Hell Bent For Metal

#103 – Deafheaven As Transmasculine Role Models Jun 20, 2023

The LGBTQ+ heavy metal podcast welcomes Tom's friend (and former guest) Benjamin into the co-host chair for one week only, to discuss how George from Deafheaven and Johannes from Cult Of Luna helped provide the male role models they didn't see elsewhere, and how that helped them come to terms with their gender identity.

Also, there's a brief discussion about how a Fever Ray show made Benjamin see some trans parallels (and also what Fever Ray has to do with the metal crowd), and digressions for potato waffles and an infuriating trend amongst hipster hairstyles.

Plus there's the usual visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar, where Chrysalis by Finnish heavy psychedelists Polymoon, and A Violent Truth by Kentish shouty/smashy metallers Allfather, both go into the jukebox.

#102 – In Hot Pursuit Of Vikings Jun 06, 2023

Hell Bent For Metal favourites Amon Amarth are back under discussion again, this time explaining why breakthrough song 'The Pursuit Of Vikings' makes them think about coming-out experiences, something gay men are surprisingly comfortable discussing that most folks aren't, and, er, Destiny's Child.

It's a surprisingly well behaved Camp Classic (by HBFM standards, anyway), but maybe it's because it's the summer and the cricket season in Britain, but Matt and Tom are in surprisingly thirsty form. And not just for Pimm's.

This week's visit to HCGBs sees Matt put Plagueboys by Finnish post-punks Grave Pleasures into the jukebox, while Tom's plumped for Saturnian Bloodstorm by Lamp Of Murmuur… although you could be forgiven for thinking it's by someone else, according to the guy picking it.

#101 – Hellish Form: "They want trans and gay people to be dead" May 30, 2023

Hell Bent For Metal speculated in episode #99 that Hellish Form's new album Deathless may be heavily talking about LGBTQ+ – and, especially, trans – themes. And when HBFM asked Willow Ryan from the band about this, the confirmation naturally demanded that they invite Willow back to talk about this.

This week, Tom sits down with Willow to talk the surprisingly hopeful (well, by funeral doom standards, anyway!) message behind Deathless. Perhaps inevitably, the conversation takes in trans persecution, the toxic media narratives on both sides of the Pond surrounding the trans community and trans healthcare, and the involvement of ultra-conservative Christianity in both.

While there are some heavy, less than optimistic elements to the discussion, and while politics is an unfortunately necessary topic for part of it, there is also plenty of love and hope found within it all.

#100 – St. Peter Won't You Let Me In (Your Bum) May 23, 2023

Hell Bent For Metal seldom needs much reason to see something metal as hella gay, actually, but even by those standards, singalong stoner anthem 'St Peter' by British band Black Spiders is an easy target.

Tom and Matt manage to find multiple ways it sits firmly in their areas of experience, and none of them are subtle or difficult to deduce. Who takes which interpretation, however, is not what you might expect.

This week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees two albums for the jukebox. First up, Matt picks The Loss Of Beauty by Italian purveyors of melodic blackened misery Shores Of Null. And in a radical yet predictable change of pace, Tom plumps for The Awakening by prog-power masters Kamelot.

And it's 100 shows not out for HBFM.

#99 – On The Road(burn) Again May 09, 2023

Hell Bent For Metal host Tom has been back to Roadburn to host another panel about queerness in heavy music, and reports back on how the festival's efforts to make themselves a welcoming, inclusive place have clearly, visibly paid off.

The show's been on hiatus due to a bereavement, with Roadburn being the one bright light in the dark. And while the panel (which featured Body Void, Pupil Slicer, Backxwash, and OvO) was a great moment for queerness in heavy music – and Tom personally – it wasn't the only reason that was the case, as the hosts discuss.

There's also a rundown of the musical side of a unique festival, including unexpected joy found in Sangre de Muérdago and Oiseaux-Tempête (spelling FAO Matt), and the more expected highlights of the four days in Tilburg.

Plus this episode's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Heimdal by Enslaved and Deathless by Hellish Form added to the jukebox.

#98 – Inter Arma's Randy Bumgardner Mar 07, 2023

The vast expanse and crushing weight of 'Stillness' by post-metal/everything band Inter Arma seems an unlikely Camp Classic, but Hell Bent For Metal have somehow found a way to see not one but two entirely separate ways in which that song speaks to their gay sides. Brace yourself.

This show's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Suffocating Hallucination by Primitive Man/Full Of Hell, IX by Host, and Voices In The Sky by Brymir added to the jukebox.

