Heavy Metal in Baghdad
DVD review, September08 September 15th, 2008
By Travis Fristoe, September 2008
A film by Eddie Moretti and Suroosh Alvi, Vice Films
Heavy metal, when defined as only a white, American music fad of the ‘80s, is easy to dismiss. I mean, did you make it through that Metallica documentary?
Only the guy from Suicidal Tendencies came out the other side with his dignity intact. It’s like mentioning Axl Rose’s Chinese Democracy album to any self-respecting music fan. Metal in a global sense, however, is a whole other beast.
First though, let’s hear what the drummer for the Iraqi band featured in this film (Acrassicauda) has to say after watching a rough cut of the footage: “This is a sad fucking scene. Seeing the country that you grew up in and all the people you know who don’t live there anymore. Right now dead. These are things that you lay your back on. These are things that you turn off the TV or change the channel when it’s on. So for you fuckers down there, this is how it goes, this is daily life in Iraq. This goes to all you fuckers. Pigs.”
That’s the last scene. Before that the narrative follows three years of Acrassicauda’s trials in increasingly devastated Baghdad. Their practice space gets bombed. They become refugees in Syria. Say what you will about Vice and/or their reasons for making this film. I applaud the filmmakers for setting up a recording session for the guys. Their joy after the session is a victory, however ephemeral. “It’s kind of impossible: in 30 hours we recorded three kick-ass songs. I’m going to be happy for the rest of my life.”
Heavy Metal in Baghdad is not an easy watch. Again, this is not Heavy Metal Parking Lot. The band ends up pawning their equipment. We don’t learn if an album came out or if they still play. Or if any of them have returned to Iraq, are still alive or seeing a penny of the royalties from this movie. The band speaks just fine for themselves: “If you want to know what’s the attraction, take a look around. This is a heavy metal world.” It might also be useful to recall here the non-ironic Mt. Goats song, “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton.” The key lines in that one are “When you punish someone for dreaming their dream don’t expect them to thank or forgive you. Hail Satan.”
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Heavy Metal in Baghdad
DVD review, September08 September 15th, 2008By Travis Fristoe, September 2008
A film by Eddie Moretti and Suroosh Alvi, Vice Films
Heavy metal, when defined as only a white, American music fad of the ‘80s, is easy to dismiss. I mean, did you make it through that Metallica documentary?
Only the guy from Suicidal Tendencies came out the other side with his dignity intact. It’s like mentioning Axl Rose’s Chinese Democracy album to any self-respecting music fan. Metal in a global sense, however, is a whole other beast.
First though, let’s hear what the drummer for the Iraqi band featured in this film (Acrassicauda) has to say after watching a rough cut of the footage: “This is a sad fucking scene. Seeing the country that you grew up in and all the people you know who don’t live there anymore. Right now dead. These are things that you lay your back on. These are things that you turn off the TV or change the channel when it’s on. So for you fuckers down there, this is how it goes, this is daily life in Iraq. This goes to all you fuckers. Pigs.”
That’s the last scene. Before that the narrative follows three years of Acrassicauda’s trials in increasingly devastated Baghdad. Their practice space gets bombed. They become refugees in Syria. Say what you will about Vice and/or their reasons for making this film. I applaud the filmmakers for setting up a recording session for the guys. Their joy after the session is a victory, however ephemeral. “It’s kind of impossible: in 30 hours we recorded three kick-ass songs. I’m going to be happy for the rest of my life.”
Heavy Metal in Baghdad is not an easy watch. Again, this is not Heavy Metal Parking Lot. The band ends up pawning their equipment. We don’t learn if an album came out or if they still play. Or if any of them have returned to Iraq, are still alive or seeing a penny of the royalties from this movie. The band speaks just fine for themselves: “If you want to know what’s the attraction, take a look around. This is a heavy metal world.” It might also be useful to recall here the non-ironic Mt. Goats song, “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton.” The key lines in that one are “When you punish someone for dreaming their dream don’t expect them to thank or forgive you. Hail Satan.”
