About
That’s Pretty Brutal, alternatively Metal as Fuck, is a popular online expression that is used to denote approval of something that has been deemed “extreme” by comparing it to heavy metal music, or by evoking heavy metal themes. It is employed both legitimately, in a similar manner to Me Gusta, and sarcastically.
Origin
Heavy metal, a genre of rock music, rose to prominence in the 1970s. Featuring aggressive lyrics, instrumentals, and aesthetics, it quickly gained notoriety for being an “extreme” musical genre, a reputation which has remained to the present day. Fans of the metal genre are generally referred to as “metalheads”.[3]
In August 2006, the animated television series Metalocalypse premiered on Adult Swim. Intended to be both a parody and a celebration of heavy metal culture, it features larger-than-life stereotypes of metalheads and exaggerated dark humor.[1] The original variation of the meme, quoted as “that’s pretty brutal”, is a catchphrase of the character Nathan Explosion, the frontman of the fictional band Dethklok.
Spread
On November 26th, 2012, LA Weekly published a blog post titled “How to Determine if Something Is Metal as Fuck”, in which the post’s author provided a chart that distinguishes between perceived metal and non-metal themes in a satirical tone.[2]
On November 6th, 2013, Buzzfeed published an article titled “The 26 Most Metal Things That Have Ever Happened”, showcasing several displays of heavy metal themes.[4]
Notable Examples
Search Interest
External References
[1]Wikipedia – Metalocalypse
[2]LA Weeky – How to Determine if Something Is Metal as Fuck
[3]Wikipedia – Heavy metal music
[4]Buzzfeed – The 26 Most Metal Things That Have Ever Happened