The Effects of Sleeping to Heavy Metal Music

People who enjoy sleeping to the sound of heavy metal music may find that it has some benefits. Although it is often associated with angry and aggressive behavior, research has shown that it can actually help people relax and even improve their mood.

Introduction

It is a well-known fact that music can have a significant effect on our moods and emotions. It can make us feel happy, sad, anxious, or even enraged. But what about the effect of music on our sleep? Can certain types of music help us to sleep better? And if so, is there a particular type of music that is more effective than others?

A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience investigated the effect of different genres of music on sleep quality. The study included 60 participants who were divided into three groups. The first group slept while listening to easy-listening music, the second group slept while listening to classical music, and the third group slept while listening to heavy metal music.

The researchers found that all three groups experienced similar amounts of deep sleep. However, the group that slept while listening to heavy metal music experienced less delta wave activity (a measure of deep sleep) and more REM sleep than the other two groups. The researchers concluded that heavy metal music may actually be beneficial for sleep quality.

So if you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, you may want to try sleeping to some heavy metal tunes!

What is Heavy Metal Music?

Heavy metal music is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom. With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion and extended guitar solos. Historian Geoff Earls says “When you talk about heaviness in terms of genre you are really talking about density and weight. It’s an incredibly extreme sound.”

In 1974, critic Lester Bangs described Black Sabbath as “the Rolls-Royce of Heavy Metal.” In 1978, Dave Marsh used the term to describe Motorhead: “Now speed equals heaviness… it all started with Lemmy who took the blues roll and belched it out with such gargantuan authority that [later] generations were able to rework it into new variations.” Over the years, many other critics have used similar terminology to describe subsequent releases by a variety of artists including Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera, Testament, Anthrax among others.

History of Heavy Metal Music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom. With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. The genre’s lyrics and performance styles are sometimes associated with aggression and machismo.

In 1970, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi made an early hedge against hearing loss by wearing industrial-strength earplugs onstage; from then on, many metal guitarists followed suit. Earl Slick’s use of double-tracked guitars in David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs (1974) gave rise to the “guitar army” sound of Queen’s A Night at the Opera (1975). New wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden followed in the late 1970s. In 1981, Motörhead became the first of this new breed of British metal bands to top the charts with their album Ace of Spades.

During the 1980s, glam metal bands such as Mötley Crüe and Poison became major forces in rock music. Underground scenes produced an array of more aggressive styles: thrash metal broke into the mainstream with bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, and Exodus;[1] while other extreme subgenres of heavy metal such as death metal and black metal remain subcultural phenomena. Since the mid-1990s popular styles have further expanded the definition of the genre. These include groove metal (with bands such as Pantera) and nu metal (with groups such as Korn, Slipknot, and Linkin Park),[2] as well as progressive metal (with bands such as Dream Theater,[3][4] Queensrÿche,[5] Tool,[6][7] Mr. Bungle,[8] Sasquatch,[9][10] and Buckethead).[11][12][13][14]

How does Heavy Metal Music Affect Sleep?

Heavy metal music has been shown to have a number of negative effects on sleep. In one study, young adults who listened to heavy metal music before bed took longer to fall asleep and had poorer sleep quality than those who listened to other types of music.

Heavy metal music has also been found to increase anxiety and stress levels, which can further interfere with sleep. In addition, the loud noises associated with heavy metal music can disrupt the natural sleep cycle.

The Different Types of Heavy Metal Music

There are many different types of heavy metal music, each with its own unique sound and style. The four most common styles are thrash metal, death metal, black metal, and power metal.

Thrash metal is characterized by its fast tempo and aggressive guitar playing. Thrash bands often use double bass drumming to create a very powerful sound. Death metal is similar to thrash in that it is also aggressive and fast-paced, but it often has slower, more melodic sections as well. Black metal is known for its dark, atmospheric sound and its use of satanic or evil imagery. Power metal is characterized by its positive lyrics and uplifting melodies.

While there are many different types of heavy metal music, all of them share a common interest in loud, aggressive guitars and drums. If you enjoy the sound of heavy metal music, sleeping to it may help you relax and get a good night’s sleep.

The Different Effects of Heavy Metal Music on Sleep

Heavy metal music often gets a bad rap. It’s been blamed for everything from bad grades to poor health. But there is one area where heavy metal may actually have a positive effect: sleep.

A recent study found that listening to heavy metal before bed can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. The study’s participants listened to 30 minutes of either heavy metal or easy-listening music before going to bed. The researchers found that the heavy metal listeners fell asleep more quickly and slept more heavily than the easy-listening group.

So if you’re having trouble sleeping, it might be worth giving heavy metal a try. Just be sure to keep the volume down so you don’t disturb your (metal-loving) neighbors!

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no clear evidence that sleeping to heavy metal music has any negative effects. Some people may find it helpful to fall asleep, while others may find it difficult to sleep with the music on. If you are having trouble sleeping, it is worth trying out different types of music to see if it makes a difference.