Next time you’re looking to have a quiet, relaxed night in, forget the scented candles and the bubble bath and chuck on some Parkway Drive instead. At least, that’s what a new new study on the effects of “extreme music” seems to suggest.

The study, published in the academic journal Frontiers In Human Neuroscience and conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Queensland, examined the effects of heavy music on the brain, and they’re not talking about head-banging.

According to the researchers involved in the study, the effects of heavy music on a typical listener after they’ve been angered or experienced anxiety are similar to that of a “warm hug”.

As Metro reports, in conducting their research, the UQ psychologists gathered 39 regular listeners of so-called “extreme music” aged 13-34 and deliberately ‘angered’ them by asking them to recall frustrating and irritating events in their lives.

They then listened to 10 minutes of music of their choice before spending 10 minutes in silence. The research by honours student Leah Sharman and Dr. Genevieve Dingle found that those who listened to the music became inspired and mellow after the 10-minute period.

“A secondary aim for the study was to see what music angry participants would select from their playlist,” Ms. Sharman said. “It was interesting that half of the chosen songs contained themes of anger or aggression, with the remainder containing themes like – though not limited to – isolation and sadness.”

“Yet participants reported they used music to enhance their happiness, immerse themselves in feelings of love and enhance their well-being. All of the responses indicated that extreme music listeners appear to use their choice of music for positive self-regulatory purposes.”

Image via Metro

“We found the music regulated sadness and enhanced positive emotions,” Sharman told UQ News. “The music helped them explore the full gamut of emotion they felt, but also left them feeling more active and inspired.”

“Results showed levels of hostility, irritability and stress decreased after music was introduced, and the most significant change reported was the level of inspiration they felt.” Interestingly, the results actually contradict previous studies.

While it’s true numerous existing studies have shown a link between extreme music and negative emotions, one has to remember that the majority of participants in the study were Australian (79 percent, to be precise), so maybe it’s just an “us” thing.

Some of the tracks used during the study included cuts from our very own Parkway Drive, Five Finger Death Punch, Slipknot, A Day To Remember, Marduk, Il Nino, and System of a Down, so make sure you put them in your next chill-out playlist on Spotify.