April 2006
Released: 2006, Universal Music
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Lord of the Wasteland
Not counting 1988’s THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION II: THE METAL YEARS, the metal genre has basically been ignored in terms of “serious” filmmaking. If metalheads are portrayed in mainstream films, they are typically lunkheaded Neanderthals (“Heavy Metal Parking Lot”) or caricatures (“Fubar”), so Sam Dunn’s new documentary, METAL: A HEADBANGER’S JOURNEY, aims to set the record straight on what lies behind the denim and leather set. Not surprisingly, the soundtrack to Dunn’s film is chock full of influential music that spans from metal’s formative years in the late 60s (“Summertime Blues”), to 70s legends (Black Sabbath, Rush) through the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the 80s (Venom, Motorhead, Diamond Head) and right into the 21st century (Children of Bodom, Lamb of God). Nu-metal (Slipknot), Black metal (Emperor), Death metal (Cannibal Corpse), Hair metal (Twisted Sister) and everything in between is featured giving the heavy metal newbie a true course in Metal 101. The CD booklet features an extensively detailed “family tree” in a fold-out poster that is both interesting and informative, as well as a notebook-format journal of the globetrotting done to piece together the film. Consider this not only the soundtrack to Dunn’s film but also to heavy metal in general. Highly recommended.
Track Listing
1. Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live)
2. Accept - Balls To The Wall
3. Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
4. Lamb of God - Laid To Rest
5. Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues
6. Rush - Working Man
7. Motorhead - Killed By Death
8. Diamond Head - Am I Evil?
9. Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It
10. Venom - Blood Lust
11. Slayer - Disciple
12. Arch Enemy - Silent Wars
13. Slipknot - (Sic)
14. Children of Bodom - Needled 24/7
15. Cannibal Corpse - Decency Defied
16. Emperor - Inno A Satana (Live)
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