Why do people like death metal?

I agree and disagree. I am with you as one of the few metal fans who does actually think Travis Barker is a top quality drummer, and Flea a top quality bassist, but really what you say about this metal one-upmanship I think is incorrect. Yes, it exists, but that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about genuine skill. Look at bands like Animals as Leaders, Scale the Summit, Between the Buried and Me, Anterior, Ayreon, Born of Osiris, Darkest Hour (when they had Kris Norris), Devin Townsend, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dream Theater, Insomnium, Mastodon, Meshuggah, Nevermore, The Human Abstract, The Ocean, Opeth, Painted in Exile, and Protest the Hero. These are bands that may sometimes be a bit 'showy offey' but so is every great guitarist, but the music definitely comes first.

I wouldn't shrug off speed either, it does take technical prowess to play technically and fast: See Obscura, Necrophagist, Veil of Maya.

I think you're right, a show is about the crowd. When I speak of metal I usually just mean 'heavy' so I kind of include punk and hardcore. Personally I think hardcore and deathcore bands put on the best shows, because of how they stir up the crowd and get people involved, and the intimacy of it all. The most boring show I've been to was Metallica, so bored was I that I left early. I just think that certain genres are more conducive to stirring up a good live atmosphere, I think metal is best for this. Not goth, though. I love gothic music, but live, I can't imagine it working very well.

I used to like it because of the anger and the drums and guitars, I was a pretty moody person come to think of it.

I never really listen to it any more though

They are, compositionally, much simpler than metal. Anybody musician will vouch for that.

But the best pop songs are musically easy to write and play. The best death metal songs aren't.

Well since 90% of people who enjoy listening to music don't know a thing about composing or playing music, I'm happy to be in the minority when it comes to such things... and I'm willing to be that a vast proportion of this minority group make up most of the 10% that know something about music.

Haha, see, this is what I feel like about rap and hip hop - I can never understand what they're saying and the sound doesn't appeal to me, but I think it's just personal choice

For me, I think music is more than about the words. It's about the music and the talent that some of these musicians have with their instruments is immense. You should compare a guitarist from an extreme death metal band with the likes of the Jonas Brothers and you'll see what I mean. Also, the screaming sometimes involved is actually very difficult to do and I will admit, at first I found it odd, but you kind of learn to appreciate it and just accept it as part of the music, so you don't just hear 'bad noise' anymore like most people do.

I just love the energy of it all and how the music and words seem to mean something more than just about sex (like a lot of mainstream music can do). Hmm, also the fact that it isn't popular is kind of good because with a lot of mainstream music, if I like anything, it gets SO overplayed and then I get sick of it, so it's kind of nice having this genre of music to listen to by myself and it becomes more about me enjoying it and less of a noise which you hear everywhere and just get used to. It's more special then.

But the best pop songs are musically easy to write and play. The best death metal songs aren't.
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Really? Because, you know, I've got composer-friends and musicians who say other wise.

See above.

Really?
If you're honestly saying that metal isn't one of the hardest genres to play in a technical sense then I feel you're a little ignorant of the matter.

I've drummed in various bands before, and the tech death stuff is practically impossible - it takes ridiculous skill levels. I've also played at weddings in your standard pop rock cover type bands, and I'm falling asleep with the ease of most songs.

I'm glad I've seen this post! We did a topic on this in AS Psychology.

****ing hell I wish I ad done AS Psychology.