Modern Metal Does That Thing You Like: Tracks That Go A Little Deeper (Pun Intended)
- Mar 13
- 8 min read
Although metal has been around for decades, the genre is experiencing a noticeable resurgence — and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have a lot to do with it.
Now, I’m not exactly a dark romance novel reader, but I’ve definitely seen the term "BookTok" floating around online for the past couple years. If you’ve spent even five minutes on that side of the internet, you already know the trope: the brooding love interest. Dark, mysterious, morally questionable. Usually tattooed. Usually a little dangerous. Basically the walking definition of a “bad boy.” As these novels have exploded in popularity — especially among readers between the ages 25–34 — that same aesthetic has spilled over into social media trends. Scroll through Instagram Reels or TikTok and you’ll find countless edits pairing modern metal tracks with clips and photos of people who look like they walked straight out of one of those stories.
And here’s the funny part: half the time, those brooding characters look suspiciously similar to the musicians actually performing the songs.
The result? A surge of attention for a lot of modern metal bands.
So, I guess what I’m really trying to say is: welcome to the dark side, folks. We’ve been expecting you.
Jokes aside, I’ve been listening to metal since I was a kid, and my love for it has only grown with time. And as a woman, I’ll admit it — there are definitely a few songs in this genre that ignite something in us ladies. Consider this your field research, gentlemen.
Over the past couple of weeks, I asked friends and followers to send me the metal songs that do the thing — whether it’s the lyrics, the tension-building instrumentation, or that moment when the entire track finally hits. Once the suggestions rolled in, I compiled them into a list and asked people to rank them from the most effective — down to the ones that might sit a little lower on their playlists.
Let’s just say the results were interesting.
1. Sleep Token – “The Summoning” (2023)
Seeing this track take the top spot likely won’t come as much of a surprise. The song has surged in popularity online — particularly among the "BookTok" crowd — and Sleep Token’s dark, mysterious aesthetic only adds to the intrigue. Since its 2023 release on the album Take Me Back to Eden, “The Summoning” has become a staple on countless playlists. The track is driven by a slow, tension-building instrumental that eventually gives way to one of its most seductive moments in the verse: "Oh, and my love
Did I mistake you for a sign from God?
Or are you really here to cast me off?
Or maybe just to turn me on
'Cause these days
I would be lying if I told you that
I didn't wish that I could be your man
Or maybe make a good girl bad”
2. Bad Omens – “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND” (2022)
This track is another favourite on Instagram Reels and TikTok — whether featuring frontman Noah Sebastian himself or paired with dark romance visuals. It’s the kind of song that can awaken desire in just about anyone, especially women. One standout moment comes in the pre-chorus: “I miss the way you say my name
The way you bend, the way you break
Your makeup running down your face
The way you fuck, the way you taste”
I would have to say this would even be my personal second-place pick — because, come on, you read those lyrics.
3. Sleep Token – “Chokehold” (2023)
Honestly, the title says it all — this song will have you in a chokehold. It starts with a slow-burn build that gradually evolves into something heavier, darker, and almost possessive. The lyric “You’ve got me in a chokehold” has even been used in trends hinting at sensual, consensual intimacy, reflecting a broader rise in certain sexual interests over the years.
4. Bad Omens – “Bad Decisions” (2022)
Another strong contender, this track features lyrics like: “Her skin feels unholy, but I'm still drawn. The morals I'm holding, you know they're gone.”
The “bad decisions” here seem to point to coping with emotions through impulsive actions and sexual encounters. Even if the lyrics don’t feel personally relatable, it’s still an undeniably erotic track worth adding to your playlist.
That said, if this resonates with your own coping habits, remember to stay considerate — protect yourself and your partners. Struggles aren’t an excuse to be careless, especially when someone else is involved.
5. In This Moment – “Adrenalize” (2012)
Maria Brink has always exuded raw, grungy, sexual energy — making her one of the most recognizable female voices in modern metal. This track carries an almost dominatrix vibe, especially in the chorus: “I must confess I'm addicted to this
Shove your kiss straight through my chest
I can't deny, I'd die without this
Make me feel like a God
Music, love and sex (adrenalize me)
I crave excess, turning wine into sweat
Dripping down my neck
I can't deny, I'd die without this
Make me feel like a God
Adrenaline and sex”
It’s been a longtime staple on my playlist, thanks to its raw grit and unapologetic badass energy.
6. Sleep Token – “Provider” (2025)
Vessel does it again with “Provider” from the band’s 2025 album Even In Arcadia. With lines like “I wanna be your provider,” he has the band’s female fanbase wrapped around his finger. Clocking in at just over six minutes, the track takes listeners on an erotic, rollercoaster-like journey, featuring lyrics such as “The only good girl in this side of the moon. You're the only game that I like to lose.”
It’s a track worth adding to your bedroom playlist — perfect for setting the mood and building anticipation during foreplay.
7. Melrose Avenue – “Taste” (2026)
The band has openly embraced their fanbase’s fascination with "BookTok," especially with frontman Vlado Saric fitting many fans’ mental image of the dark, brooding male lead from the novels. This track wastes no time getting to the point, immediately setting the tone with its opening verse: “Close my eyes, I see you right there on your knees
And goddamn, I want it, scratch your fingers down my back
It's crossed my mind a thousand times
You in the bed, your place or mine?
And you want it too”
Y’all know what you’re doing.
