How to Convert Your Friends From Liking Country Music to Liking Heavy Music

     We all have those friends. Great people, a blast to hang out with, but something’s missing, and that thing is that you like heavy music and they like country music. For most people, this realization is when they would give up on the friendship. Suddenly you and your friend are just too different. Have ever there been two more different genres? Sure they have a similar set-up of instruments, but what they do with those instruments are worlds apart.

     What if you didn't have to shun that friend? What if you didn't have to break up with that significant other? I’m here to tell you that there is hope, a way to ease your friends into metal and metal-like genres without turning them away. Here is the step by step tutorial that shows you exactly how.
     Let’s assume that this is a worst case scenario and say that this person is into the country-est of country. We’re talking slow country ballads, dogs dying, BBQ stains, the whole nine yards. Here’s when you suggest to them that they should listen to Taylor Swift. Now Taylor Swift is wildly popular and odds are this person already has an opinion formed about her. Still it is crucial that you listen to her so find a way to make it happen. Once they agree, start ‘em of with some “You Belong with Me” so as not to overwhelm them. Once they are fans, show them “I Knew You Were Trouble” which’s shows a more upbeat pop-rock side of Swift. Follow that with, “Both of Us” which should introduce some rap.
     At this point in the process you may add some extra miscellaneous rap to heighten their feelings toward rap a little more.
     Once rap is accepted, open them up to the magical world of Linkin Park, preferably their old stuff because it has more of what we need, and its better in my opinion. Start them off with some softer songs like “In the End” which should keep them intrigued with their new found love of rap.
     This next part is undoubtedly the most difficult part of the transition, introducing the participant to the scream, but fear not, for we have prepared for this moment since the beginning of the process. They already like Linkin Park, and depending on how slowly you've been taking it, they may have formed a bond with this band. This is good, and if they haven’t heard them already introduce your subject to an LP song with rapping as well as screaming. They will surely cringe and possibly want to turn the song off, but they will see the musical potential in it because it’s in a band they already like.
     Linkin Park is good, not only for linkin’ rap with screaming, but also for using a DJ to ease you into more electronic music. At this moment it would be beneficial to show your friend a techno song or two. If they like that, show them dubstep. Dubstep is a good add to the list because it is said to be the heavier version of techno and sort of acts as the link between techno and metal.
     For the next chapter in this adventure you won’t necessarily have to continually show them screaming songs, but rather keep them into rock-like genres to set a checkpoint and avoid a relapse back into the abyss of country music. Scrolling from top to bottom in my personal mp3 player, here are some bands I suggest: Armor for Sleep, Blindside, Blue October, Brand New, Forever the Sickest Kids, Karnivool, My Chemical Romance, Red, and The Used. Every few bands it’s good to throw in a few screaming songs to get them used to it.
     Now it is important to take into consideration the sing/scream ratio, the amount of singing compared to the amount of screaming. You are going to want to start your subject off with a band with little screaming and gradually build. For instance, my list would start off with These Hearts, The Color Morale, Peirce the Veil, and Dayseeker, which are all bands who either sing more than they scream, or have several soft moments that are able to be sung with.
     Two bands who have always baffled me in their ability to acquire followers outside of their genre are Memphis May Fire and The Devil Wears Prada. I’m working on trying to convert one of my friends right now, and she hated all screaming, but randomly really liked Memphis May Fire, and a lot of my friends who don’t even like heavy music like TDWP. So try these two out near the middle-end of your journey and see what happens because it might surprise you.
    Now is the time when our planning ahead comes into play. Remember earlier when we showed the person techno and dubstep? Now in the back of their mind, they secretly like the two and you have the opportunity to show them dubstep-metal like the Browning or metal with synth parts like Attack Attack, We Came as Romans, or At the Skylines.
     Once they like these bands, you are basically finished. But here are some bands that can keep them from relapsing: A Plea for Purging, August Burns Red, A Bullet for a Pretty Boy, Erra, For Today, The Great Commission, Greeley Estates, In The Midst Of Lions, Oh Sleeper, MyChildren MyBride, Impending Doom, Texas In July, Gideon, and Your Memorial.


Recap:
1. Bad Country
2. Taylor Swift (You Belong With Me, I Knew You Were Trouble, Both Of Us, in that order)
3. Linkin Park (In The End followed by more soft songs and eventually their screaming songs)
4. Techno and Dubstep
5. Rock(ish) bands (Armor for Sleep, Blindside, Blue October, Brand New, Forever the Sickest Kids, Karnivool, My Chemical Romance, Red, and The Used)
6. Bands with a sing-heavy sing/scream ratio (with These Hearts, The Color Morale, Peirce the Veil, and Dayseeker)
7. Memphis May Fire and The Devil Wears Prada (optional)
8. Dubstep/synth metal (The Browning, Attack Attack, We Came as Romans, At the Skylines)
9. Lock it in ( A Plea for Purging, August Burns Red, A Bullet for a Pretty Boy, Erra, For Today, The Great Commission, Greeley Estates, In The Midst Of Lions, Oh Sleeper, MyChildren MyBride, Impending Doom, Texas In July, Gideon, and Your Memorial.)
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Tell me what you think of this list! If you have any suggestions about the list or success stories I would love to hear them! Comment or tell me about them at https://www.facebook.com/Freewayparade or tweet them to @FreewayParade!
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(This list is dedicated to my friend and current test subject Lyss, who is coming a long way on her journey from country to Metal)