Queerness in Heavy Metal Music: Metal Bent
Contents
In a genre often known for its macho posturing and aggressive lyrics, queerness in metal music can be easy to miss. But it’s there, if you know where to look.
This blog explores queerness in metal music, from the early days of bands like Queensrÿche and Metallica, to the present day. We’ll examine how queer musicians have used metal to explore their identity, and how the genre has responded to their presence.
Introduction
Heavy metal music has often been seen as a straight, masculine genre. But in recent years, queerness has been increasingly visible in the metal scene.
One of the most prominent queer metal bands is Metal Bent, a Los Angeles-based group that formed in 2014. The band is fronted by transgender singer Aja Volkova, and their music explores themes of gender identity, mental illness, and relationships.
In anmetal interview, Volkova Talks about growing up queer in the metal scene: “I was definitely an outsider in the sense that I was never fully accepted by either the queer scene or the metal scene. I always felt like I had to choose one or the other. And that’s something that I’ve never really been okay with – I feel like I should be able to like whatever music I want to like without having to pick a side.”
Metal Bent is just one example of how queerness is flourishing in heavy metal music. Here are some other queer metal bands to check out:
-Gorgon City
-Butcher Babies
-Vallenfyre
A Brief History of Queerness and Heavy Metal
Metal music has always been a safe haven for outcasts and misfits. For many queer people, metal has provided a space to be loud, proud, and unapologetic. In recent years, the metal community has become even more inclusive, with more and more openly queer artists making their voices heard.
Metal Bent is a documentary that explores the queer side of heavy metal music. Through interviews with queer metal musicians and fans, the film showcases the diversity and strength of the queer metal community.
Metal Bent is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
The Queer Metal Community Today
The queer metal community has continued to grow in recent years, with more and more bands and artists publicly identifying as LGBTQIA+. This visibility is important in helping to create a sense of belonging for queer people within the metal community, and also helps to challenges the stereotype that all metal fans are straight, white men.
There are now a number of annual festivals specifically for queer metal bands, such as Gay Bash in Toronto and Violence Queer in Mexico City. These events provide a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ people to enjoy metal music without fear of discrimination or violence.
The increased visibility of queer people within the metal community has also led to somepushback from those who seemetal as a “straight” genre. However, the reality is thatqueer people have always been a part of the metal scene, even if they haven’t always been visible. As the scene continues to become more inclusive, it’s hoped that it will become even more welcoming for all fans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Why Is There a Lack of Queer Representation in Metal?
One could argue that heavy metal is one of the least queer-friendly musical genres. It is often associated with heteronormative values such as aggression, testosterone, and machismo. Moreover, its audiences are generally thought to be straight and male. However, there has been a recent push to diversify the genre and make it more inclusive of queer people.
There are several reasons for the lack of queer representation in metal. First, there is a long-standing tradition of homophobia in the genre. Second, many queer people feel excluded from metal communities because they do not fit the mold of what it means to be a “metalhead.” Finally, metal has always been a very masculine genre, and many queer people feel that they do not fit into this masculine world.
With the recent push for inclusion, however, things are starting to change. There are now more visibility and acceptance of queer people in metal communities. In addition, some bands are beginning to address issues of homophobia and transphobia in their lyrics. As metal becomes more inclusive, it is likely that we will see more queer representation in the genre.
The Importance of Queer Representation in Metal
Since its inception in the 1970s, heavy metal music has been primarily straight, white, and male. In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement of queer and transgender people within the metal community. This is largely due to the efforts of queer and trans people of color who have create their own subgenres within metal, such as queer black metal and trans woman-fronted metal.
While there is still a long way to go in terms of true inclusion and representation within the metal community, the presence of queer and trans people is slowly but surely changing the face of heavy metal music. Not only are we seeing more queer and trans people making music within the genre, but we’re also seeing a growing number of fans who are passionate about supporting this work.
As someone who is both queer and a fan of heavy metal music, I believe that it’s important to continue pushing for more representation within the genre. Not only does this make themetal community more inclusive and welcoming to all fans, but it also helps to create new and interesting music that challenges norms and breaks boundaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, queerness in heavy metal music is not a new phenomenon. It has been present since the genre’s inception, and has been an integral part of its evolution. While it may not always be overtly visible, it is always there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered. For some, it is a source of strength and power; for others, it is a source of shame and embarrassment. But whether we like it or not, queerness is here to stay in heavy metal music.
