Heavy metal music may increase pain tolerance, study finds

A study published in Scientific Reports suggests that heavy metal music may help individuals, particularly those with chronic pain, manage discomfort by allowing them to release repressed emotions like anger.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences conducted field research at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany in 2023. By analyzing 122 fans, the study found that while heavy metal listeners did not have a different sensitivity to pain compared to the general population, they demonstrated a higher tolerance for it.

Co-author Lydia Schneider noted that repressed anger is a significant factor in intensifying pain sensations for chronic patients. The research aimed to see if a genre expressing intense emotions could alter this experience.