The following is the first in a series of “exposes” on the stylistic differings between different genres of music and the activities of their “mosh pits.” Enjoy.

What, in truth, is a mosh pit? Is it a bunch of sweaty guys running into each other at the speed of sound, rhythmically pumelling each other to the beat of the music? Or is it a ham-fisted posture-fest where only the strong-willed and well practiced survive? Are there subgenre pits? I decided to explore the phenomenon of the pit in hardcore, metal and its continuously differing genres, indie, and, yes, radio rock. Presented before you is a completely biased and not-very-factual account on each scene’s path to moshing, if there is any at all.

Part 1

Metal:

There are a number of ways to let artists know you’re into their music at a metal show. Pits will vary in size, scope, activity and bravado depending on a number of important factors, including but not limited to the size of the audience, respectability of the band, genre of the band, style of metal (similar to genre, but crucial in understanding its differing nature due to the way people will move or bob about amongst a crowd), time-slot of the band, and the type of people in the pit. More likely than not, an unfamiliar band will be greeted by a relatively empty pit with plenty of people at the merch table grabbing shirts and swag before the latecomers take all the booty, while a fair amount of curious metalheads stand observingly, often with arms crossed or one hand clutching a beer or beverage, scanning and scrutinizing the band onstage. The smallest indication of interest is to bob one’s head in a motion from top to bottom (front to back is more groove oriented and therefore less respectable at a show where more jaded attendees are present) in varying degrees of speed and intensity based on how much an individual enjoys a band and how fast the tempo of the music is playing. There are hybrid versions of head-thrashing, many of which will not be divulged here, but include the bro-swing (plenty of attendees thrashing with arms linked together) and a cross-polination/fusion of running/pushing while swinging one’s head.

Push pits are normally a good, fun time. You want to show the band you like them, so you and your pals start shoving each other to the beat of the music. At Pagan or folk-influenced metal shows, these push moshes are often friendly and show respect to individuals who may be less experienced or are too intoxicated to stay on their own two feet. The intensity of these pits can and normally will escalate based on the size of the crowd and also the draw of the band onstage. A pit at a Carcass show is likely far more violent than a pit for Warbringer, strictly based on the draw of each band (one is newer, one is much older).

Speedier bands will incite circle pits, which encourage the crowd to run in a circle around a major push pit (admit it, they always become push pits by the end of the song), while plenty of posers lose their balance. It’s easy to do, making this specific pit a tricky maneuver that is recommended to scene veterans or those who have practiced at smaller local shows. Hybrid pits exist, such as at a folk-metal show where European-dancing, mead drinking, and circle-jig/hodowns are likely to occur.

At heavier, slam-influenced shows, audiences are encouraged to perform the wall of death or to slam along to the music. Walls of death have been particularly popular amongst the New Wave of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM) bands, such as Lamb of God, where the audience is encouraged to part like the red sea and run into one another at full speed. Many injuries have been accosted with such behaviour and is therefore presented as a maximum risk. Wimpier, Warped Tour bands have attempted this maneuver and failed. If a band features slower, groove-oriented parts to their music (such as Devourment or Dying Fetus), it is fully acceptable to bob one’s head in a front-to-back motion and slam one’s arms and legs to the beat of the music. This is in principle similar to a hardcore dancing pit (prevalent and popular at metalcore shows), but far less likely to end up escalating into a fight.

Next week: Metalcore “moshing”