Trves and posers: A Heavy Metal opinion

I want to start by talking about the trves. This expression (within metal), appears more or less at the end of the 70's during the NWOBHM, (although I don't know if they referred to themselves like that), which was to be a true fan, to love the music and the style. I think the term was born in the 80's, with the appearance of thrash and glam metal, being that the first ones considered the second ones as fake metalheads, either by their clothes, lyrics or the importance they gave to fame, while thrash had a very aggressive dress and sound and (usually) gave more importance to the music, calling the glamers posers (later I will explain what this term means), even Dave Mustaine, leader of Megadeth, used to wear a t-shirt that said "No Posers", referring to glam. But, no doubt many will wonder why I write the word true with a v instead of a u, that brings me to the next point, black metal, but specially the Norwegian scene, with the "Inner Circle" movement, led by Euronymous, who spread his ideas against "posers", (mainly crossover thrash musicians and fans), using this term to refer to those who used metal for fun, who didn't see metal as a way of life or who listened to bands with an alternative style or a commercial approach. Now, it is from this time that the word true became trve, it is believed because these bands rejected Christianity and it was this religion that introduced the u into the nordic language and before that the v was used instead of the u.

Now, coming a little bit to the present day, many who consider themselves to be tribal are only into certain subgenres of metal, being mainly black and death, although many still appreciate thrash and even heavy, despising others such as metalcore, nu metal, glam and industrial. They also consider any band that has a minimal commercial approach or a person who knows few facts about the bands to be a poser.

The term trve used to be a reason for respect, now it's more of a mockery and even a meme, just search for trve metal on the internet and most of the content that will appear are memes.

As for the posers, the same as the trves appeared more or less at the end of the 70's, and these were simply those who were fans because they were fashionable or because they fit into some social circle. During the history of metal this definition was maintained, but other terms were added or distorted, as I said with glam in the 80's for thrash and in the 90's with crossover thrash for black. Nowadays, if someone likes metalcore or nu metal, who doesn't know many facts about their favourite bands is branded as a poser or is new to metal, even if they like a little known black band they are automatically branded as a poser.

Now comes my opinion. The concept I consider correct of poser is the one who considers himself a metalhead for fashion or to fit in a social circle and who is not interested in metal, because it is not his style and they are not original. As for the rest of the definitions of posers, I'm not a big fan. Many of the styles that are considered posers I don't genuinely like, but I don't consider them posers, just styles that I dislike. Perhaps the only subgenre that I consider to be close to this term is glam, as I find its aesthetics ridiculous, its music very pop-oriented (for me metal and pop are genres that shouldn't be combined) and its lyrics macho, superficial and focused on partying and sex. As for the other genres considered posers, I don't like metalcore but I do consider that they have many elements of metal, nu metal I'm not a fan of at all, but I'm not a fan of metal at all, but I like Slipknot and System of a Down, and I find that, although some bands do screw up a bit too much with turntablism, they do have some pretty heavy riffs. I've also seen that some people consider those of us who listen to other types of music to be posers. I personally like grunge, punk and ska, but if a metalhead likes pop or electronic music I wouldn't judge them.

As for the trves, if they annoy me too much for all their ridiculous comments that they make and that I already commented, to the point that they even go so far as to insult anyone who doesn't have like-minded ideas. I consider that the real trves are those of us who enjoy metal without judging anyone. It also bothers me that if a band gains popularity it becomes poser, it has happened with bands that I love like Cannibal Corpse (my favorite), Metallica or even Darkthrone. As for the "trves" genres, I enjoy all of them, death is my favorite, thrash is the one I listen to the most, I love black and I enjoy heavy.

As a conclusion, I think that the trves should stop f*cking around so much with the posers and the whole metal community should unite to put an end to regueton (it's annoying don't take it seriously) enjoy the music, shake our heads and do mosh pits at ease without criticizing everyone.

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