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It can be easy to judge someone based on their taste in music. 

Heavy metal-fans, for instance, are often thought to share a common sense of alienation, oppression and anger, with their music giving them an outlet for their rage.

It's a stereotype that's reinforced by the genre's roots with metal gaining popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s in economically ravaged, deindustrialised areas. 

But while heavy metal may have once appealed to alienated working-class males, today the music enjoys its greatest popularity in the most advanced, wealthy, and knowledge-based areas of the world. 

This map tracks the number of heavy metal bands per 100,000 residents using data from the Encyclopaedia Metallum. It shows how the genre holds less influence in the post-industrial places of its birth, but remains extremely popular in wealthy, safe and stable Scandinavian countries

Writing in City Lab, Toronto-based Richard Florida highlights a map that tracks the number of heavy metal bands per 100,000 residents using data from the Encyclopaedia Metallum.

It shows how the genre holds less influence in the post-industrial places of its birth, but remains extremely popular in wealthy, safe and stable Scandinavian countries.

Some people believe the dark, cold days of northern Europe reflect heavy metal's emotional darkness and fury.

Some people believe the dark, cold days of northern Europe reflect heavy metal's emotional darkness and fury accounting for its popularity in the region. Pictured is Swedish metal band Opeth

Mr Florida, and his Martin Prosperity Institute colleague Charlotta Mellander, examined the connections between heavy metal and a range of economic and social factors to uncover a pattern.

They found that the number of heavy metal bands per country was linked with the nation's economic output, level of creativity and entrepreneurship.

A higher share of adults that hold degrees, as well as better levels of human development, well-being, and satisfaction with life, were all related to a larger fan base for heavy metal.

Ms Mellander, who is Swedish, claims Scandinavia's love for heavy metal bands is directly related to the government's efforts to put compulsory music training in schools.

This, she claims, has created a generation able to meet metal's technical demands.

'While new musical forms may spring from disadvantaged, disgruntled, or marginalised groups,' added Mr Florida, 'It is the most advanced and wealthy societies that have the media and entertainment companies that can propagate new sounds and genres, as well as the affluent young consumers with plenty of leisure time who can buy it.'

A higher share of adults that hold degrees, as well as better levels of human development, well-being, and satisfaction with life, were all related to a larger fan base for heavy metal. Pictured at fans at a Anthrax gig