Plus rambling digressions on conservative Republican politicians with amusing names, new euphemisms for intimate waxing, and why there are so many words for "river" in England. Y'know, the usual.

#97 – Carbon Based Feb 21, 2023

Hell Bent For Metal give 'Carbon Based Anatomy' by queer metal royalty Cynic the Camp Classic treatment, and explains why that song speaks to their queer sides. And no, it has nothing to do with the sexualities of the band members.

This week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Matt put Den Tapte Krigen by Bizarrekult in the jukebox, before Tom goes full meme, and puts in At The Gates Of Dusk by Ultar, Anthronomicon by Ulthar, and All That Has Never Been True by Ultha. And if you can follow which one is which, well done.

Plus Matt tells us about going to see Leprous and getting a little emotional, and there's a promise about something important the show will do as soon as it can.

#96 – Split Bi Tongue Feb 07, 2023

Hell Bent For Metal returns from a health-imposed break, and begins by explaining what they've been up to in the interim, starting with a trip to see an unusual Clutch show in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The Camp Classic this week is 'Split My Tongue' by evil-sounding Swiss black metallers Schammasch, from their 2014 album Contradiction. And while Matt's initially not got a clue what Tom's on about (standard), he quickly gets on board with how lyrics seemingly about Satan might relate to the queer experience.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Woe by An Abstract Illusion, The Coral Tombs by Ahab, and Sky Void Of Stars by Katatonia go into the jukebox. With a little help from Phil Collins. Yes, that one.

#95 – Known To Sample The Occasional Rosé Oct 20, 2022

When two-thirds of Mountain Caller were on the Hell Bent For Metal, Tom described them as a majority queer band. Max Maxwell, the band's drummer, is on the show this week to explain why the "majority" bit of that statement wasn't precisely true. It's an extended chat that also takes in the imposter syndrome that comes with being newly out and trying to talk about your queerness.

Plus Emma Wilkes (of Kerrang! and other places) joins Tom to put four very different albums in the the Hate Crew Gaybar's jukebox. They are Celebrity Therapist by The Callous Daoboys, Morbidity Triumphant by Autopsy, Love, Death And Decay by Stake, and Pagans Rising by Hexed.

#94 – All In The Family Shall Perish Sep 29, 2022

The gayest straight man in metal, Abhi Ahluwahlia, returns to Hell Bent For Metal. Matt's unwell (get well soon), so the music journalist turned broadsheet journalist is back for a show heavily focused on two of his favourite things: nu metal and deathcore.

First up, Abhi and Tom remember 'All In The Family' by Korn, the alcohol-induced rap battle between Jonathan Davis and Fred Durst (of Limp Bizkit) that includes more homophobia than your average English football match. It's a moment that was not helpful to at least one gay kid who heard it at a fairly delicate stage of development – and one that Korn themselves have since disowned.

This week's Camp Classic is 'The Past Shall Haunt Us Both' by All Shall Perish, the now-defunct deathcore band who once had the world at their feet. And while it's a fairly small section of the song that Tom's honed in on as being relevant to queer experiences, that doesn't stop a fairly long, sensible (yes, really) conversation happening about it.

Plus this week's additions to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Patient Number 9 by Ozzy Osbourne, Data Renaissance by The Algorithm, and Dedication to Flesh by Spite.

#93 –The Jock And The Whale Sep 22, 2022

In a perhaps unlikely #yeshomo, HBFM this week explain how Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch (and possibly Germany's football team, apparently) erroneously appeared on their gaydars. And no, this isn't some meta irony. They're quite serious.

Gojira's last album may have been divisive among Tom and Matt, but the song 'Into The Storm' from it was instantly nominated by both as a Camp Classic – one that's up for discussion this week. And there isn't a speck of disagreement over why in sight.

Plus this week's sojourn in the gaudy lighting of the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Gold by Unprocessed, Sunrise On Slaughter Beach by Clutch, and Divine Council by Psycroptic all go into the jukebox.

#92 – Breaking The Jaw Sep 13, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal never needs much persuasion to talk about things phallic, but even their interest may be stretched to breaking point this week, as 'Jawbreaker' by Judas Priest is analysed for all the euphemisms for something to do with members. Because, oh my, are there a lot. And somehow there's a connection to daft attempts at censorship from the 1980s.

