Jan 2, 2026 1:00 AM

No money, no plan, no problem: How to start your own Metal band

The Fucking Serious Metal Guide. (Image: Bound by Metal)

Sodom actually started a band not to make music, but to have a reason to hang out, listen to Metal, and drink beer. Who learned to play which instrument was completely irrelevant. It would work itself out. Despite this initial approach, they made it into the Teutonic Big Four. As you can see, it's possible without a plan. And everyone starts small. Ergo: The main thing is to get started!

1. Band name first. Music later.

The band name is everything in the beginning. You need something that sounds like a mythical creature, an ancient weapon of war, or a Latin technical term for damnation. Examples:

"Goatfurnace"
"Necrohort"
"War Mushroom Bunker"
But even if you go with "Shadow of Eternal Suffering" you're on the right track.
Bonus points for Latin spellings with "V" instead of "U" (e.g., "Mortvm Svblvx").

2. Lineup: Friends, acquaintances, people with instruments

Anyone who owns an instrument is automatically on the shortlist. Anyone who can play one gets into the band! Ideal:

Guitarist who can only play power chords
Drummer who can only play double bass
Bassist? Optional. Or just someone's brother.

Important: One person has to be able to scream. Or at least be willing to "read up" on YouTube how to do it.

3. Equipment: What you need, and how you don't pay for it

No money? No problem:

You can get guitars at the flea market, in the divorce box at the music store, or on classifieds for a case of beer.
Amplifiers? Borrow them from your neighbor who thinks you play jazz.
Rehearsal room = basement, garage, or empty cowshed. The main thing is that it echoes and your neighbors hate you from now on.

Pro tip: With enough gain, even a cheap six-string can sound like the apocalypse.

4. Songwriting: One riff. Another riff. Done.

Complicated stuff is for prog bands. All you need is:

A wicked riff
Lyrics about death, darkness, beer, or medieval battles
And a break where everyone shouts "Ugh!"

And your first song is done. It's now called "Doommarch" and is at least 7 minutes long.

Pro tip: Endlessly long solos are, of course, the absolute pinnacle of artistry. Or absolutely annoying. So as a beginner, it's best to leave them out for now. Instead, invest your energy in rethinking the band name. "Metalli-Cats" doesn't really sound cool, but another band had huge success later on with just a slight variation of this name.

5. Band photo: Black. Serious. In the forest.

A true classic. Tips:

Location: Cemetery, industrial wasteland, or playground at night
No one smiles. Not even by accident.
Outfit: Black, leather, studs, maybe a sword from the carnival store
Smoke machine? Candles? Always good.

If your photo looks like a Norwegian true crime documentary, you're on the right track. Otherwise, please readjust with some corpse paint.

6. Recording: Low budget, high volume

Your smartphone is your studio. Or your drummer's cousin, who once recorded a podcast. Important:

Double everything. Then it'll sound like a studio.
Mistakes? Doesn't matter. It's called "live charm."
The main thing is: loud, raw, unpolished.

If you can't do it, go to the forest workers in the woods and let them show you how it's done.

7. Promo: Shout it out on the internet

Instagram, Bandcamp, TikTok (yes, even there): Tell the world you exist. Rule 1: Always act like you're the hottest shit since Bathory. Rule 2: Don't post too much, or someone might notice that you're not the hottest new underground shit.

Bonus: Write your band name on lampposts, schoolyards, or church gates. Old-school marketing!

All in all

You don't need money, a studio, or a plan. All you need is:

Volunteers
Noise
A healthy attitude
A little bit of madness
Beer doesn't hurt either

And just like that, you have a band. Maybe not a good one, but an honest one. And that's the most important thing in Metal anyway.