Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
DVD
Released: May, 23, 2006
Reviewed by Blackwater Park
Posted on 24th May, 2006
Average time to read: 4:09 minutes
Directed & produced by Sam Dunn, Scott McFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise
It’s about time somebody made a documentary about Metal. Thankfully this is not a half-assed attempt by some dimwitted Hollywood schmuck looking to make a fast buck either. Make no mistake, this is the real fucking deal. It’s gritty, raw, and absolutely uncompromising. So raise thy horns, bang thy head, and strap in for a 96 minute deathrace into the heart of darkness… Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey!
The film is narrated by Sam Dunn, a 30-year old anthropologist and lifelong Metalhead. On a mission to understand why Metal has been consistently dismissed, stereotyped, and condemned, Sam takes us on a personal pilgrimage in the film, visiting some of Metal’s most infamous (to the uninitiated) and revered (to the faithful) geographies. From the slick sleaze of LA’s Sunset Strip, to the grime of Birmingham’s dirty streets, from the frenzied insanity of Wacken’s Open Air festival to the serene mystery of Norway’s blackened forests, Sam’s journey into the wonderful world of Heavy Metal has it all, and the cast of characters he interviews along the way is very impressive!
The film begins with an account of Sam growing up on Canada’s west coast, a region of the country where Metal fans have always been few and far between (I should know, I’m also a 30-year old Metal diehard who grew up in British Columbia). Like many of us who eventually found our way to Metal, as a child Sam felt disconnected from most of his peers. The loner status didn’t last long though, as the Brotherhood (and Sisterhood) of Heavy Metal beckoned, welcoming Sam with open arms. This is where Metal deserves veritable accolades, because so long as you check your “poser hat” at the door and remain true to yourself, the sub-culture of Metal will emphatically embrace you. The interview segments with Rob Zombie are especially insightful and illuminating in this regard. Zombie eloquently articulates the social dislocation, exclusion, and atomization of contemporary ‘western’ society as primary motivating factors for youths to portray fiercely independent attitudes and invoke rebellious identities. Yet at the same time, Zombie astutely recognizes that Heavy Metal also serves as a social adhesive, offering solace and a sense of belonging among those deemed misfits and cast aside by the mainstream.
Interview segments such as these are where the film really shines as an academic exploration, and true to his educational background and disciplinary training (Sam has a BA from the University of Victoria and an MA from York University, both in anthropology), the film is an ethnographic milestone for the sub-culture of Heavy Metal. Sam gleans his interpretations straight from the source, tapping the vein of a host of Metal luminaries, including Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Slayer, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Ronnie James Dio (ex-Black Sabbath, ex-Rainbow, Dio), Enslaved, Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy), Tom Morello (Audioslave, ex-Rage Against The Machine), Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), Emperor, Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Cannibal Corpse, Lamb Of God, Slipknot, Vince Neil (Motley Crue), and Voivod. Sam even secures interviews with industry insider’s such as Monte Conner (Head of A&R, Roadrunner), Robert Kampf (CEO, Century Media), and Brian Slagel (Founder, Metal Blade).
This is definitely not a film about a fanboy gone wild, and Sam’s academic integrity shines as the film asks tough questions about Metal’s enduring fascination with the taboo subjects of sexuality, violence, death, and the occult. Scholars such as DePaul University sociologist Deena Weinstein (author of “Heavy Metal: A Cultural Sociology” and “Heavy Metal: The Music and Its Culture”), and UCLA musicologist Robert Walser (author of “Running With The Devil: Power, Gender and Madness in Heavy Metal Music”) are brought in to help Sam wrestle with his inquiries. These intellectual voices not only lend a great deal of credence to both the film and the music vis-Ã -vis mainstream society, but also provide a richness of variation among the pool of informants Sam interviews. Ultimately, Sam doesn’t shy away from putting Metal’s darker side under a critical spotlight, but he doesn’t flinch either, remaining unapologetic for a music and lifestyle he has long embraced.
For those not seeking a “heady” experience, do not fear, as the film never gets too theoretical or philosophical that you can’t simply take pleasure in it as a mindless joyride through the debacle and debauchery of Heavy Metal. An off the wall interview with Mayhem serves as a particularly hilarious point of departure in this respect, as Necrobutcher makes a complete ass of himself much to the chagrin of a visibly embarrassed Blasphemer. So queue up the old windmill and bang your head throughout, as the soundtrack features killer cuts from Lamb Of God, Black Sabbath, Children Of Bodom, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Arch Enemy, Rush, and Emperor.
Overall a worthy addition to any true Metalhead’s collection, an especially surprising finding considering this is the first Metal Documentary of its kind, aimed at drawing the attention of a more general audience. The underground roots of Sam Dunn shine through though, as the film retains the depth of knowledge about Metal’s darkest corners that only an insider could provide.
