Review of Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005) by Treet J — 26 Apr 2014

I highly doubt anyone will read this, but I just felt I had to write something down, because I am seriously on cloud nine after viewing this. There are two areas of my life which I hate talking about (religion and politics) and two areas that I love talking about (music and film). As a self-professed metal-head since age 14, I am terribly ashamed that it took me this long to view this documentary. Anyways, this covers the entire genre of metal for over thirty years and all of the scenes that developed from it- from the kids just looking to go to a show for a good night out, all the way to the Black Metal extremists that burn down churches in retaliation against Christianity. It should be noted that all of the metal community except said extremists do not condone or promote this type of behavior.

You also get introduced to nearly every type of metal that has spawned since it's formation: from Sabbath and Zeppelin, to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, to the spawning of Thrash Metal, and into the Extreme Metal genres. As an avid lover of Death Metal, I do love how it displayed various artists who were important in establishing the Death Metal genre. Showcasing a genre like that to the world isn't easy considering how quickly even most metal-heads will shy away from it, but this documentary does a great job of doing just that. Even if you still don't like the music, you may begin to appreciate the talent these people have and the struggles that they face.

This documentary also showcases just how much fire heavy metal has come under from the press, religious groups, and the general public. This music is so unjustly and relentlessly persecuted by those shrouded in pure ignorance. There are plenty of genres of music that incorporate the similar principles of lyrical extremism into their music that come under seriously less scrutiny than Rock & Roll or Heavy Metal does. Those forms of music don't deserve to be berated either as I believe in artistic freedom, but the general public should at least keep their principles the same varying from genre to genre.

Possibly most importantly, the documentary shows the sense of community and belonging established in this world. Kids can drown their problems out by listening to Slayer or Cannibal Corpse as opposed to using drugs or getting into fights. You see a huge group of people considered outcasts coming together as one at massive outdoor festivals. Suddenly they belong. They feel as if they belong. They're part of something they love, and that's what it's all about.