Documentary films about Heavy Metal

The Erlking · Post by **The Erlking** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:59 pm

So here we can discuss heavy metal documentaries. Do you know any good ones? What do you think of Heavy Metal Parking Lot or The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years? Is 90-120min films that try to explain HM (especially in depth) doomed to fail? I wonder if there are any good RECENT metal documentaries made. I've seen only Metal: A Headbangers Journey and it's sequel-like Global Metal and while there was some funny stuff on both they were kinda misguided and stupid imo.

I wasn't sure if this belongs to land of mystery so please forgive me and move it if necessary.

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:11 pm

Two weeks ago i saw Metal From Hellas which was a decent attempt to look into the greek metal scene, both old and new. It focuses more on heavy/power and unfortunately many important bands of extreme metal didn't appear, but generally it was cool to see something a documentary like that. Sad thing is that it has only greek audio, i don't think that there are any english subs available, so only those who know greek can enjoy it.

Helm · Post by **Helm** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:23 pm

Metal from Hellas, I don't begrudge it the lack of some -admittedly legendary- extreme metal acts like Varathron or Rotting Christ or Necromantia because it seems it's made by a student that was under a deadline. What I begrudge it for is that there's a lot of talk about 'professionalism' and lack of in the greek metal scene that killed off a lot of promising bands, and that is not qualified. I am certain the gems of the greek metal underground are not enjoying world reknown (in metalhead circles) because they're 'professional' in any way. In fact, the more 'professional', the worse the bands got, in my opinion.

Anvil: The Story of Anvil is interesting on many levels.

A Headbanger's Journey/Global Metal fail in their so-called anthropological purpose because while they tackle the various sub-genres of metal etc, they do not talk about what Heavy Metal goes for, aesthetically, philosophically, intellectually. When Bruce Dickinson is the one doing most of the relevant talk on your documentary about what Heavy Metal is, you're not doing a very good job!

The Decline of Western Civilization I think was not an unbiased film, and as such is not a documentary really. There was a specific slant to it, as there was of course, with Heavy Metal Parking Lot. There's interest there, but I wouldn't call these pieces very relevant to my own Heavy Metal experience, at least.

MEXDefenderOfSteel · Post by **MEXDefenderOfSteel** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:44 pm

i recently saw this documentary about Metal in Baghdad,the story of that Iraqui band that had to live through so many shit to play their music(which btw is crappy) but well its a good and simple documentary that shows how hard is to make HM music in middle eastern countries...

and some months ago i saw Get Thrashed, damn,it has some nice interviews and some cool facts, but apart from it,is just basic info and loses credibility when guys like the one from Slipknot(forgive me father for i have sin) try to talk to you about Thrash Metal and whats its meaning

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:21 pm

Does FUBAR count?

Avenger · Post by **Avenger** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:05 am

Decline Of Western Civilization, Part II focuses mainly on the L.A. Glam/Hair Metal scene. It's not really relevant to any stretch of what was actually going on outside of that tiny area of Metal as a whole.

bigfootkit · Post by **bigfootkit** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:26 am

MEXDefenderOfSteel wrote:i recently saw this documentary about Metal in Baghdad,the story of that Iraqui band that had to live through so many shit to play their music(which btw is crappy) but well its a good and simple documentary that shows how hard is to make HM music in middle eastern countries...

I saw that too, and really enjoyed it. Those guys really went through an awful lot of pain and sacrifice for their music. It was quite humbling. I feel a bit of a cunt for talking badly of their music, but it was perhaps the weakest thread in the film's narrative.
As a result of this, i ended up watching a fascinating 2 part documentary on Al-Jazeera's website about Heavy Metal and Islam. This contains a portion on that Iraqui bands progress, as well as other bands from across the Middle East. I'd recommend it for an unusual look at how the genre and culture are uneasily co-existing in the Middle east. It's available to stream on their website.
Yes, "Decline...Pt 2" has an agenda, but it is definitely morbidly entertaining in a "car crash spectacle" fashion, despite/because of this.
I've yet to see the Anvil docu, but i believe i'm getting a loan of the dvd at the weekend from a friend, can't wait to see it.

nabel · Post by **nabel** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:25 am

There is one about finnish metal made by Kimmo Kuusniemi of Sarcofagus but what I've heard it's not so good... You know, Children Of Bodom etc.

The Erlking · Post by **The Erlking** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:56 am

nabel wrote:There is one about finnish metal made by Kimmo Kuusniemi of Sarcofagus but what I've heard it's not so good... You know, Children Of Bodom etc.

Ah.. typical

Piotr Sargnagel · Post by **Piotr Sargnagel** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:26 pm

I saw *Once upon a time in Norway* which I enjoyed for the schlock (somewhat similar to the *Lords of chaos* book)

The Anvil documentary was a great, enjoyable film. I quite like this band and to see them work SO hard and put so much effort in was very interesting and nice to see...