The only thing I found a little misguided was his “genealogy” chart on the bonus special features disc. The connecting lines should be going everywhere. Instead, they are laid out in a relatively linear fashion, thus obscuring the cross-pollination between sub-genres that has been so vital to Metal’s longevity. The Metal faithful will also rightfully question why Crossover bands like Corrosion of Conformity have been labeled Metalcore, why Doom Metal was left out as a category (with practitioners such as My Dying Bride, Candlemass, Anathema, and Cathedral scattered between “Stoner Metal” and “Goth Metal”), and why in the name of the almighty Beelzebub himself is Cradle Of Filth listed as “Norwegian Black Metal”? Finally, in true Metalhead style, you can spend hours with your friends arguing over the inclusion and exclusion of certain bands from his sub-genre categories… all part of the joy of being a Headbanger!
I have wanted to watch a movie like this since I was about 10 years old. Kudos to Sam Dunn and his crew for finally making it happen, and most of all, for unquestionably delivering the goods!
For more information on the film, head on over to www.metalhistory.com
This entry was posted by Blackwater Park on Wednesday, 24th May, 2006 at 20:22 and is filed under Reviews, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey.
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I ordered it and it’s on it’s way! Looking forward to this!
I have to check this out.
I’ll be buyibg this ASAP!
That sounds good B-Water - I’m definately pumped to see this. I’m sure it kills the 100 most metal moments in music. (rolls eyes)
Great review.
Wow. Excellent review, Blackwater. You’ve totally sold me on finding and purchasing this dvd. Great job!! Now I can’t wait to see it!!
Excellent. I’d been wanting an informed opinion on this before buying it. Can’t wait to see this.
Sweet. I’ll have to check this out! Great review,BTW.
Thanks for the positive feedback guys.
This is #1 on my “to buy” list. Good review, by the way.
Damn good review…sounds good!
I want to check this out for sure. Good review.
Imagine that…a metal documentary that doesn’t try to make it out to be satanism incarnate or try too hard to be “tr00″…and fail miserably. Will check out ASAP.
Very insightful review BP…well done.
fuckin a
Excellent review BP, will get this ASAP.
I’ve been wanting to see this come out for awhile now and BP did nothing to quell the urge. Nice write-up!
Damn BP, now I have to add another thing to my to-buy list, but I think this will be well worth the 20 bucks
Great Review, and welcome back
Finally, a DVD thats worth watching. This one’s a must have. Good Review, BP!
Awesome job BP!!!!!!!
I’m so glad I read this review. Believe it or not, there was an article about this DVD on the American Airlines magazine a few weeks back. Even AA convinced me this was the real deal, and I was so pissed because I forgot the name. Thanks for the great review BP, I was worried I would never find this DVD.
Sweet!……can’t wait to get it……..great review BP.
BP, stop pseudo-stealing money of me with your reviews damn it! lol
Definately seeing this one, it’s playing at arts centres around the country over here.
I heard about this last winter when it was making the rounds at various theatres in Canada and elsewhere. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go to the showing in Calgary.
It sounds good and is on my list to watch.
Thanks for the review.
D+
You mean that scene in The Decline…..The Metal Years where Chris Holmes is in the pool makin’ a sad and pathetic ass of himself isn’t the stuff of a “real” Metal documentary…???
Finally……a quality documentary that sounds like it’s been done properly. I’ve got to get my hands on this one……
Well written piece BP………
Great Review Blackwater! This looks very interesting, will have to pick it up as soon as i’m not as poor as I am right now.
Thanks again guys!
Now go watch this movie!!!
The bonus feature mini-documentary on Black Metal also kicks supreme ass, as do the extended interview clips (including what are perhaps the last video-taped interviews of both Dimebag and Piggy before their untimely deaths - RIP).
Thanx - I’m on the motherfucker!
blessed be.
What a crappy review.
j/k, but I didn’t want BP to have all the praise go to his head.
I’ve read a few other reviews of this doc and it is being praised everywhere. The fact that Lemmy is on it is cool.
Wonder if Blockbuster has it…?
haha
Not the Blockbuster I went to. But Rodger’s Video, which is the largest chain in Canada carries it. You can buy it online from www.amazon.com.
Nice review BP. I am definitely going to check it out as well at some point.
I have a question though….
Are you Sam Dunn? lol
Hopefully Netflix will offer this. If not I’ll buy it. Good review.
Nice review Sam… er… BP!
Now I have to talk my girlfriend into renting the movie… this might not be an easy task!
METAL!!!!!!
Nice review you fucking stool nuzzler.
Other than the god known as Tony Iommi making an appearance, and Vince Neil showing everyone who is boss, this sounds like a complete waste of time. I bet that fucking midget Dio whines about Ozzy the whole time he is being interviewed. You fucking nuzzlers are like sheep, and gladly devour any plate of shit Asswater Fart serves up.
While you apron boys are drooling over a movie about gay Black Metal bands, I’ll be playing my Rock Bass at screaming rock gigs in front of 500 rock-crazed Japanese fans. I know you all wish you had my life instead of spanking your monkey on the couch to tripe like this movie day in and day out. You don’t have to even say it. Deal with it privately.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Advantage - Itwalksamongus
:haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:
Yeah, what Itwalks said… *runs*
Good stuff, can’t wait to see it. I like how he interviews both artists and people from academia, giving it more credibility on both sides. On a side note, one of the people we’ve been interviewing for our musicology department at UT worked with Robert Walser a good bit at UCLA. She got my vote when she said that.