Technical brutal death metal band Nile write incredibly crushing, virtuoso songs about ancient Egypt, and its mythology. So they're perhaps an unlikely candidate for a Camp Classic, but nonetheless, their song 'Evil To Cast Out Evil' is this week's nomination. And it turns out to be an uncontroversial one, as its metaphors are immediately and obviously relevant to the experiences of many queer folk.

Plus there are three albums for the jukebox in the Hate Crew Gaybar this week, with Heroine by Thornhill, Survival Of The Sickest by Bloodbath, and BlackBraid I by BlackBraid all going in.

#91 – Let's Taake 'Bout Sex (Education) Sep 08, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal has been hinting at what they think about Sex Education, the LGBTQ+-friendly comedy drama smash hit, for months now. Now they dive deep into the show, and explain how their view on it has been affected by being metalheads.

The Camp Classic this week comes from Czech metalcore band Skywalker, and their song 'Justify Me', and it's an unusual one, as the queer relevance is so explicit there is no room for misunderstanding, so the discussion focuses more on the insight shown than differing interpretations.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Narrative by 156/Silence, and Heavy Pendulum by Cave In added to the jukebox.

#90 – Cack Panther Sep 01, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal digs into why 'Death To All But Metal' by hair metal parody troupe Steel Panther really isn't a helpful set of lyrics to the LGBTQ+ community within metal, whatever the intention behind it is.

This week's Camp Classic comes from Asira, a criminally under appreciated British black metal band with no respect for genre boundaries. 'This Hollow Affliction' somehow contrives to lead both hosts to the same conclusion through totally different routes.

Plus there are three albums for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox this week, with Metempiric by Knoll, Vol I: A Frith Befouled by Aeir, and Gnosis by Russian Circles.

#89 – Hell Bent For Riot Act 2: The LGBTQ+ Metalhead Guide To Eurovision Aug 26, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal joins forces for the second time with Riot Act, the alternative music podcast, as their host Steve Hill joins Tom and the returning Matt Rushton to present you with the LGBTQ+ metalhead guide to the Eurovision Song Contest. The annual celebration of kitsch, camp, and occasionally, a good song or two, has long had a huge queer following, and it's even flirted with metal from time to time.

The hosts (the ones who like Eurovision, anyway) present their favourite ever performances, and also pick out some of their most hated. And there's obviously chat about the biggest metal moment in the competition's history, a huge queer pioneer winner, some "interesting" UK entries, and the biggest act ever to come out of the contest – themselves a massive gay icon.

There's also a round up of a couple of news items from Riot Act's world, plus the Hate Crew Gaybar is open once again, with albums from Muse (at Riot Act's suggestion), Ether Coven and Soilwork going in.

It's an epic show, but for a 66-year-old competition that's iconic for the queer communities of entire continent, it's comparatively restrained.

#88 – Gods Of Grind(r)core Aug 22, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal finally gets around to talking about Napalm Death, as the grindcore gods' song 'Suffer The Children' turns out to be super relatable to the LGBTQ+ metal fan, as Tom, Matt D and Charlie all confirm. Plus there's a full rundown of the myriad weird ways Tom's seen Napalm Death, and an explanation as to exactly why he describes the band a very specific way.

Plus there's an amusing if rambling explanation as to why the wardrobe choices of stoner metal legend and all-round rifflord Matt Pike (Sleep, High On Fire) wardrobe choices, in context, has occasionally confused the hell out of some gay onlookers' gaydars.

There's no HCGBs this week due to a twink-related incident explained in the show, but there is news on something cool coming from HBFM on Friday.

#87 – The Queer Metalhead Guide To Brookyn Nine-Nine Aug 17, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal takes a look at Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the US sitcom based in the 99th precinct of the New York Police Department, to analyse how the show handles queer representation and LGBTQ+ issues, and also discusses how being a metal fan can affect the way someone could view it – including how metal is represented in the show itself. Plus there's an origin story for one of HBFM's [stolen] running gags.

This week's Camp Classic is 'And Then There Was Silence', the epic song about the fall of Troy by legendary German power metallers Blind Guardian. And while there's the entirely predictable chat about how the song's camp as tits (which you already guessed), there's some rather more deep-and-meaningful reasons it's relatable to from a queer perspective.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar has no less than five albums for the jukebox this week, as They Fear Us by Ithaca, Body Prophecy by Black Magnet, Roman Candle by Funeral Chic, God's Country by Chat Pile, and Born Into Chaos by Yatra all going in. It's a bumper crop, but a more streamlined way of discussing them to go with it.

All in all, it's a far more cheerful show than #86.

