ROSETTA Stone are not your average head bangers.

Although heavy metal bands are often frowned upon in musical circles, the Western suburbs group is doing its best to challenge the misconceptions and bring the genre back to popularity.

Ranging in age from 19-20, the five band members met in high school and bonded through a love of heavy metal.

Hailing from suburbs across the West including St Albans, Hoppers Crossing and Seaholme, the group recently made their entrance on Brimbank’s music scene.

Vocalist and keyboard player Matt Mangion said it was often a challenge breaking down the stereotypes.

“When most people think about heavy metal bands, they immediately think of screaming and head banging but that’s not really what we’re about,” Mr Mangion said.

“We try to put a lot of melodies in our songs so they appeal to a wider audience and more people can enjoy them.

“If you listen to the songs we write many of them are quite poetic, which is not what people would expect when they think of heavy metal.”

Mr Mangion said he believed the genre was often misunderstood.

“People think we promote violence and I know there are definitely bands out there that tell stories about violence and murder and rape but I do think the meaning behind it is sometimes misinterpreted.

“It’s not to encourage this behaviour but to talk about issues that do exist in the world.”

Their clean living philosophy has already gained the admiration of their audience.

The band was named runner-up in Brimbank’s Battle of the Bands competition last month, bagging a lucrative promotional photo shoot with Ben Gunzburg photography.

They hope to tour Australia to bring their music to a wider audience. But the dream may have to wait.

“We’re all still either studying at university or working,” Mr Mangion said. “We’re very ambitious but there’s still time to make our mark.”

For more information about Rosetta Stone visit their myspace page at www.myspace.com/ musictvs