*Heavy Metal Parking Lot* - I hate this film. It made me feel embarrassed and ashamed.

*Global Metal* - not bad, good as a documentary

*Metal - a headbanger's journey* - not bad, good as a documentary. He only had limited time so kudos to him for that.

Can't remember others but there are some..... bah, memory is shot.

msp · Post by **msp** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:54 pm

Decline Of Western Civilization, Part II was a hilariously funny film. It seems to have an agenda to show that all metallers were morons and most of the people contained within lived up to that sterotype in spectacular fashion i.e. Paul Stanley, London, Odin & Chris Holmes, not to mention the deadbeats desperate to make it as a "rock star".

Some of the other recent documentaries were okay but I left feeling unfulfilled.

Films like "Get Thrashed" look promising, but when you see that they have included Slipknot in it - a band who have as much to do with Thrash as Skid Row - then my heart sinks.

Let me end with "legend" Mitch Hale and his girlfriend Penny Rushin discussing the make up of various HM sub genres complete with live footgage of headbangers at Nottingham Rock City. This documentary was shown on UK Tv back in 1989 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdRLUyYItis[/code]

The Erlking · Post by **The Erlking** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:12 pm

Piotr Sargnagel wrote:
*Global Metal* - not bad, good as a documentary

*Metal - a headbanger's journey* - not bad, good as a documentary. He only had limited time so kudos to him for that..

They surely ain't the worst attempts to try to document heavy metal scene but I felt they gave a little vague and silly image of what it is. I mean all that "metal's about being an outsider", "metal is a way to release anger" plus all that metal-brotherhood-unity crap. Also the subgenre-table on Metal: A Headbanger's Journey was ridiculous imo. Global Metal shared same kinds of ideas about heavy metal's nature and showed completely irrelevant stuff like Visual Kei stuff in Japan that is just a image thing and most of it ain't related to HM in any way (and completely ignored all nippon metal pioneers like Bow Wow, Loudness, Flower Travellin' Band etc.). Also the idea of "WOW there's metal outside of Europe and US" was a bit old discovery for me. Yeah I do get that they wanted to say something interesting about the birth of metal scene in different countries and how they differ from each others but at times it was just too simplified and stupid. Like: Brazilian scene = Sepultura and Iron Maiden shirts. Still, both documentaries had some interesting points and funny scenes that kept me watching 'em.

Abyss · Post by **Abyss** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:13 pm

I've saw these various ones on youtube.

666 at Calling Death (1993)

Black metal and death metal documentary. Interviews with: Deicide, Atrocity, Death, Samael, Impaled Nazarene, Sepultura, Benediction, Cannibal Corpse, Pungent Stench, Paradise Lost, Morbid Angel, Morgoth, Gorefest, Fear Factory, Cathedral, Ancient Rites, Carcass, Messiah, Blasphemy, Immortal, Grave, Unleashed, Tiamat, Iron Curtain, Scott Burns. Spoken language: English, German (English subtitles)

Death Metal - A Documentary (2003)

Death metal documentary made by Bill Zebub from Grimoire Magazine. Interviews with: Peter Steele (Carnivore, Type O Negative), Malignancy, Brutal Truth, Immolation, Mortician, Suffocation, Amon Amarth, James Murphy (Disincarnate, ex-Death, ex-Obituary), Tzefa, Seance, God Dethroned, Cronos (Venom), George Corpsegrinder (Cannibal Corpse). Spoken language: English.

MuchMusic Death Metal Special (1993)

Death Metal special broadcasted by MuchMusic (Canadian TV). Features interviews with Slayer, Sepultura, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Gorguts, Atheist, Demolition Hammer, Scott Burns (producer), Entombed, Chuck Schuldiner (Death), Andy LaRocque (King Diamond, ex-Death). Spoken language: English.

MusikByran Thrash Metal Documentary (200?)

Documentary about the history of thrash metal. Broadcasted on SVT2 (Swedish TV). Features interviews with Anthrax, Metallica, Motorhead, Sepultura, Kreator. Spoken languages: English interviews (Swedish subtitles), Swedish commentator (sorry, no English subtitles).

The info was taken from this blog it lists a lot more documentaries.

http://ghostradio-archive.blogspot.com/ ... ocumentary

There is another one I've saw about nwobhm it seems to have been on british television about nwobhm fans going to "heavy metal discos" and playing cardboard guitars along with the music.

I've saw plenty of the other bad ones mentioned here so far but those 4 are my favorites so far.

Piotr Sargnagel · Post by **Piotr Sargnagel** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:31 pm

Wow, thank you!

Helm · Post by **Helm** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:35 pm

is the Zebub piece just two parts? Can't find more on youtube.