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METAL

Heavy music and the problem of sincerity

Metal takes itself seriously in a culture that rewards irony. That's either its fatal flaw or its greatest strength.

BY TOM PHILLIPS · DECEMBER 3, 2026 · 1 MIN READ

Every other genre learned to wink at the audience. Metal never did and never will.

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WRITTEN BY

Tom Phillips

Writes about music from San Diego. Has been collecting records since before that was a personality trait. Practices guitar daily and remains genuinely bad at it.