What Presence Does Metal Music Have in Las Vegas?
It’s a well-known fact that the music scene in Las Vegas is in its own category compared to other tourist destinations. Looking at past events, it’s clear that artists like Mariah Carey and performance groups like Cirque du Soleil agree that Vegas is the go-to location for putting on a colorful show. That said, Las Vegas isn’t always about the glitz and the glamour. The city also has a darker, rougher edge, where dozens of motorcycle clubs have resided for decades and rock and heavy metal have thrived.
Metal Music and Las Vegas
We can look at the relationship between metal music and Las Vegas in two ways, but no matter which, you have to mention the gambling industry. Gambling is one of the primary reasons people go to Vegas, and if it’s not for table games, it’s the slot machines. What you’ll find is that slots don’t just utilize dance music, but several games now feature metal, surrounding gamers with the sounds of guitar riffs and drum blasts as they enjoy the thrill of the game itself. There are even slots based entirely on rock and metal bands, many of which can also be found on online casinos. For instance, there’s NetEnt’s Guns N’ Roses slot, which incorporates the band’s most famous songs.
Perhaps, though, the clearest connection metal music has with Vegas is that the city has welcomed metal bands playing at its venues for decades, including the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Over the years, metal fans have gotten to see everyone from Black Sabbath to Slayer to Slipknot perform at MGM Grand.
We know the gambling industry has ties to metal music, but it goes beyond incorporating the genre in slot games. For instance, MGM Resorts International owns MGM Grand Garden Arena. The hospitality company is directly involved in the gambling sector, having a subsidiary called BetMGM Casino. As a result, it’s not surprising to see metal bands performing at MGM Grand and not venues like The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. What’s more is that there are even BetMGM Casinos in New Jersey and West Virginia, both of which offers deposit bonuses and over 400 slot and casino games. New Jersey’s history with rock and metal is rich, with Thursday, God Forbid and The Dillinger Escape Plan as some of the state’s finest exports, while West Virginia has launched the careers of Karma To Burn, Byzantine and Bobaflex.
New Releases, New Concerts
The attraction of Las Vegas will never fade, nor will heavy metal. Experienced bands are making that clear, such as Guns N’ Roses, who are performing in Vegas in August 2021 and are reportedly working on a new album. Fellow Las Vegas veterans Slipknot, who only released their last album in 2019, have also hinted that they’re working on a new record.
Gambling and the music scene in Las Vegas have always attracted crowds. However, contrary to popular belief, Vegas offers more than just dance music slot games and Celine Dion concerts. Metal music has long held a Vegas presence, whether it’s bands inspiring games or stopping at venues like MGM Grand on their tours.
***
MetalSucks occasionally accepts paid content. For more on our advertising policy, click here.
