel not so gung-ho about the lyrics I wrote before this month. I sometimes feel that extreme metal is me wallowing in pain. On the other hand, sometimes I feel as though it’s freedom.

I guess all I can say is that it varies with me. Perhaps the “healthy” parts of me want to hearken to the Dream Theater lyrics; but also perhaps, when I’m depressed or angry, the Suffocation/Morbid Angel lyrics are what speak to me most, though I don’t know if they help me.

Am I making any sense?