The Best Documentaries About Heavy Metal Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for the best documentaries about heavy metal music? Look no further! This blog post will recommend the best films about this genre of music, perfect for any metalhead looking to learn more about the history and culture of heavy metal.

Introduction

Documentaries about heavy metal music are always interesting because they usually offer a behind-the-scenes look at the bands and the people who love the music. They also tend to be pretty funny, especially when the filmmakers interview metalheads who take themselves way too seriously.

If you’re looking for a good metal documentary, you can’t go wrong with any of the ones on this list. We’ve included a mix of old and new films, so there’s something for everyone. And if you know of any other good metal documentaries, be sure to add them to the list!

1) Metallic Assault: A Film About The Metallica Club – This documentary is about the fan club for the heavy metal band Metallica. It includes interviews with members of the club, as well as appearances by some of the band members themselves. If you’re a fan of Metallica, or if you’re just curious about what it’s like to be a part of a fan club, this is definitely worth checking out.

2) Anvil! The Story of Anvil – This film is about the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil, who achieved cult status in the 1980s but never managed to make it big. The film follows the band as they try to make a comeback in the 2000s, and it’s equal parts inspirational and hilarious. If you like your metal documentaries with a side of comedy, this is the one for you.

3) Iron Maiden: Flight 666 – This documentary follows Iron Maiden on their 2008 world tour, during which they flew their own plane ( nicknamed “Ed Force One”) around the globe. It’s a great film for fans of Iron Maiden, as it gives an inside look at what it’s like to tour with one of the biggest bands in heavy metal history.

4)Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage – This documentary chronicles the career of Canadian rockers Rush, from their early days as a underground cult favorite to their present status as one of the most successful bands in history. If you’re a fan of Rush or simply want to know more about them, this is an essential watch.

5) Slayer: Decade Of Aggression – As the title suggests, this documentary looks back at Slayer’s first ten years as a band, featuring live footage from their 1991 “Decade Of Aggression” tour along with new interviews with all four members of the band. It’s an excellent film for both fans and newcomers alike.

“Gimme Danger”

Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, “Gimme Danger” chronicles the career of Iggy Pop and the Stooges, one of the most influential and controversial rock bands of all time. The film features interviews with Iggy Pop, as well as rare archival footage of the band in action. “Gimme Danger” is a must-see for any fan of Iggy Pop, the Stooges, or rock music in general.

“Anvil! The Story of Anvil”

This 2008 documentary tells the story of a Canadian heavy metal band that formed in 1978 and, despite never achieving commercial success, influenced a number of well-known musicians. The film follows the band as they continue to tour and record new music, despite the fact that most of their fans are now middle-aged.

“Iron Maiden: Flight 666”

“Iron Maiden: Flight 666” is a 2009 documentary film directed by Scott McFadyen and Sam Dunn. The film chronicles the heavy metal band Iron Maiden’s 2008 Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, which promoted the band’s sixteenth studio album, A Matter of Life and Death (2006). The tour began on February 1, 2008 in Kennewick, Washington and ended on March 3, in Ōsaka, Japan after visiting 21 countries.

“Lemmy”

Documentary following the life and career of former Motörhead frontman Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister. The film includes interviews with friends and colleagues such as Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, David Grohl, and Alice Cooper.

“Metallica: Some Kind of Monster”

“Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” is a 2004 American documentary film featuring the American heavy metal band Metallica. The film shares its name with the song “Some Kind of Monster” from Metallica’s 2003 album St. Anger. It was directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, and edited by Sinofsky.

The film follows Metallica during the recording process of their eighth studio album, St. Anger (2003), and bassist Jason Newsted’s departure from the band in January 2001. It also documents Metallicas therapy sessions with Phil Towle, who helped the band resolve interpersonal issues within the group. Some critics have praised “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” for its candid look at one of the most successful rock bands of all time, while others have criticized it for its length and lack of focus.

“Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage”

This 2010 film tells the story of how three young boys from Canada became one of the most successful rock bands of all time. With never-before-seen footage and interviews with some of the biggest names in music, this is a must-see for any fan of Rush.

“Slayer: War at the Warfield”

“Slayer: War at the Warfield” is a 2003 documentary film about the influential metal band Slayer. The film was directed by Tony Lawrence and documents the band’s final show at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on December 7, 2001. The film includes performances of classic Slayer songs such as “Raining Blood” and “South of Heaven”, as well as interviews with members of the band and their fans.

“Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny”

In 2006, Tenacious D released their self-titled feature film debut, starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass as fictionalized versions of themselves as they attempt to become the world’s greatest rock band. The movie is a hilarious faux-documentary following the “rock-umentary” format popularized by This Is Spinal Tap, and features cameos from some of the biggest names in rock music.

“The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years”

This documentary, directed by Penelope Spheeris, is a look at the Los Angeles heavy metal music scene in the late 1980s. The film features interviews with members of some of the most popular metal bands of the time, including Megadeth, Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, and Alice Cooper.

“This Is Spinal Tap”

This 1984 cult classic chronicles the rise and fall of the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film follows the band as they embark on a disastrous tour of the United States. Along the way, they battle with their egos, their fans, and each other, culminating in a disastrous finale at New York’s Carnegie Hall. The film satirizes the excesses of the heavy metal scene, and is essential viewing for any fan of the genre.

“Until the Light Takes Us”

This is one of the most interesting documentaries about heavy metal music. It covers the black metal scene in Norway, and how it became involved in a string of murders and church burnings in the early 1990s.

“We Are Twisted Fucking Sister!”

We Are Twisted Fucking Sister! is a 2014 documentary film directed by Andrew Horn. The film chronicles the band’s career from their beginnings in the early 1970s to their breakout success in the 1980s.

The film was crowd-funded through Kickstarter and raised over $100,000. It made its world premiere at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival.

The film received positive reviews from music critics.

“What We Do in the Shadows”

This New Zealand mockumentary follows the lives of four vampires who live together in Wellington. The film is extremely funny, and it offers a unique take on the vampire genre.

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