As some of you already know, my primary field is in counseling, and I like to apply concepts I’ve learned in the field to my interest in metal music. Mind you that my scope of practice lies within application and not research, so this is all more of a highly simplified, digestible hypothesis than a grounded theory. In any case, today I am interested in discussing regulation through rhythm, in-out regulating strategies, and in vivo exposure as they pertain to bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan
DEP has been a favorite band of mine for many years now, and I attribute not only my ongoing love of mathcore to them, but also my later forays into more experimental music. The question I’ve often asked myself is how a more eclectic, technical band like DEP can become so mainstream. While one could argue it simply has to do with timing, they were not the first band in the style to hit the scene.
My general answer has been that DEP are masters at balancing the above concepts. Consider this fairly well-known fact: the vast majority of popular music tends to be in 4:4 time. The theory behind this is that music at this pace and rhythm is highly regulating. When I say “regulating,” I mean it is activating the lower levels of our brain in a soothing way that keeps us in a well-integrated, higher functioning zone. Put more simply, things that are patterned, familiar, and predictable make us feel safe and content. Case in point:
Now obviously, The Dillinger Escape Plan is not exactly a “predictable” band in terms of their compositions; but they aren’t completely irreverent either. Both within and between songs, this is a band that will shift between traditional 4:4 anthems and more chaotic blasts of jazz-infused chaos. It is their particular balance of these two worlds that brings the other two concepts into the picture. Think about a toddler starting to explore their world. The environment around them can seem scary and unknown to them. So what do they do? They use a caregiver as a secure base to venture out into the world a little bit at a time before returning to what is more comforting and regulating. This is a basic example of in vivo exposure and in-out regulation.
DEP put us through a very similar dance. They provide a secure base of predictable, sing-along song conventions; but also nudge us out into unfamiliar territories a little bit at a time. And just like with the toddler, we slowly begin to develop a comfort with these previously anxiety and confusion-provoking new worlds. We move from a framework of “I’m not sure how I feel about this” to “hey, this actually feels good. It’s not scary at all.” This is not just some abstract concept either. There are plenty of studies out there now showing that this gradual integration of new environments and concepts leads to physical brain growth and new neuronal connections.
So returning to my own experience with this effect, this new base of security within increased doses of mathy, technical, and often downright dissonant guitarwork and drumming provided a jumping off point to explore even more experimental and extreme sounds. I’m not sure I could have jumped directly into Malthusian, Leviathan, or Deathspell Omega without first building up a tolerance, so to speak, to more balanced acts. In fact, I can think of times where I did try to pick up one of those bands years ago and finding that I simply wasn’t ready to comprehend that level of unconvention.
My point in all of this is twofold. For one, I think it is helpful to expose people in relatable ways to important processes that are happening in our lives every day. Knowing about them and exploring the ideas further can lead to a lot of benefits in your own functioning. Second, for those of you who are already deep within the chasms of the avant-garde, give your less well-traveled brethren a break. By mocking those Slipknot or Motionless In White fans out there, you may be depriving them of an important part of their journey towards what we consider to be more interesting and rewarding music. Instead, offer further gradual stepping stones and simply revel in the fact that they’ve at least moved on from pop comfort food. Press on, metalheads. Support, and enjoy the journey.