Ghostemane gained a following among metal fans while maintaining his trap music roots. According to Louder Sound, his approach to music creation and deep appreciation for metal positions him as a bridge between two seemingly different genres. Besides, it seems he won metalheads’ hearts as well.
He is Beyond the ‘Trap Metal’ Label
Ghostemane’s connection to metal runs deeper than surface-level aesthetics. His musical foundation draws heavily from the experimental nature of 90s nu metal. He considers this era the “Wild Wild West” of music. “That was the pinnacle of the mixture of rap and rock,” he explains, citing influential bands like Rage Against The Machine, Korn, and Slipknot as primary inspirations.
Ghostemane’s relationship with the trap metal label is complex. As reported by Kerrang!, he approaches genre definitions with careful consideration. He prefers the term “guitar music” when discussing rock elements. His resistance to the trap metal label is due to its association with less technically invested artists.
Ghostemane Doesn’t Want Labels
Ghostemane sees the inevitability of such categorization and draws parallels to Slipknot’s early experiences with the nu metal label. He says, “When I talk to the Slipknot dudes, they tell me the exact same thing. Like, when they came out, and they busted their *ss on all this music, people were calling it nu metal, and they were like, ‘What the f*ck?!’ And I can see at the time, that would suck. People are gonna say what they’re gonna say I guess, and all that really matters is who’s actually listening.”
He Has a Vision for Modern Heavy Music
According to Toilet ov Hell, Ghostemane’s 2020 album ‘ANTI-ICON’ marked a milestone in his artistic evolution. The album has a fusion of trap metal with industrial and traditional metal influences. Its sound draws comparisons to acts like Nine Inch Nails and Code Orange.
His commitment to authentic metal shows in his collaboration with producer Ross Robinson. Robinson is known for his work with metal titans Korn and Slipknot. As reported by Metal Injection, this partnership helped legitimize his position within the metal community. He maintains his unique artistic vision throughout this collaboration.
Ghostemane Doesn’t Like Contemporary Rock
Ghostemane also critiques contemporary rock music for its lack of emotional authenticity. “There isn’t one truly sad, or angry song on the radio anymore,” he observes. He advocates for music that genuinely connects with “the broken, the lost, the sad, the angry, the psychotic.” It seems this perspective resonates with traditional metal fans who value emotional depth and authenticity in their music.
