Film Review: "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" (2006)

One of the great loves of my life is heavy metal music, and so yesterday I went to go check out this 90-minute documentary on the genre put together by Sam Dunn, a metal fan and anthropologist from Victoria, British Columbia. Dunn sets out to answer the following question: What is it about metal that inspires such passion, either for or against? In trying to answer this, Dunn interviews a number of legends from Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden to Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead to Rob Zombie. He also sprinkles in an overly healthy dose of let's-take-a-trip-up-my-own-ass analysis from various sociologists, musicologists and other windbags.

As an intellectual look at a subculture, this was very well done. Dunn looks at themes of sexuality, religion, power and violence and how they all fit into the heavy metal world. In so doing, interesting anecdotes are revealed regarding the origins of the "devil's sign" from Ronnie James Dio, the dark imagery used by Sabbath in the 70s, and the Spinal Tappish big dick/tight pants look of Robert Plant and others.

At about the 3/4 mark, I found that things got a little tedious because Dunn spends a lot of time discussing the obscure Norwegian death metal scene and the implications that has had on Norway's cultural landscape. I mean really, who cares? I'd rather hear more stories from Vince Neil about life on LA's Sunset Strip back in the day.

As a fan, this was very good as well, but the film was largely a product of Dunn's own tastes in metal. I love hearing Alice Cooper talk as much as the next guy, Geddy Lee is awesome, and Dee Snider recalling how he testified before Congress in opposition to the Parent's Music Resource Centre in the mid-80's (note their "Filthy Fifteen") was delicious. However, I don't think enough credit was given to two of my top five favourite bands of all time and their role in advancing metal: KISS and Judas Priest. Dunn's tastes are also a little harder than mine (what the hell is grindcore, anyways?), but to each his or her own. (I've tried to find a copy of the chart that Dunn presents tracing the development of metal, but I can't.)

If you're wondering why metalheads never seem to "grow out of it", I'll share a few observations from other fans in the film. First, as a 13-year old Quebec girl says, metalheads are never afraid to share their opinion with you or ask the tough questions if they disagree with something. True. Secondly, metalheads are loyal. We never grow out of it because metal bands are never the kind that you're into for oh, about a week. You either love it or you don't. And finally, if you still don't get it, that's just fine, because almost 40 years after Black Sabbath's debut album was released, we seem to be doing just fine without you.

DVD, pictured above, out next month (May 23.) Official website here.

Overall rating: 6.5/10