It’s a paradox that outsiders rarely understand: How can listening to music that sounds so angry, depressed, or chaotic make you feel better?
I grew up in the grunge era and spent years covering the intersection of arts and psychology, I’ve come to view heavy music—metal, alt-rock, grunge, hardcore—as essential mental health infrastructure for millions of people.
When we look back at icons we lost too soon, like Chris Cornell of Soundgarden or Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, it’s easy to focus on the tragedy. But we must also focus on the gift they gave us while they were here. They took the ugliest, most isolating feelings of depression and trauma and externalized them into sound.
When you are deep in the pit of anxiety or sorrow, upbeat pop music can feel dismissive, almost insulting. But hearing a vocalist scream the exact frequency of your own internal pain? That is validating. It’s a sonic hand reaching into the dark, saying, “I am here too. You are not the only one burning.”
Psychologists call this “catharsis.” Heavy music allows us to safely access and release aggression, sorrow, and frustration without harming ourselves or others. The mosh pit isn’t about violence; it’s about communal release of pressure.
If you find solace in the heavier end of the spectrum, don’t let anyone tell you it’s making your mental health worse. For many of us, that noise is the only thing quieting the demons. Lean into the music that understands you.
