COMMUNITY

Heavy metal music has a unique power to resonate with our emotions and experiences, often serving as a source of strength during life’s challenges. We invite our community to share their heartfelt stories about heavy metal songs that have provided solace, inspiration, or motivation during tough times.

We will post your stories and songs here on our Community page. We will reach out to the artists who have written these songs to get a deeper understanding of the motivation behind each one. Help us build our community. We would love to hear from you.

David from Virginia sent us his story of how heavy metal and the music of Slipknot helped him get through his battle with cancer. Wishing you all the best my friend. Here is David's remarkable story.

I was evicted during the early days of my appendicial cancer. In the blink of an eye, I went from a somewhat successful indie filmmaker to being thousands of dollars in debt, back at home, and going to chemotherapy every other week. I have a very ambitious, masculine personality and this rough speed bump has been incredibly difficult for me at times. One day, I was resting my body, vibing to music as I mentally recharged myself. The music video for Slipknot's "Psychosocial" came on. Now, I had seen this video before, but this time, it hit different. As Corey Taylor screamed at the top of his lungs, it felt like those lyrics were directed at the narcissist who evicted me. But even with the aggro lyrics and visceral guitar and drums that Slipknot is known for, that video is the most cathartic part of the equation. As I watched that barn and those masks burn, I saw them as my cancer cells dying and all the darkness and pain from this situation being destroyed. Kind of ironic how the name of one of Slipknot's albums is All Hope Is Gone, yet they've been one of the biggest sources of hope for me during these trying times. There's a lot of musicians and songs who have helped me out through this journey, but let it be known Psychosocial helped me fight one of the scariest monsters humanity has ever face and I am thankful to be in a world where Slipknot exists.

Michelle from Kentucky messaged her story of how a song literally saved her son's life. Here is her message:

I can't tell you how much it meant to read your post asking for stories of how heavy metal has helped people make it through difficult times in their lives. Thank you for that.

My son has struggled with severe depression for a while now. It had gotten so bad that he would just lay in bed and cry. It was the most helpless I had ever felt in my life.

One day I played him "Never Too Late" by Three Days Grace. We just hugged each other and cried while listening. He still struggles but he can at least function now. I truly believe that song saved his life.

Jay from Glasgow, Scotland wanted us to share his message of how heavy metal, specifically Deftones carried him out of the darkness of a difficult childhood and has been there for him ever since. Thank you so much for sharing Jay. Here's to you my friend.

Here is Jay's message:

Hi metal outreach love what you do and love seeing your posts and reading how folks experiences have shaped them and helped them through dark times. I am no different, Adopted, Broken home, additional family issues & childhood and adult trauma all building & building until I couldn't contain all the hurt and trauma. 2012 saw me hit a complete emotional and mental breakdown that landed me 2 years worth of psychiatric treatment and 5 years of medication. Glad to say all that darkness is behind me but I still carry a little bit of it so when I look in the mirror and feel myself falling I can look at myself and say you got this.

My love of alternative/metal music started as a teenager when I discovered Placebo followed by Korn, Deftones, Linkin Park and the whole Nu-metal explosion of the late 90s/2000's. As I got older I started venturing down your metal habit hole, black, doom, death, thrash, Industrial, Symphonic etc etc. However the one band that has seen me through many a dark time has always been Deftones, specifically their White Pony, Diamond Eyes and 'Koi No Yokan' releases.

After my 2 years of therapy I exited my final session to a blue sky, of which I'd never appreciated before until this point. I put my headphones in and the song that came on was the track Tempest from Deftones KNY album the opening lyric capturing that moment of unfounded peace and clarity after all the shit I'd lived through

...and brace for the glory as you stare into the sky...

I have the above words tatooed on my forearm along with the white pony insignia and to this day those words have been my saving grace. Metal heals, metal helps and my love of metal is forever.

Wyatt from Tilton, Illinois would like to thank a number of heavy metal bands for helping him get through the dark times in his life. Thank you for sharing Wyatt.

Here is Wyatt's message:

As a man with severe depression, anxiety, Tourette's, and ADHD, there have been many troubles in my life. I also have dealt with people who weren't the best to be around as well.

I would like to personally thank these bands for helping me with tough times in the past, the present, and the future. Some songs allow me to fully feel my sorrow during a depression episode. Some help me channel and release my negative emotions and anger in a positive manner. Most of course, just encourage me to be stronger, and do better.

I would like to thank Rob Zombie, 5FDP, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Metallica, Mushroomhead, Korn, Anthrax, Black Sabbath, Black Label Society, Amon Amarth, and Hellyeah!

Also, I would like to especially extend my personal thanks to the band Slipknot for helping me with their music and bringing their voices to the world. R.I.P. Paul and Joey!

Thank you for allowing me to take part in this.

Jason from Ann Arbor, Michigan wanted us to share his message about how he uses the music of Deftones to honor his brother's memory. Thank you for sharing Jason. We are so very sorry for your loss.

Here's is Jason's message:

Let me start by saying how cool I think it is that people have this space to talk about how heavy metal music has gotten them through hard times in their lives. I will keep this short. I could go on with countless memories but I won't.

Today is the one year anniversary of my brother being killed in a car accident. We were inseparable. We would get together at his house almost every weekend to shoot pool and listen to music. My brother's favorite band was Deftones. I can't remember a single Saturday night of us shooting pool without listening to them. His favorite album was White Pony but he loved them all. I now have that pool table in my house and I honor his memory by shooting pool and listening to Deftones. It hurts like hell, but I feel like he's with me. I appreciate you sharing my message and keep up the good work.