Metal Movement and Bass

Presenter: Matthew Lee Mendrella

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Hove

School: Fitchburg State University

Research Area: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A67

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.