If I had to describe my favorite type of music, I wouldn’t use a genre designation. As cliche as it sounds, I really do make an effort to listen to everything.  Everyone says this, but I don’t just mean the usual “everything from country to rap.” I mean everything from Japanese noise to industrial dark ambient.

But, like any other music fan, the artists I most enjoy all fall under some unifying trait. And for a while, it was hard for me to pinpoint exactly what that trait was. But as my teenage angst has grown more and more intense, it’s been easier for me to see what it is that makes me like what I like.

I essentially like anything abrasive, whether it be through the sonics of the actual music or through sheer attitude. The reason I can go from Johnny Cash to Public Enemy to Frank Zappa in one listening session is because there’s anger behind all their music.

Johnny Cash was angry in the same way every country musician, to some extent, is angry, as the genre itself is an inherent reflection of the struggles of the working class as told through Depression-era sentiments. Public Enemy’s music was a clear expression of semi-militant black power revivalism through the lens of harsh, sample-heavy noise-rap soundscapes. Frank Zappa’s brand of fury wasn’t expressed through the middle finger of a primal punk, but through the sentiments of a well-spoken yet disgruntled Postmodernist with a penchant for carefully constructed avant-garde classical and ‘50s doo-wop.

As long as it’s at least occasionally unpleasant, sonically or lyrically, I’ll enjoy it.

Despite this, I’ve never found myself getting into metal too much. I enjoy some of the early stuff, like Black Sabbath and Slayer. I can get down to the ‘90s stuff too, like Marilyn Manson and Korn. I previously mentioned enjoying sonically abrasive music, so I’m also a fan of Sunn O))) and Burzum. I love when it’s fused with rap, like Rage Against the Machine and Death Grips. And, as anyone who knows me is aware, I’m a massive hardcore punk fan, so I’ve also gotten into the areas where hardcore and metal overlap. I completely adore bands like Suicidal Tendencies, Code Orange, Melvins, and Trash Talk.

To the average reader, this probably seems like a lot. But I haven’t even scraped the surface of metal. Most people don’t realize that the genre is incredibly dense, splintered into numerous subgenres, each radically different than the last in some way. It’s a hard subculture to immerse yourself in because there are so many different manifestations of it.

Aside from that, I’ve always found myself turned off by the machismo and contrived rage found in a lot of metal. And while the punk music that I love so much is not without its fair share of contrived rage, at least that scene is politicized and has some purpose behind it.

Overall, I enjoy a fair amount of metal, but I’m by no means a “metalhead.”

However, I’m always open to a new experience, so when Jeremy Slobodzian, sophomore, told me about his new band’s first show on April 14 at Fubar, I rounded up a few friends and we all bought tickets.

Slobodzian’s band, The Underground Lemon Experience, began as his own solo project, an outlet for his guitar work which resulted in a demo released last month.

Slobodzian recently met vocalist Noah LeMay and drummer Danny Clementine at Marquette’s Battle of the Bands. LeMay and Clementine were in a band of their own which broke up soon after. They expressed an interest in playing with Slobodzian, and the trio soon committed to writing and performing their own material.

At the concert, the band kicked into gear immediately, coming through with relentless power and energy that never wavered once throughout the show.

Clementine’s drumming provided a dominant, fast-paced backbone that provided a space for the rest of the band to exert their own pummeling force. A clear death metal influence was present.

“Drumming takes a lot of anger out, and with the amount of anxiety I carry around with me on a daily basis, it’s about enjoying myself and having fun while simultaneously challenging myself and getting better,” he said.

LeMay prowled across the stage, throwing a classic heavy metal temper tantrum complete with screamo vocalizations, which were, as I learned after the show, entirely improvised.

“I just think about what’s wrong with the world,” he said. “It’s angry stuff, because what else are you going to do with metal? It helps me with my stress.”

Slobodzian stole the show, tearing his shirt off, headbanging, and convulsing like a rabid animal. I overheard numerous audience members point out his resemblance to the Messiah as he triumphantly stood at the edge of the stage, savagely shredding on his favorite guitar.

Like his bandmates, he draws influence from the negative aspects of his existence.

“I don’t take care of myself mentally,” he said. “I focus on a lot of hate in my life.”

The band all agreed on one thing: being alive stinks. With this prevailing attitude, it’s easy to see how metal could be misconstrued as a genre fueled by hate and negativity. But s lot of people fail to recognize that the genre is a catharsis of these emotions, rather than a promotion.

“It’s all about energy and fun,” said LeMay.

The band’s chemistry undoubtedly is the prime contributor to its stamina. All three members clearly fuel one another to constantly keep up the pace, which, in turn, fuels the audience to lose their minds.

Mosh pits were encouraged by the band, driving the small armies of longhaired, beer-stenched twentysomethings into a frenzy of shoving, elbowing, and uninhibited, sweaty full-body contact.

“If you don’t mosh, you’re a little wimp,” Lemay said.

Moshing has always been a staple of the metal community, and the band echoes a lot of traditional metal sentiments by seeing it as a necessary and definitive part of the subculture.

“Moshing is an opportunity to let go and forget about everyone’s perception of you,” Clementine said. “Seeing that out in the crowd is cool, as long as nobody gets too hurt. A little hurt is okay though. Cuts and bruises are good.”

Despite the relentless energy of the band, they aren’t without their flaws.

They’ve yet to flesh out a definitive style for themselves, and they’re the first people to admit this.

“We’re still finding our sound, because we’ve only been playing together for two weeks,” Clementine said.

At the moment, they play a very general style of heavy metal. In order to continue making a name for themselves on the local circuit, they’ll need to settle into a specified style and create character for themselves. In the world of heavy metal, or any extreme genre for that matter, edge is everything. And while they’re off to a good start, development is imperative.

They have development in mind though. A studio album is currently being discussed. The band plans on focusing their efforts outside the local scene eventually, hopefully traveling to Chicago and Kansas City.

Altogether, The Underground Lemon Experience was an experience to behold. I look forward to their future musical output, and I truly hope they find continued success. For those interested in anything violent and Satanic, their next show is May 20 at the Firebird.

Follow the band on Instagram @underground_lemon_experience.