Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM: Campus Center Auditorium [A67]

Metal Movement and Bass

Presenter: Matthew Lee Mendrella

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Hove

School: Fitchburg State University

Research Area: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

ABSTRACT

This study investigated links between musical features in metal (e.g., bass, pulse clarity, and presence of riffs) with subjective experiences such as enjoyment and movement induction. Participants (n=64) listened to 45 metal tracks spanning 8 subgenres and rated each track's movement-inducing potential, how much they enjoyed it, and how well they knew it. Participants also reported background information on musical experience. Our data did not reveal a link between bass and participants’ movement ratings; however, significant associations were observed with other musical features and across subgenres. The most noteworthy results were the association between movement ratings and pulse-clarity attack (how clearly one beat stands out from another) and the presence of a discernible riff in the track (possible indicators of heightened groove syncopation). Our data suggest that metal music and its subgenres may induce movement (e.g., moshing, pogoing, or two-stepping) through higher-frequency bands, syncopation, and instrumentation. These potential sources of movement differ from previous studies exploring what causes movement in R&B, hip-hop, and electronic dance genres. These differences expand our understanding of groove beyond traditionally studied genres and pave the way for future research into movement-induction in metal music.