What do you like in metal?

With this being about power metal, I have a feeling what the answer will be, but I'm still curious where everyone stands. (Pick the one that MOST suits you. I know different moods call for different things.)

Myself, I go for story most often. I may like a certain sound more than another and truthfully, I enjoy just about all metal. (And tolerate if not enjoy other genres.) But if I get my hands on a concept album, then it's going to be on loop for the next few days.

i went for story because of iron maiden being mainly stories in their songs

although don't get me wrong, i am one to love songs about "far off quests, slaying dragons, fighting evil, comradship, hope" etc

oh well i voted for vocals (screaming/loud etc.). i am mainly a nu-metal fan but i also rly love power metal

Sometimes i like heavy bands... but i mostly go for the sof ones...
and there must be a story in it off course!

I don't know I like harder music but some soft musics too. The thing I hate is growling/screaming vocals.

As for music, I can go with both extremes. Perfect example: My Zune playlist just gave me Ayreon then Dimmu Borgir.

Iron Maiden, Dragonforce etc etc. all story lyrics. I HAD to choose story.

Vocal style don't matter too much to me. I voted music, hard and heavy. I almost said story, but I wouldn't base my purchase around that one aspect.
Still, if the song tells a story, that can only make it better

should be able to choose multiple >.>

One of the best things about metal is the lyrics usly tell a epic story or have deep meaning unlike rap or hip hop witch suck horribly

snipermage wrote:

One of the best things about metal is the lyrics usly tell a epic story or have deep meaning unlike rap or hip hop witch suck horribly

Which, not witch. Witches are those evil bitches who conjure up spells or whatever.

But anywho, what I look for most is good vocals, preferably loud/growling/screamo. I HAVE to like the vocals to like a song, and the vocals are my favorite part to listen to. I also enjoy singing to songs. DragonForce is too high to sing to though at most parts =(

I like themes, I like epic feels, I like complexity, atmosphere, diversity, and a catch that allows you to notice that band right away.

I dislike a LOT of thrash metal because most of the time I can't tell two bands apart, it is repetitive, the flow is too edgy, and the only atmosphere I get from thrash metal is a headstock up my ass.

I love a lot of Melodic Death, Folk, Power, and Progressive Metal because these genres are not limited to one sound.
They are easy to rework into original styles, and easily combined with each other.

For vocal stylings, I have no huge preference, but the growls have got to sound good for me, by good I don't mean the shit Deathcore squealing, i'm talking the powerful boom of Johan Hegg and Mikael Åkerfeldt, or the unforgettable chills of Jari Mäenpää, Petri Lindroos, and Devin Townsend.
Clean vocals are easy to work with me, but they have to sound special.
Also, super high timbre clean vocals need time to work around me, I dislike Z.P. Theart because, though he has a nice clean voice, it seems too...shall I say...overdone for me.
Clean vocalists such as Steven Wilson, Marco Hietala, Jari Mäenpää, Christopher Bowes, Joacim Cans, and Mikael Åkerfeldt provide the diversity and style I like.

Instrumentalists must be top-notch.
Guitarists...well, i'd rather not have them play Fenders...
Drummers have to be adept and flexible.
Bassists must be audible
And I like a lot of keyboard shit, live with it, keyboards adds a lot of life to metal for me.

WinterSon wrote:

I like themes, I like epic feels, I like complexity, atmosphere, diversity, and a catch that allows you to notice that band right away.

I dislike a LOT of thrash metal because most of the time I can't tell two bands apart, it is repetitive, the flow is too edgy, and the only atmosphere I get from thrash metal is a headstock up my ass.

I love a lot of Melodic Death, Folk, Power, and Progressive Metal because these genres are not limited to one sound.
They are easy to rework into original styles, and easily combined with each other.

For vocal stylings, I have no huge preference, but the growls have got to sound good for me, by good I don't mean the shit Deathcore squealing, i'm talking the powerful boom of Johan Hegg and Mikael Åkerfeldt, or the unforgettable chills of Jari Mäenpää, Petri Lindroos, and Devin Townsend.
Clean vocals are easy to work with me, but they have to sound special.
Also, super high timbre clean vocals need time to work around me, I dislike Z.P. Theart because, though he has a nice clean voice, it seems too...shall I say...overdone for me.
Clean vocalists such as Steven Wilson, Marco Hietala, Jari Mäenpää, Christopher Bowes, Joacim Cans, and Mikael Åkerfeldt provide the diversity and style I like.

Instrumentalists must be top-notch.
Guitarists...well, i'd rather not have them play Fenders...
Drummers have to be adept and flexible.
Bassists must be audible
And I like a lot of keyboard shit, live with it, keyboards adds a lot of life to metal for me.

Well spoken. I can agree to that!

Story!

I love the guitar riffs, the drums, keyboards, pretty much anything as long as it sounds good. But the thing that really hits me is the lyrics themselves, everything else is a welcomed plus for me.

Its easier for me say what I like in Power Metal. Reason being is metal (hardcore, mainstream) has been in my life as long as I've been listening to music, due to the influences of older friends and family growing up. The first and only decision I've made for myself regarding metal was to leave that tired ass scene behind and find something that suited me better. If I had to say what those qualities were I'd say epic and motivating themes, cleaner less abrasive lyrical styles, inclusion of instruments and sounds not found in other metals, and a way less angry fan base. Of coarse those aren't absolutes either for the hardcore/mainstream bands or the power/symphonic/speed bands. These are my opinions.