This documentary has been out a while, but thanks to a loan from a coworker, I’m finally getting around to seeing it. All things considered, it isn’t bad at all. My main beef with it is that it’s a tad on the short side, meaning that some segments feel rushed for the sake of time. This brevity also works to its advantage, however, in that no segment feels overlong or tedious. The thing I think is most groan-worthy is the nu-metal perspective that works its way in (mainly in interviews with guys from Slipknot and Lamb of God). There seems to be a consensus in the early part of the film that metal is music for outsiders, and I won’t argue with that, but the part that irks me is where it seems to be agreed upon that many of these musicians have had horrible, shitty upbringings in the bad parts of their respective towns. I’m sure it’s true for some of them, but the idea that the bulk of the “metal community” (the film makers’ implication, not mine) is the product of a pandemic of shitty parenting is a bit hard to swallow. The nu-metal Hot Topic crowd will be the nu-metal Hot Topic crowd regardless of their upbringing; some people are just born to rebel by ‘conforming differently.’
I’d have to say, probably the best interviewees of the whole film were Ronnie James Dio and Dee Snider, neither of whom I’m a big fan of musically, but both of whom had something relevant to add, and delivered it with a good sense of humor. And I can’t forget Lemmy, (who, again, I’m not a big fan of musically) who was entertaining every time a camera was in front of him.
I haven’t had a chance yet to delve into the special features, but I’m looking forward to the mini-doc on Norwegian black metal, as the book Lords of Chaos is extremely interesting (at least until the point when it turns into redundant interviews). One segment I wish they had elaborated on (even if only in the special features) was the whole debacle with the PMRC and the attempted censorship of not only heavy metal, but music in general. It’s an extremely interesting topic, and one that could warrant its own documentary if someone was willing, though sadly John Denver and Frank Zappa aren’t around anymore to deliver their thoughts on both the matter and their important contributions to it.
