Heavy Metal Is Proven to Reduce Stress

Recent studies have proved that heavy metal can lower one’s blood pressure as well as lower stress levels.

“In terms of heavy metal, I’d observe that angry music can help listeners process their feelings and as a result lead to greater well-being.”

Heavy metal is usually a vast dumping of dark -and sometimes uncomfortable yet relatable- inner thoughts. It’s traditionally filled with teen ‘angst’ or bleeding the most painful lyrics.

Vera Clinic, a Turkish hair transplant and rhinoplasty practice, concluded that heavy metal is among the most significant musical genres for lowering stress. A study enlisted 1,540 adults from ages 18-65. They tested participants for mental stress tests while playing various Spotify albums. They paid attention to the physiological reactions in response to the music being played. And they found that metal classics decreased the blood pressure of 89 percent of the participants. There was also a reduction in heart rate in 81.

The musical genre that proved the worst appears to be techno. It seemed to irritate listeners the most. A playlist of techno classics gave 78 percent an increase in blood pressure, while only 22 percent showed a decrease. Seventy-seven percent of participants showed a blood pressure increase while listening to ’70s rock anthems, only 23 percent proving a reduction.

This is definitely not the first time a study has pronounced heavy metal’s health benefits. In 2019, Nick Perham (a Ph.D. psychologist professor) speculated that metalheads regularly have a better function for handling their emotions due to the aggressive quality of the extreme music they listen to.

So why the hell do boomers despise heavy metal so much?