This provoking, balanced, well thought out and passionate look at metal by a self avowed metalhead encapsulates what metalheads feel about their music. We may argue among ourselves who was the first metal band (Black Sabbath of course), whether grunge or punk or even glam should be included as metal, the difference between death and black metal, etc etc but no proud metalhead would deny that this is fundamentally a very thorough look at a very difficult, complex and controversial subject. Sam Dunn, with what can only be surmised to be limited resources, has managed to interview some of the heavyweights in metal (Dio, Tony Iommi, Lemmy, Bruce Dickinson etc) and present their views on the music they play. It is a defence of heavy metal and its subgenre, but it is not a blind defence. Controversial topics like Satanism, sexuality, the sex n drugs n rock n roll lifestyle, and violence are not shied away from, rather they are tackled head on, and are addressed with intelligence, although not completely free from bias it must be admitted.
Some people here have bemoaned what the film leaves out, which is the wrong way to approach it. One commented that if he had interviewed Lemmy, why not Metallica? Where was doom metal, folk metal etc.. Well, I prefer to see what the documentary gives, instead of what it misses. Yes, Hetfield and Ulrich (my favourite band remains pre-Black Metallica) were missing, but then so were Dave Mustaine, Gary Holt, Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, Joey deMaio, Ozzy Osbourne etc. The list goes on. But what A Headbanger's Journey have? It has Kerry King telling us about his views on religion, it has Dio and the origin of the devil's horns, it has Alex Webster telling us about the tritone, it has truly funny interviews with Dee Snider, Dio and Alice Cooper, interviews with the Norwegian black metal bands, with groupies, with girl bands, with anti-metallists, and a side splitting interview with Necrobutcher of Mayhem. I mean, what more could you ask for? Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is somewhat preaching to the converted, us poor misguided outsiders who have nothing to live for and seek strength in loud aggressive dissonant devil music. However, anyone with a half-open mind would watch this and think, hey, this metal thingy, it's not so bad after all. But while this would bring the genre a new fan base, it would also be popularisation of metal, which I for one, don't want. Metal has always been underground (hence the whole "Is Motley Crue/Quiet Riot/Cinderella metal?" debate), and should always be. It would destroy the ethos of metal to be played on mainstream radio. Metalheads I would think, ENJOY being looked down upon as "dunderheads" (quote Dee Snider). We are elitist at heart, and for me, metal is elite. This documentary is a celebration of our complexity and diversity, yet our unity as metalheads. And yes, we're doing just fine without ya.
Some people here have bemoaned what the film leaves out, which is the wrong way to approach it. One commented that if he had interviewed Lemmy, why not Metallica? Where was doom metal, folk metal etc.. Well, I prefer to see what the documentary gives, instead of what it misses. Yes, Hetfield and Ulrich (my favourite band remains pre-Black Metallica) were missing, but then so were Dave Mustaine, Gary Holt, Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, Joey deMaio, Ozzy Osbourne etc. The list goes on. But what A Headbanger's Journey have? It has Kerry King telling us about his views on religion, it has Dio and the origin of the devil's horns, it has Alex Webster telling us about the tritone, it has truly funny interviews with Dee Snider, Dio and Alice Cooper, interviews with the Norwegian black metal bands, with groupies, with girl bands, with anti-metallists, and a side splitting interview with Necrobutcher of Mayhem. I mean, what more could you ask for? Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is somewhat preaching to the converted, us poor misguided outsiders who have nothing to live for and seek strength in loud aggressive dissonant devil music. However, anyone with a half-open mind would watch this and think, hey, this metal thingy, it's not so bad after all. But while this would bring the genre a new fan base, it would also be popularisation of metal, which I for one, don't want. Metal has always been underground (hence the whole "Is Motley Crue/Quiet Riot/Cinderella metal?" debate), and should always be. It would destroy the ethos of metal to be played on mainstream radio. Metalheads I would think, ENJOY being looked down upon as "dunderheads" (quote Dee Snider). We are elitist at heart, and for me, metal is elite. This documentary is a celebration of our complexity and diversity, yet our unity as metalheads. And yes, we're doing just fine without ya.