Heavy metal light relief

I was delighted to see an article about the therapeutic benefits of heavy metal music (The Psychologist, May 2025).

From a personal perspective, growing up in a dysfunctional family environment in a cramped council flat in the 1970s, heavy metal was my own personal escape route from my teenage emotions and a very effective and safe way in which to vent my pent-up teenage anger.

And now, as a 62-year-old man contemplating retirement and still 'angry' at many facets of modern life, I still turn to my heavy metal CDs to blast away the clouds. As Rob Halford of Judas Priest wrote in the song, 'Silent Screams', 'So every time I scream, I'm killing pain'.

The professionals involved in the Heavy Metal Therapy group are doing good work. For too long, the common perception of those in the media has seemed to be that heavy metal music is mindless noise for aggressive thugs. Yet nothing could be further from the truth – so many metal fans I have met over the years have been incredibly friendly and down-to-earth people. 

I'll never forget the reaction from some of my colleagues when I was working at NFER-NELSON as a Psychologist on the development of educational tests in the early 1990s, when they discovered my musical tastes – they did a double-take and one of them actually said, 'But how come? You're clever!'

I know I will never lose my love for heavy metal, and it will always remain my first port of call whenever I need a painkiller!

Colin Sowter
BSc (Hons) PGCE GMBPsS