Hey everyone.

I recall reading an article not too long ago that sort of relates Mountain Goats fans to heavy metal fans (in that they both feel marginalized in some way). I think the author even called tMG the metal act of the folk world. Anyway, does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any help appreciated!

John Darnielle is a major death metal fan and writes for the metal magazine decibel. He also wrote a book in the 33 1/3 series on Black Sabbath's Master of Reality, and also runs a blog called Last Plane to Jakarta which, while perhaps not exclusively metal, is predominantly metal. He also peppers his musical work with occasional references to metal.

I'm not sure if that's the response you were looking for, but anyways welcome to the forums. Please stick around, as the weather is lovely.

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The first thing that distinguishes a writer is that he is most alive when alone. - Martin Amis

Mountain Goats fans are similar to heavy metal fans in that they will passionately defend their taste in music and have no patience for people who only care to belittle it as opposed to constructively criticize it (and even then the patience is slim).

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Mountain Goats fans are similar to heavy metal fans in that they will passionately defend their taste in music and have no patience for people who only care to belittle it as opposed to constructively criticize it (and even then the patience is slim).

Don't know enormous amounts about metal fans but I think also the whole, "I'm not in it for the beauty of the singer's voice" certainly applies to both. I mean, I love JD's voice and I'm sure metal fans think their favorite singers have pretty awesome voices but I wouldn't describe either as "beautiful" in the traditional sense. Yeah, also, as you say, I think tMG fans and metal fans get ticked off when people write off their music just because of its surface appearance. I.e. "There's too much screaming" (metal) or "Does that guy ever use more than three chords?" (JD)

Metal fan here, and I relate highly to the "same sort of fan" idea. Most people won't even listen to a single whole metal song before writing off the genre(s).

I buy Decibel magazine every month because JD writes an excellent article on the last page every month, it's unapologetically for those with nearly too much metal knowledge and fanboy nerdishness. Of course flawlessly written.

Hail Satan. \m/_