What is the best city to be a metalhead in within the world?
With the ongoing return of live music to venues around the globe, the website Money has conducted new research to find out the best city to be a metalhead in. Well, technically they figured out which cities are best to hear certain musical genres. And according to the study, Lisbon, Portugal is the best city be a metalhead in the entire world.
The research analyzed a total of 30 cities to find out which place is the best for each live music genre, which showed that out of all of Lisbon’s upcoming concerts, 14.1% are considered “heavy metal“. Lisbon ranked above all other cities, who leaned more towards other musical genres like pop, rock and alternative.
The home of THE BEATLES, Liverpool England, took first place for rock with a massive 24.7%.
Other insights found within the study include naming London, England as the best city in the world to attend a concert, with the highest number of upcoming gigs (5,088) and the second highest number of music venues (207).
Los Angeles, California ranked at the top position for the highest number of music venues per capita (240).
But getting back to metal. The best cities in the world for heavy metal fans are often those with a rich history of metal culture, a thriving live music scene, and a community that embraces the genre.
Some cities stand out as hubs for heavy metal enthusiasts:
Birmingham, UK: Known as the birthplace of heavy metal, Birmingham has a historic connection to the genre. Bands like BLACK SABBATH and JUDAS PRIEST originated from this city, contributing significantly to the development of heavy metal.
Gothenburg, Sweden: A major center for the melodic death metal genre, Gothenburg has produced influential bands such as IN FLAMES, AT THE GATES and DARK TRANQUILITY. The city’s metal scene is vibrant, and it hosts numerous metal festivals.
Berlin, Germany: Berlin is home to a diverse and thriving music scene, including a strong presence of heavy metal. The city has numerous metal bars, clubs, and venues, making it a haven for metalheads.
Helsinki, Finland: Finland has a deep affinity for metal, and Helsinki, in particular, is a focal point for the country’s vibrant metal scene. It hosts major metal festivals, and the city’s nightlife caters to heavy metal fans.
Oslo, Norway: Norway is renowned for its black metal scene, and Oslo has played a pivotal role in its development. The city has a strong underground metal culture and hosts events that celebrate various subgenres.
Montreal, Canada: Montreal has a robust metal scene and is known for its support of both local and international metal acts. The city hosts the Heavy Montreal festival and has a variety of metal-friendly venues.
Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo boasts a passionate metal fanbase, and the city has embraced the genre with numerous metal bars, live venues, and a thriving underground scene. Japanese metal bands have also gained international acclaim.
Athens, Greece: Greece has a dedicated metal community, and Athens is at the center of this vibrant scene. The city hosts metal festivals, and its clubs often feature live performances by both local and international metal bands.
Austin, USA: While Austin is known for its diverse music scene, it has a notable presence in the metal community. The city hosts the Austin Terror Fest and showcases a range of metal subgenres.
São Paulo, Brazil: Brazil has a fervent metal scene, and São Paulo is a major hub for metalheads. The city hosts large metal festivals and has a thriving underground scene that embraces various subgenres.
These cities offer a combination of a rich musical history, a supportive community, and a plethora of live music venues, making them ideal places for heavy metal fans to connect with the genre.