#86 – The Return Of The SeeYouSpaceCowboy Jul 31, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal is back after a break due to illness, and kicks it off by inviting Connie Sgarbossa from SeeYouSpaceCowboy to talk about being out in the scene, as well as breaking down stigmas about mental illness and addiction.

This episode's Camp Classic is the shred-tastic 'Blood On Your Hands' by Arch Enemy. And perhaps understandably, given what's happening in LGBTQ+ news right now, this one's far from cheerful, and leads to a long discussion about the worrying state of affairs happening around us.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Darwin by Red Sun Atacama, From Without by Zetra, and Páthos by Conjurer go into the jukebox.

(CW: descriptions of anti LGBTQ+ hate)

#85 – Hell Bent For The Horizon Jun 28, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal chats about how Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes and Mat Nicholls are doing a charity triathlon for Ukrainian LGBTQ+ charity Ukraine Pride. Which you can donate to here: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainepride

Katatonia provide the Camp Classic this week, with 'Liberation' being shown to have three separate queer interpretations. But it's the massively trans interpretation that gets the main focus.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar has three releases for the jukebox, with The Ruination Of Imperialism, the split EP from Terminal Nation and Kruelty, An Endless Static by Gozer, and the self-titled debut album from Final Light all going in.

The Oslo Terrorist Attack Jun 25, 2022

Tom explains why the Oslo terrorist attack is so terrifying to the LGBTQ+ community, both in terms metal fans will understand, and in the wider context for anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime.

#84 – A Feminist Queercore View On Metal Jun 21, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal welcomes London feminist queercore band Shooting Daggers to the podcast, to talk about the contrasting natures of the metal and hardcore scenes when it comes to how welcoming they are to queer women.

The Camp Classic this week comes from Ghost, whose new album Impera went into HCGBs earlier this year and was promised to contain multiple Camp Classics, the first of which to be discussed is the incredibly positive 'Call Me Little Sunshine'. Yet despite the positive interpretation all 3 hosts find, it still manages to finish on something of a bum note.

Plus there's a bumper crop of entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, with Hate Über Alles by Kreator, It's Time… To Rise From The Grave by Undeath, and The Hybrid Suns by Exocrine going in from the hosts actually in the bar, plus Matt Rushton manages to cross time and space to be incredibly predictable and put False Light by White Ward in with them.

#83 – Viking Horn Jun 16, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal, being a mature, serious podcast, reads the lyrics to 'Raise Your Horns' by Amon Amarth, and finds the phallic euphemisms are so close to the surface, they're basically poking through it. With Matt Rushton away, Tom is joined by Charlie Howard and Matt Dawson to chortle at a song about Vikings being thirsty for a drink from a nice big horn.

In shocking news, Tom's found a Slayer song he thinks is a Camp Classic, as 'Altar Of Sacrifice' apparently has some queer relevance. Even more shockingly, both Matt and Charlie find some too.

Plus this week's releases being added to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Unslayable by Tyrannus, Crusaders Of Joy by bigLOVE, and Liminal Rite by Kardashev.

#82 – Kickstart My Heartstopper Jun 01, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal talk through their (many, many) opinions on Heartstopper, the Netflix teenage same-sex romance hit that's proved a breakout hit. The hosts also explain why being metalheads has significantly affected the way they view the show.

The epic 'Sons Of Winter And Stars' by Wintersun is this week's Camp Classic, as Tom and Matt reveal why they see so much gay relevance in it, and find possibly more than they bargained for.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Atlas by Besvärjelsen, and Nova by Sylvaine added to the jukebox.

#81 – Anathema's Perfect Gay Heartbreak Songs May 24, 2022

Having put it off for weeks because of various unforeseen circumstances, Hell Bent For Metal finally explain why 'Untouchable Part 1' by goth metal legends-turned-life-affirming prog band Anathema is a particular type of gay heartbreak viewed from years later, in this week's Camp Classic.

It's then followed up with a second Camp Classic, as the other side of the same coin is also explored, as 'Untouchable Part 2' is shown as a view on that heartbreak from much closer to the time – that time when you can't get it out of your mind.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Consume/Deny/Repent by No/Más, and Modern Primitive by Septicflesh added to the jukebox.

#80 – The Black Dahlia Murder's Accidental Ode To Queer Joy May 17, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal's Camp Classic this week is 'What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse' by The Black Dahlia Murder, and it's a case of a cishet band accidentally writing a song that can reflect an aspect of queer life perfectly – in this case, the joyful side of being LGBTQ+ – and in doing so, discuss how the world was better with Trevor Strnad being in the world.

