Michael Krupp, junior guitarist and lead vocals in Asgard in Flames, knows about the stereotypes and he is mad that people label him because of the music he loves.

“People always say, like, ‘Oh, you listen to metal music. You’re going to shoot up the school or kill somebody,’ and people always make up mean accusations[about us],” Krupp said.

Sadly, lessons that we all should have learned in elementary school seem to be forgotten when people are confronted with this stereotype of heavy metal music.

Though many people may relate heavy metal or screamo with a satanic label, not all of the music is this way. There are other bands that are not as heavy, like Pierce the Veil, Sleeping with Sirens, and Asking Alexandria. All these bands are more popular among the younger teens partially because they are not as “in your face” kind of music.

Even though I am not a frequent listener of this genre, there are some songs that do have a great melody. Many songs from the band Metallica and Bring Me the Horizon are great for running. From my experience, these songs really get your heart beating and pumping faster to almost give you an energy boost. I almost got lost in the music while I was running, trying to understand what the artist was trying to describe and explain to their audience. Between the heavy guitar riffs, constant beating drum, and extreme vocals of the artist, I learned that the song was about a heartbreak, almost too classic for me.

I used to be one of those people who judge others based on the music they listen to, especially the people who listen to heavy metal. I remember I would be sitting near someone and I would be able to hear their music blasting through their headphones and immediately think mean and rude things that I didn’t have the right to think. I would purposely avoid eye contact with them because I felt that they would judge me because they know that I am judging them on something that wasn’t mine to judge.

“Slipknot is an awesome band,” Krupp said. “I like the guys in it and in the band Korn, they have their own thing going on. They are like no other band, kinda like metallica. they kinda have an industrial feel to them. Metallica is my favorite because it was so heavy and it and a really heavy driving force to it.”

What we have learned from talking to Krupp is that he is a person just like anyone else, but he just has a different way of coping with his emotions that involves loud music.