Who doesn’t love kicking back and enjoying a good documentary? Even better if it happens to include some great metal or interviews with the biggest names in rock. Here are five documentaries that every Metal fan should have on their watch list.
5.) Metallica: Some Kind of Monster:
If there’s one metal documentary that you’re likely to have heard of it’s probably Metallica: Some Kind of Monster. Following the band through their recruitment of bass player Rob Trujillo and their creation of St. Anger we’re given intimate access to the bands personal and professional lives. The scenes between Dave Mustaine and Lar’s Ulrich and the group’s session with “performance enchanting coach” Phil Towle are fascinating and if you’re a fan of the band in any way you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you missed it.
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4.) Heavy Metal in Baghdad:
Heavy Metal in Baghdad follows Acrassicauda, one of if not the only metal bands in Iraq. Playing metal in Iraq was not only a rarity it was also extremely dangerous, attracting a lot of hostility in an already perilous environment. Venues and recording studios are bombed while the band juggles their passion for metal with their need for survival, this documentary will stick with you after you’ve watched it.
3.) Anvil – The Story of Anvil:
Not all bands make it big. Despite influencing artists such as Slash, Lemmy, Lars Ulrich and Tom Araya (all of whom are featured interviewees) and decades of work the members of Anvil are still working secondary jobs to support their passion. It’s impossible not to feel for the guys as they embark on a disastrous European tour and try to scrape together enough money to make their thirteenth album. It’s a lot easier to watch ten years later as we now know that there’s a happy ending. The documentary attracted enough attention to allow Anvil to go on a headline tour of Europe and perform at major festivals including Download, Hellfest, and Wacken.
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2.) Death Metal Angola:
This critically acclaimed documentary follows the owners of the Oktutiuka Orphanage Sonia Ferreira and Wilker Flores in the war-ravaged country of Angola. With the country finally beginning to recover from forty years of conflict Wilker looks to share his passion for heavy music by putting on the countries first rock festival. Simultaneously haunting and inspiring, this beautifully shot film demonstrates the universal draw that heavy music has and its potential for cathartic healing.
1.) Metal: A Headbangers Journey:
This documentary charts the progress of metal from the early days and influences all the way to death, black and even Nu-metal and features brilliantly conducted interviews from the biggest names in metal including Bruce Dickinson, Lemmy, Tony Iommi and more. If I had to pick a favorite moment it would be Gorgoroth’s Gaahl dramatic announcement that his biggest influence was none other than “Satan” while leisurely sipping his wine like a pantomime villain; an unintended moment of hilarity that needs to be seen to truly be appreciated. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the evolution of metal this is essential viewing.
