When I was in school, before the turn of the century, we were reading Johnny Got His Gun in English class and discovered that Metallica's One is about a very similar situation (though not apparently originally inspired by Johnny Got His Gun), so we got to play it in class and do a report on the two. Received some minor kudos from the class and a reasonable grade from the teacher.

It got slightly awkward as I believe that was just before the Columbine shooting, and after that metal had a more negative reputation for a while.

I'd imagine it could backfire as anything school or parents recommend is automatically less cool

Because it's not regular class. It's an extra-curricular club. If you joined the heavy metal club, you might have had similar activities.

I had the absolute privilege of seeing them live during that era.

plenty of talking about that. Not all that much doing.

Talking about why one feels a particular way requires trust in the interlocutor, so I'm not surprised outsiders don't hear anyone taking about it. As for insiders, is it a given they aren't?

> And where’s Sitting Bull

Gentle correction: you meant Crowfoot, or maybe John Two Guns White Calf? Because Sitting Bull, was a Lakota chief.

I dunno. There is always this one, little overweight, sweaty guy without a shirt. Makes it a little bit sexual, doesn’t it?

There are also some medieval reenactment groups who do some real battles (with rules of course) and that is totally about fighting with each other. Something like a fight club but set in medieval context.

If you want some more humorous metal, check out the band “NanoWar of Steel”. It’s great.

All their songs are humorous, but for example they have a song with Joachim from Sabaton called Pasadena 1994. It fits the “war metal” style of Sabaton, but instead the song is about football. (https://open.spotify.com/track/65i7HQAWy3ZlSTEyWWFoPN?si=kUm...)

First he went to Rome to see the pope, now SpongeBob. I’m beginning to like him.

IMHO this is about metal heads knowing that each of them is a bit silly, different and strange in their own way. But still able to hang out and have fun doing that. Also I would say that metalheads are generally less aggressive that other people. It may be connected that you are able to just channel that aggression in headbanging during concert :) If we are talking about concerts: knowing the fact that you are not exactly 100% normal and still be able to sign the lyrics with hundreds of other people, this feeling of unity, awareness that you are not alone, it is great. Especially in the current world when useless internet points, in a manner of likes, are to many humans source of feeling about themself. We are after all social creatures. Being accepted is very important to us.

Exactly. you can't shout to your teachers and parents 'Fuck you! I won't do what you tell me' but you can in the concert. :)