Metal - A Headbanger's Journey

The metal head in me is very disappointed that this documentary never even came across him until very recently. Metal - A Headbanger's Journey, is a 96 minute documentary directed by hardcore metal fan Sam Dunn. The movie is very well made and executed as Sam goes on a personal journey that takes him to London, Germany, Norway, and back to the US where he's originally from, as he delves very deep into the roots of metal and even addresses much of the backlash the music form has received over the years. Very well rounded metal fans more than likely won't learn anything new at all. However, the intermediate and beginners will learn plenty. There were things I didn't know which added to my overall enjoyment though. The film was originally released in 2005, it was later re-released in 2006 as a two disk edition.Sam Dunn had his act together for this one as he made this movie so fun to watch along with being educational in regards to heavy metal. There's some good footage of early and at the time current bands, along with some music of well known songs such as Motorhead's Ace of Spades and We're Not Gonna Take It! by Twisted Sister , but it's the interviews that shine as they feature faces like Tony Iommi, Dio, Dee Snider, Lemmy, Rob Zombie, Girl School, John Kay and just so many others.The interviews are the cream filling of this treat; I enjoyed all of the commentary and background, but Sam Dunn didn't only bother with the actual music artist. He reached out to the fans for their take on what metal means to them, and this part of the film resonated with me the most because many of them echoed my love for the music. There was a 34 year old fan whom proudly expressed his love for metal, and pretty much gave the finger to friends and detractors alike who criticizes him for it. I love how deeply the music genre has reached out to so many people. Dunn interviewed true fans of the art, and completely did away with the trend followers which lends a strong credibility to the film.The history lesson is fun, and it was great to learn more about certain bands such as Slayer for example, and their anti-religion beliefs. There was coverage and interviews on different girl bands and girl fronted groups such as Girl School, Arch Enemy, and Doro. Plus the metal festival that takes place in Germany was covered with a hilarious interview taking place with Mayhem. However, it's the Norwegian black metal scene that stole the show as these guys are real Satanist with something to say.This film is just fun, fun, fun, and my only gripe is that there was plenty of room for more. Thankfully the second disk is very strong with extras featuring extended interviews with many people, more coverage on the Norwegians, and The Definitive Heavy Metal Tree which features every influential band placed in their respected categories such as power metal, doom metal, black metal, and thrash. This portion is excellent for those just getting into the metal scene, since it makes a great checklist on where exactly to begin and move to.Metal - A Headbanger's Journey is the best music documentary I came across. Perhaps it's more because over the last couple of years metal has reached out to me in a way no other music form has ever done. I was originally brought up on Rap, but I can honestly say it didn't give me the same drive as this. There was something clearly missing that I could never put my finger on; I finally found that missing something in metal, and I highly recommend this feature to everyone with even the slightest amount of interest in metal.Pros: Very informative and anyone can get into it.Cons: Left me wanting a lot more

I first saw this documentary when it was aired in May of 2005 on VH1, and although I was only 12 years old then and 8 years have passed, watching Metal - A Headbangers Journey stil brings tears to my eyes! After I watched this documentary by Sam Dunn, it not only peaked my interest in heavy metal, but gave me a thorough introduction to this beautiful genre of music. I have been a quote-on-quote "metalhead" since I saw this film, and I have yet to see another movie/documentary come close to this one.Sam Dunn, using his anthropology background, seeks to discover the roots of metal, trace its history up to the present day, all the while exploring the topics that have made heavy metal so controversial: Sexuality, violence, religion and death(among other things). I love all the interviews that Sam made a part of this film! He speaks with metal pioneers like Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, and then he also talks with up and coming metal acts such as Corey Taylor from Slipknot, and Angela Gossow from Arch Enemy (Which is my favorite metal band by the way). The great thing about this documentary is that Sam attempts to give a history of heavy metal both for fans, and for those people who may be critical of heavy metal in the first place. By this film's end Sam tries to tell the listener that although metal has a bad reputation , and appears sinister on the outside, it gives some people a way to escape daily life and a place to belong.Overall, Metal - A Headbangers Journey is an excellent film on the history of Heavy Metal, and it will always have a special place in my heart. If you are a fan of metal, or even someone who is just curious about this genre of music, you must own this film!! As Sam Dunn says at the end of the film, "metal is something you either get or you don't, if it doesn't make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, or give you a surge of power, then you might never get it, and that's ok, because we(metal fans) are doing just fine without you!"

Anyone and everyone into heavy rock, heavy metal, black metal, whatever you want to call music that has a mosh pit, is loud, sweaty and takes away any and every trouble and care you may or may not have should watch this splendid documentary. That it has been made by a fan is the absolute bonus, rather than some twerp who's been paid to interview some of the most famous personalities in rock music today, really shows, and Sam Dunn deserves not only an award for making this film, he also deserves credit for sticking to the point and telling us what we knew, yet no one, until now, had captured on film. So you have Sam's great manner of walking along with you through the film at the Wacken Festival along with interviewing Bruce Dickenson on Hammersmith Odeon's stage, interspersed with words of wisdom from Lemmy of Motorhead, Doro, Jackie and Kim from Girlschool, Ronni James Dio, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, Tony Iommi and many, many more giving you an absolutely superb 90 minute documentary. The Special Features disc has more interview footage, including 'Lemmy at the Rainbow,' which only adds to this excellnt and valid piece of film.

The ultimate guide to heavy metalFrom origins to sub genresA good guide to Norwegian black metal and metal fans and musical influences.Amazing soundtrack from black sabbath to iron maiden to sepultura and enslaved and cannibal corpse and motley crue and slayer and slipknot.🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

Sam Dunn, a 30-year-old anthropologist, sets out on a journey to find out why heavy metal music has been stereotyped, dismissed & condemned & yet loved so passionately by its millions of fans. Featuring performances & interviews from Lemmy , Slipknot , Dee Snider , Bruce Dickson , Alice Cooper , Rob Zombie & a lot more. 94mins long.

I love this documentary film. It covers all the basics if you're new to the subculture but provides enjoyment to fans of metal too.

Not as good as I thought it would be.