Thank for starting this thread, I'm nowhere near ready with the metal thread I told you about earlier.
So very good to have this one.
My relationship with metal is strong and weird. It's one of my favorite genres, pretty much the only non traditional or classical genre I like much, and I like it A LOT, but only very specific sides/subgenres.
Generally (with exceptiosn) , I'll like metal with at least two of the following characteristics:
Progressive (not necessarily with complex writing, but it has to have some complexity and/or novelty);
With contrast and diversity. Often works hand in hand with progressive metal but not always so I'll add it anyway;
With mixed vocals (I'm veeery partial to mixed vocals). And that's extra contrast;
With folk/traditional elements, but not if it's European/American folk (I may change my mind one day, but right now, nope). Mostly Middle-Eastern folk, also South-Western and Central Asia, South America;
Related to the previous entry: With instruments not generally used in metal;
Avant-garde aspects: just give me some weird stuff!
Very often, metal I like goes away from metal at times, sometimes for as long as a whole song. I do like metal as a dough in which every kind of ingredient can be added, and as it is in cooking, a skillful mix of very weird ingredients is difficult to get to work, but when it does, it's particularly interesting to eat.
