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Hmm...well, at least the author acknowledges the importance of differences between subcultures. Slayer and, say, Dream Theater fans are very different. If there is a commonality in this, it is a commonality shared with classical music as well, and that is emotional catharsis. It has similar hooks into the technical - when you hear a metal guitarist ripping off licks from Paganini, you realize it isn't just insensate vomiting, it has a structure that makes sense...to somebody. It is also a last bastion of the humor and the truly politically incorrect in rock now that most punk has gone commercial. Imagine "Speak English Or Die" (Stormtroopers Of Death) coming from a cuck like Springsteen - you can't do it.

Certain subcultures have a very dark nature indeed - the story of the band Mayhem is one of a submergence into insanity, depression, and suicide - these were disturbed young men and some of their fans celebrate it. This isn't healthy, but sometimes lunatics are just lunatics. It happens.

Over-analysis destroys this, as it does most art. Sometimes it isn't altogether bad to scream defiance at the universe. Sometimes the universe screams back.