Review of Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005) by Dennis G — 25 May 2008

Sam Dunn, a self-confessed "metal-head" and first time film-maker attempts in this documentary to try and learn why the metal genre is being constantly dismissed and and condemned by the media, the government and other music fans.

I came into this film completely un-bias even though I class metal as the genre I was born to listen to. Metal means so much to me and is a large part of my life. After a brief history on the origins of metal Sam starts to interview famous metal bands and its fans before interviewing people in the media and government. This documentary opened my eyes to see just how easily led some people are if they love a band. For example a large part of the film is spent studying Norwegian Black Metal and the films gets pretty bleak. Really bleak. Bands associated with the norwegian metal scene are the downside to the genre. These bands and their fans are completely against all religion and are famous for burning down churches "in the name of satan". Dunn makes it clear from the start however that does not agree with this at all, he just simply wants to understand it.

This documentary should be seen even if you're not a metal fan. It was funny, dark and the kick-ass soundtrack doesnt hurt. For me personally it's done the impossible, it's made me love and respect metal even more.

Metal confronts what we'd rather ignore. It celebrates what we often deny. It indulges in what we fear most. Metal doesn't judge you. It doesn't criticise you. It doesn't care if you don't like it. Metal is there for the individual and to this day a great metal song can make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. If you're not a fan of metal then that's cool but you don't know what you're missing.