Metal Music And ADHD

How to listen to metal
(and music in general)

By: Zach Zimmerman
LA Metal Music Examiner

Relativism is a set of beliefs that include the idea that there is no right or wrong way to do anything, and that the individual is an island unto himself who decides what is best for him or herself. Curiously, these ideas are only found in the modern time, in which we, being politically correct individuals, find ourselves afraid to step on anyone's toes for the greater good. One example of this can be found in the current phenomena of attention deficit disorders, which appear to be getting more and more common all the time. Because of the rising frequency of cases, many people are now saying that it's perfectly alright and normal to not be able to pay attention to anything for more than 5 seconds -- they're too afraid to assert that anything's wrong, because that would involve an obligation to change something. So you have parents saying that their attention deficit children are "special," and that ADHD isn't a disorder at all (and similar behaviors exist with other forms of disability, for example, in the deaf community).

One thing I always liked about metal was that it was assertive about problems in the world and society, even if it took a mythical or metaphorical approach in its diagnosis. Being the hessian I am, I like to think that there's a better way to do everything that human beings can possibly do, even something as innocuous as leisurely listening to music. If you have ADHD (or really, just a low attention span), you're never going to be able to get anything out of complex music like metal or classical (although Lady Gaga might work for you!). And even if you don't have this disorder, there's a clear difference between casual and active listening, and it's almost as striking as the difference between watching television (alert with no focus) and doing a simple activity like drawing (alert and focused). So here are some helpful tips for active music listening, which is certainly the best way to listen and absorb -- and thus, the right way. Don't hesitate to go against the grain of "this twittering world" by honestly and attentively appreciating the beauty of art and music.

1.) Ditch the ADHD. Do you have ADHD? Do you find it difficult to pay attention to longer pieces of music, or even a 4-minute death metal song? Believe it or not, it is very possible to overcome a lack of attentional skills in a relatively short time, and all without your credit card. For one, reduce time spent on passive activities like television (that includes YouTube!) and pick up a book instead. Studies show that television watching reduces attentional abilities in children. Another thing you can do is to take up a meditation practice. Mindfulness practice has many benefits, but one of the most important is the ability to just sit still and focus on whatever you want, for as long as you want. If that sounds too difficult, there was a study done not too long ago which reported that 20 minutes of nature a day can have similar or better effects on attentional abilities than the drugs. The first step to active listening is to learn to listen at all -- so no, you won't be "special" anymore, but you will have increased appreciation for what you hear, and unlike most music fans I've met, actually be able to identify songs by your purported favorite bands!

2.) Listen for structure. Metal is sometimes called "structural music." This phrase might sound somewhat obvious; after all, all music has structure. The structures of metal songs however are usually more complex than rock and pop songs (which all use, more or less, the same verse-chorus format), and the focus is on creating architecture out of notes; this is why it is likened to a kind of raw, modern, classicist music. Active music listening involves listening and interpreting sounds for the way they arranged, and not necessarily for what they sound like (leave that to the audiophiles). Listen to the way notes, melodies, and rhythms intertwine and interact with each other with each transition. The manner in which a song unfolds from its various phrases is far more important in this kind of listening than what kind of production was used or how "cool" the music is. After all, metal songs are still going to sound like metal songs, even if you play them on a piano. One way to listen actively is to count phrases or riffs: the first is A, the second B, third C, and so on. Massacra's "Trained to Kill" goes A, B, C, B, D, E, F, etc. This might sound heady, but with some practice you can learn to do it without it lessening your emotional appreciation for what you hear.

3.) Set up an environment for clear listening. Don't listen to music while surfing the web, reading, or having an argument. You won't take much away from this experience, and if your attention is divided amongst two tasks, both are experienced less than completely. It's probably okay to put on an album for doing cleaning or simple tasks like that, but I find that the best way to really listen involves sitting comfortably without any distractions and really making an attempt to hear everything I can within the length of an album. Headphones can certainly help with the immersion. Furthermore, you can dim the lights, or just close your eyes: a study found that listening with the eyes closed elicits more intense responses from the brain. Doing so will only make your metal heavier.

Gary Moore är död

Uppges ha somnat in natten till i dag.

Den legendariske gitarristen Gary Moore har avlidit.

– Jag är i total chock, säger Brian Downey, trummis i Thin Lizzy på bandets hemsida.

Gary Moore ska ha somnat in under en semesterresa i Spanien natten till i dag, berättar managern Adam Parsons för brittiska tv-kanalen BBC.

Enligt Irish times hittades han död tidigt på söndagsmorgonen i sitt hotellrum i turistorten Costa del Sol. Men dödsorsaken är oklar.

Hans promoter Smiley Bolger skriver på sin Facebooksida att han tagit emot ett samtal om händelsen för ett par timmar sedan.

Det irländska bandet Thin Lizzy, där Gary Moore har spelat, skriver om dödsbeskedet på sin hemsida.

Musiken lever vidare

"Det är med stor sorg vi hör om Gary Moores död. Våra tankar går nu till Garys familj och våra minnen av Gary och hans bidrag till Thin Lizzy och musik kommer att leva vidare för evigt", skriver bandet på sin hemsida.

Trummisen Brian Downey säger:

– Jag är i total chock. Jag har känt Gary sedan 1967 när han spelade i Platform Three och han har varit en underbar vän sedan dess. Det var ett nöje att spela med Gary igen 2006 efter hans dagar med Lizzy. Han kommer alltid finnas i mina tankar och böner och jag kan bara inte förstå att han är borta.

Gitarristen Eric Bell, som tidigare spelat i Thin Lizzy säger till BBC att han är " i chock ".

– Jag kan fortfarande inte tro det. Han var så robust, han var inget offer för rock'n'roll-livet, han var en hälsosam kille.

Spelade i flera genrer

En obduktion är planerad i spanska Malaga. Brittiska UD står redo med konsulär assistans, skriver Irish times.

– Vi är medvetna om att en brittisk medborgare har gått bort i Estepona, säger talespersonen.

Gary Moore föddes 1952 i Belfast och har gjort sig känd inom flera musikgenrer – från blues till hårdrock.

Han fick en stor hit med " Still Got the Blues " från 1990.

Senast förra året spelade han på Sweden Rock-festivalen i Norje i Sölvesborg.

Gary Moore blev 58 år.

45 år

Japp, så var man vid det magiska strecket..
45 år fyllda. Kändes det nått?..
Nej....inte mer än att man blev 1 år äldre
och troligen kommande nya krämpor....

Nu siktar jag in mej på kommande år och
förhoppningsvis bättre hälsa.

/Mats