Author: Sahar Milani
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See you on the other side
The prince is dead, long live heavy metal Today, Ozzy Osbourne is laid to rest in Birmingham, and I must admit, his death affected me more than I thought it would. With deep gratitude, I am compelled to write a few words about the man who conjured the spirit of metal into the world all…
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Top three albums of 2024
This year, it was difficult for me to choose which albums to write about. There were new releases from all my favorite bands – some highly anticipated, like Wintersun’s Time II. But instead of using my increasingly limited writing time to deconstruct the Chinese Democracy of modern metal, I offer three solid choices that brought…
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Life lessons from heavy metal
“If you’re doing your thing, and you’re doing it in New York, you are metal. And New York is metal because of you.” – Linda Leseman This past academic year, I had the opportunity to teach an undergraduate class on heavy metal music and culture as part of an off-campus intercultural studies program that I…
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Top five albums of 2023
I took a break from blogging for the last few months because I’ve been busy living the dream as a real-life metal professor in NYC (more on that later). To close out 2023, I offer my thoughts on five memorable albums that shaped my year. 5. Children of Bodom – A CHAPTER CALLED CHILDREN…
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I folked up
In a previous blog post, I argued that gimmicky folk metal bands, which were popular in the mid to late 2000s, are in decline. On the other hand, folky elements, especially from cultures outside of Western Europe, are now integrated throughout metal subgenres. The algorithm gods must have read my assessment because they promptly delivered…
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On Metallica
Over the past 23 years, I have attended shows by iconic artists like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Slayer, and Megadeth. Interestingly, I have yet to see Metallica and it is worth noting that I intentionally avoided them to some extent. Like many metal fans, I have conflicting feelings towards the genre’s most recognizable…
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The KISS formula
KISS is finally retiring, 23 years after I attended their first “farewell tour.” Though enormously influential to heavy metal, KISS sometimes gets a bad rap in underground circles due to their over the top marketing and mediocre musicianship. While I don’t disagree with these criticisms, the band’s achievements are impressive and reflect an innovative strategy. …
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Is folk metal dead?
Folk metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that reached peak popularity in the mid to late 2000s. Mixing old-world European folk melodies with death metal and black metal, the trend spawned popular multi-headliner tours like Pagan Fest and Heathen Fest. Fans danced jigs in the center of circle pits to a backdrop of kilts,…
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The signaling role of metal band T-shirts
Metal culture includes a host of rituals (head banging and moshing), gestures (throwing “devil’s horns” or forming a “claw”) and fashion (battle vests). Importantly, concert attire must adhere to the following unspoken rule: When you see a band play, you should not wear that band’s T-shirt to the show. Why is wearing the performer’s T-shirt…
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Metal family values
Different metal scenes exist around the world but the global metal community shares a set of key values. These values have historically included the opposition to authority, a focus on independence and freedom, and an emphasis on being an individual while also being part of a unified group. While these elements are significant, the most…
Metalnomics 