I’ll buy it.
*this is my contribution to making this review the one with the most replies as requested by Mr. Park*
anyway, I’d like to see this film, but I doubt I’ll find it too easily over here…
Yeah, great review there BP, hopefully I’ll get to see this movie sometime soon…
There ya go, how’s it going with your prestigious record?
Great review BP, I’m heading out this weekend to find this ASAP. Sounds like someone finally got it right in their aproach, looking foward to seeing it.
Sorry I am so late in posting my comment BP, as I said in my PM, Love the review and I guess I believe your not the man behind this project.
Outstanding review, BP!
Any idea where I could pick this up, BP? Sounds like it could strike my fancy.
You can rent it online from www.netflix.com , and you can buy it online from Amazon. Here is a link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EGEJIY/002-6005745-9118454?n=130
Good film my metal loving friends.. Good stuff indeed; and on it’s point, I concur. I like Dio’s ramblings on stupid ol’ Gene Simmons haha
LOL, you messed up the format with your long link! I’ll be checking this out and I’ll let you know how I like it!
I would like to buy this shit. Thank you BP and keep the good word coming.
the chicken demands it!
Ordered it yesterday from netflix…..damn they have shit tons of metal dvd’s on that site…..I picked out some stuff to check out that i would probably never buy otherwise.
As well as they had the entire Aqua-Teen Hunger Force series!
This sounds killer, its going to be tough to get it in my isolated coast town but hopefully I can order it, or pick it up when I’m in Vancouver for Unholy Alliance. I can’t wait to see the interview with Necrobutcher…
I have to check this one. Thanks for the good review
Good review. I missed this when it was playing at an art house theater here in Salt Lake.
Even the conservative, non metal head film critic in one of the local papers gave it great review.
Might have to buy this one.
Your review was so good it brought me back from the dead!
BT:
Good to see you back man!
I rarely have the patience to watch full length films multiple times, but I’ve seen this three times in the past week. The review hits the scope, intent, and vibe of this film perfectly. All metalheads, get your copy NOW!
55 comments!!! Wow, it’s more than all of my 15 thod reviews will ever get. BP, you break all the records one can ever imagine with this review. First, it’s an excellent wite-up, second, it’s a persuasive write-up and third, it’s a unique write-up (within the thod boundaries). Thanks bro, I’ll get it the moment I find it here.
Just got this DVD from NetFlix. Me and Schuld watched it and its great. One thing I appreciated was when he talks about a specific kind of music, he allows for a good 3 or 4 minutes for your to listen to what he talking about without Scott Ian talking over it. This is a great DVD for anyone remotely connected to metal. Everyone at this site need to watch it.
He also did one other thing I really liked. There was not one verbal mention of Metallica. Finally someone talking about metal didn’t go right to Metallica. But some people might say, “Metallica was (and for a last few, still…) great, how could he leave them out?” Well he didn’t. As the credits rolled through, Metallica plays. By this, Dunn shows that he knows Metallica is not the one and all powerful source of metal, but mearly a great period for it. Fantastic film!
TaliRand, I totally agree man. I was happy to see Metallica left out of the equation for once. Yeah they are an important band historically, but that was a long time ago, and the whole fucking world is well versed on everything Metallica so there was no need to go there at all.
I also loved how he used Diamond Head’s original of “Am I Evil” for the soundtrack rather than Metallica’s version.
I still like metal.
Me too.
I will watch this one day, because I also like metal.
looks like one documentary that i would watch.
I just bought it. Better be good BP, they don’t pay us grad assistants enough :-p
It was good.
My favorite line was when Sam asks the singer Ghaal from Gorgoroth (as if there are two Ghaal’s in metal) is asked something like what is his motivation or influences. He sits quitely spinning wine in a gobblet for a moment, then looks up and says:
“Satan.”
That was hilarious.
Also, does that clip of Dee Snyder in front of Congress ever get old? Still cracks me up.
jasonguit, that was the best part. “And what is Satan to you?” ………”Freedom.”
Yeah, that part was fucking hilarious!!!
Ghaal is such a meat-head.
I’m going to start answering more day to day questions like that.
“Welcome to Chik-Fil-A, my name is Mandy. May I take your order?”
“Yes, I would like …
… Satan.”
I’m also going to carry a half full goblet of red wine with me just in case I need to look reflective before answering.
:cheer:
Just saw this review(been away for a while). I’ll have to check it out.
Holy Fucking Shit, dude. Where the fucking hell have you been fuckingfuck?
saw this aeons ago but never read this review.. good one BP and yep the Docu was thoroughly enjoyable and i love playing it for my non - metalhead friends … they love it !!
I don’t have a post in this review!
I joined actively after this one was posted, but I watched the documentary because of this and some thread I think exist about it…
Thanks for the review