Global Metal

The follow up to Metal: A HeadBangers Journey, Global Metal is rather disappointing.

Its failure lies in trying to compress a global metal scene into a 90 minute feature. It states that its purpose was an anthropological study into the heavy Metal scene globally and how (if at all) it adapts and reinvents itself in each culture. By trying to do this, it reduces its study into snippets and soundbites. Brazil (sepultara), Japan (Marty Friedman (Megadeth) and X-Japan, China (Tang Dynasty), Indonesia, India and Mid East. Imagine cramming all of this into 90minutes.

This would have been better served if it was a multi episode documentary done on A&E or Discovery.

The plus, the music. I admit to listening to metal since my childhood (Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast). Nothing gets the old heart rate up then the a good solid metal gallop. Also the introduction of some bands that we would not normally hear of in this side of the world. (Unfortunately most of the time is spent on bands (western) we all know).

Well worth a watch but don't expect an anthropological study.

Global Metal is lifetime head-banger Sam Dunn's second document of heavy metal music. This time we concentrate on metal as global phenomenon. We travel with Sam Dunn from China to Japan, Israel, Iran, Indonesia etc, which countries doesn't seem so metal in front. This document tells about morality, message and controversial of especially on religious countries.

Sam Dunn did it again. Global Metal is awesome both visually and by content. The document is build in fantastic way, and it tells more tales of the most powerful genre, metal-/heavy music. For most metal fans it comes by surprise that heavy metal can be found such unexpected countries like India for instance. The document proves that anthropologist-metal head Dunn knows what he's doing.

That's of the praise. Global Metal was good, but it had some disappointments as well. I would have liked to more countries, like Thailand, and Taiwan (where black metal bands like Anthelion and Crionics come from), and more darker genres - because it's more rule than exception that there is always soft genres like nu metal, heavy metal, power metal and death metal in these documents. Black metal is often totally ignored. Global Metal was also kind of short by length.

But I was quite pleased, because they did show some dark metal genres, and also a traditional Japanese genre-phenomenon Visual Kei. The document was very interesting and full of content. Sam Dunn is great because it's easy to hop in, it almost feels like I'm on the gigs myself instead just watching the screen. This document is highly recommended for every metal fans and people interested in metal out there.

Global metal is the second Sam Dunn Heavy Metal documentary. The first, 'Heavy Metal: A Headbanger's Journey' is, so far as I know, the standard documentary covering the Heavy Metal scene. It does an excellent job of both detailing the history of Heavy Metal, and explaining its appeal, but it is focused on explaining Heavy Metal to those who do not know much about it, and because of this, might conceivably have less appeal to hardcore metalheads.

'Global Metal" by contrast, is probably better calculated to bring new information to the attention of experienced Metal fans, but is not a condensation of extensive knowledge about the global metal scene, and it shows. This is not a bad documentary, but as exploration on Dunn's part, and constituting a light survey, it is not quite so informative as the first.

I would further note that this is not a comprehensive documentary on metal throughout the world, but is more a "metal is spreading to exotic places" sort of documentary. This fact is not a criticism, but knowing this is likely to be important to at least some of the people looking up the film on IMDb.

A truly comprehensive film covering the history of metal would necessarily be of epic length, considering that this documentary does not cover the US or European Metal scenes in any significant fashion and yet at 93 minutes, the film does not seem to be especially dilute.

As a Metalhead living in Azerbaijan, I loved it.

It is really nice to see people from all over the world who listen and create metal music.

Loved it. No reason to see any flaws because it makes no claim that it cannot hold up. It's purpose to reveal the metal movement in places that you might be surprised it exists. Very moving, insightful and never overbearing. This is not meant to convert but rather to impress upon the free that there are people that exist that will do anything to have their voice heard, that they feel and express through music. Just happens in this case to be metal. Probably no surprise to most life-long metal fans. I am 42, four children and full-time sales/service. Began my love of metal at about 7 and could never see going away for as long as I live. By appearance you might not expect this from me. For me after a long day, too much stress or to clear my head I choose metal. Give this Doc a look, if nothing else it justifies that lyrics that may seem ridiculous to some but are a way of life to the oppressed.