8. Sleep Token – “Sugar” (2019)
Even though the chorus repeats “Sugar, I’ve developed a taste for you now,” there’s no denying Sleep Token’s signature dark, romantic pull. Between Vessel’s raw and demanding vocals layered with the gradually building instrumental, this track is a must-add to any “sex playlist.”
9. Bad Omens – “Miracle” (2022)
The driving rhythm, paired with Noah Sebastian’s range — from siren-like melodies to full-on aggression — makes this track a standout for any metalhead.
“But nevertheless, I'm fucking depressed, I hide it with sex
And drink till it's fatal, it's so fucking painful, it's a mess”
The lyrics offer a sense of relatability to some listeners who may have used sex and drinking as a means of coping with heartbreak or life’s challenges at some point or another.
10. Sleep Token – “Dangerous” (2025)
Another standout from the Even In Arcadia album, this track has become a go-to for dark romance and sensual dance trends across social media. One of the most popular moments for these videos comes from the verse:
“Well, I thought I could resist you But something in me just can't help but insist To blur the lines just one last time so”
Its slow, intoxicating build paired with Vessel’s signature vocals makes it impossible not to get pulled in.
11. In This Moment - “Whore” (2012)
This song might not be everyone’s cup of tea lyrically, thanks to its aggressively ‘filth’-filled edge, but Maria Brink wastes no time opening with the verse:
“I'm the girl you've been thinking about
The one thing you can't live without
Yeah, I'm the girl you've been waiting for
I'll have you down on your knees
I'll have you begging for more”
Talk about turning your partner into a sexual simp!
12. Sleep Token – “Rain” (2023)
Like much of Sleep Token’s carefully crafted catalog, this track builds gradually, layering emotional intensity over rising instrumental elements. While it’s not the most overtly sexual song lyrically, the way it progresses— and the raw emotion behind it — has made it a fan favourite for evoking intimacy. The line “Tangled in your trance and I’m certain, you have got your hooks in me” works on multiple levels, hinting at both the band’s “lore” and a subtle sexual undertone.
13. The Pretty Reckless – “Follow Me Down” (2014)
This is one of those tracks you definitely don’t want your headphones to accidentally disconnect from, especially at the start — because the song opens with former adult film actress Jenna Haze moaning. Paired with Taylor Momsen’s raw, iconic vocals, the song features lyrics in the chorus “Follow me down to the river, man. I’ll be down here on my knees.” and the verse:
“Nights avoiding things unholy
Your hand slips across my skin
I go down on you so slowly
Don't confess none of your sins”
14. Nine Inch Nails - “Closer” (1994)
It’s safe to say this classic practically speaks for itself, leading into the unforgettable chorus:
“I want to fuck you like an animal. I want to feel you from the inside.”
The track has been used endlessly — as a staple in “sex playlists,” in clubs, during stripper routines, and even in select movie and TV soundtracks.
15. The Pretty Reckless – “Hit Me Like a Man” (2012)
With lyrics like “Take your time and do with me what you will” and “Hit me like a man, love me like a woman,” this track reads almost like its own trigger warning — similar to what you might find in the opening pages of some dark romance novels. While I absolutely don’t condone nor promote abusive behaviour, the song captivates listeners through its raw vulnerability, giving it a charged, almost “hate fuck” energy that’s hard to ignore.
16. Arankai – “Contortionist” (2025)
Frontman Oscar "IAmArankai" Porter has leaned into the song’s sensual energy, creating videos that seemingly “thirst trap” his followers and tapping into the "BookTok" vibe. The track features lyrics like “Nails on my neck, you should mark me with a red letter” hinting at sensual scratching, while seamlessly shifting between Oscar’s signature “bedroom voice” rasp and aggressive screams, making it a provocative and intense listen.
17. Jutes – “Smut” (2025)
I have to admit — before putting together this list, I’d never heard this track, and now I feel like I’ve been missing out. With a steadily building instrumental progression and Jutes’ raspy, melodic vocals, it’s a perfect addition to any playlist. One standout verse is: “Mascara on the pillow, bite down
Legs wrapped around my head
Love you inside out
And you taste sweet
Come fuck me like you hate me”
From referencing oral sex to suggestions of aggressive intercourse, this is definitely playlist worthy.
18. Deftones - “Change (In the House of Flies)” (2000)
The song explores themes of corruption and intimacy, accompanied by Chino Moreno’s smoky seductive vocals and a slow, heavy groove creating a tense yet sensual atmosphere.
19. Rain City Drive feat. Dayseeker - “Medicate Me” (2024)
While not as heavy as some of the other tracks on this list, the song still grabs attention right away. The opening line —“Dressed in all black like the reaper, way she go down I could keep her”— references oral sex, which is echoed later in the verse: “Hard to believe it when I taste you on the tip of my tongue.” Its catchy melody makes it a solid addition to any playlist, though its lighter, more upbeat style lands it lower on this list compared to the slower, more sensual builds as seen above.
20. Dayseeker – “Creature In The Black Night” (2025)
With lyrics like “Fuck me in your dreams like you can't escape it,” this track blends a slower, pop-metalcore build with occasional heavier moments. Its place on the list reflects a general consensus: while compelling, it doesn’t quite deliver the same “take me now” intensity as some of the other songs. Overall, I think the biggest takeaway from this list is that not only can most of Sleep Token’s discography provide a sense of erotica, but other bands such as Bad Omens, In This Moment, and The Pretty Reckless seem to make multiple appearances for their shared ability in accomplishing just that. So, what do you think? Did you give any of these songs a listen and add them to your list? Are there any songs that we missed that are staples for you? Let us know!