Study: Death metal inspires joy not violence

Dominant emotional response to death metal is “joy and empowerment,” says professor of psychological study into the emotional effects of death metal music on fans

Bloodbath © S. Bollmann

A study carried out by the music lab at Macquarie University, Sydney, has found that death metal music does not inspire violence or desensitise listeners to violent imagery.

The study, entitled ‘Implicit violent imagery processing among fans and non-fans of music with violent themes’, appears in the Royal Society journal Open Science.

“Death metal fans are nice people,” says professor Bill Thompson from Macquarie University. “They’re not going to go out and hurt someone.”

The study finds that music…

You've used your free article this month

Continue reading with a free account, or subscribe for unlimited access to all of our news, features and reports.

Subscribe Create a Free Account

Related Content

Back to top