To lighten the mood after a few darker weeks on the pod, the phallic euphemisms contained within 'Thrust The Dagger Deep' by Falconer are pulled forth and made to stand proud for all to see. And there's even some more serious points to go with the smutty jokes.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees My Father's Son by Jani Liimatainen, and Pirates by Visions Of Atlantis entered into the jukebox.

#79 – Metal's Tacit Homophobia Endorsement Problem May 10, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal addresses two recent examples of heavy metal's problem with tacitly endorsing homophobia.

First, Faust plays with Emperor again, this time at a festival in London, and some self-declared allies use social media to say how great the show was without mentioning Faust's hate crime. Tom and Matt explain why this is worse than when they spoke about this before – and why performative allies are so harmful.

In the wake of the anniversary of his death, there have also been a number of articles published remembering the Type O Negative frontman, Peter Steele. Some, as the hosts are quick to point out, were fine. Some others, on the other hand, wax lyrical at length about Steele without mentioning his history of homophobic comments. The hosts run through why this is a not OK.

Plus they still find time to pop to the Hate Crew Gaybar to update the jukebox with The Blazing Sun, A Fiery Dawn by Slowbleed, and Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons by Tómarúm.

CW: discussion of homophobic language and violence

#78 – (Al)legaeons Of Hell (Bent For Leather) May 03, 2022

HBFM welcome Michael Stancel from pod favourites Allegaeon to the show, who explains how this is a good time to be a gay man in a touring death metal band, and that people care more about his music than his sexuality.

Having put it off for 78 episodes, Hell Bent For Metal finally discuss 'Hell Bent For Leather', the Judas Priest song that gave the podcast its name, and explain why it's hella gay, and this week's Camp Classic. And they are not short of reasons.

Plus this week's additions to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Heriot's debut EP Profound Morality, and Martaiden Mailta by Marrasmieli.

#77 – Roadburn: The Heavy Festival Where You Can Celebrate Being Queer Apr 27, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal goes to Roadburn Festival, where being queer was celebrated. Whether through visibly queer artists celebrating themselves in their performance, or through a panel discussion about this very topic, the 4-day festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, the LGBTQ+ community were able to proudly be themselves while playing or listening to the music they love.

Tom spoke to some of the queer Roadburners about why the festival is special, what they have done to make queer folk feel welcome, and what other festivals could learn from them.

Tom and Matt also chat about the same topics amongst themselves, and gossip about the music on display.

#76 – "We Were Taught Gay People Aren't Going To Heaven" Apr 19, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal talks to Rich Lowe, the editor of overtly political, progressive multiplatform media outlet Astral Noize, about his experiences as an out but discreet queer man in metal.

He talks about being recently fully out in metal and his journey to this point, taking in viciously homophobic experiences in childhood and as a young adult, how that relates to feeling somewhat out of place in metal, and being saved by the 2007 thrash revival.

There's a bumper crop for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox this week, with The Buried Storm by Darkher, Ynglingaättens öde by Månegarm, and Antichrist Reborn by The Troops Of Doom all going in.

#75 – Let There Be Cock Apr 12, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal talk to possibly the gayest covers band in the world, GayC/DC, the AC/DC tribute act you do not want to go watch with your dad. But as well as all the fun stuff, there's a serious side to the chat, as the members talk about being gay in rock and metal at a time when being out could end your music career – literally.

This week's Camp Classic is 'UruR' by Norwegian dark ambient neofolk troupe Wardruna. And if that elevator pitch and lyrics about the runes of the Elder Futhark have you wondering where on earth the Tom is going with this, Matt is right there with you – only to come round as soon as Tom explains it.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees two albums go in the jukebox: Fishing For An Apparition by Iomair, and In One Of These, I Am Your Enemy by Terzij de Horde. (And yes, of course they mangle that band name.)

#74 – 2 Camp, 2 Fabulous Apr 05, 2022

It's a double Camp Classic show, where two proggy Nordic tunes both get analysed from a queer perspective. First up, 'Silver Bride' by Finnish death/doom-turned-folk/prog crooners Amorphis gets a multi-angled view.

hen 'Voices' by Norwegian prog black metallers Borknagar sees Tom and Matt take the same starting point, and then run off in literal opposite directions.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar starts with a good natter about the Unto Others show both hosts went to in Leeds (and somehow both survived), before the jukebox gets two new additions. First is Pennyfold Haberdashery & Abattoir Deluxe by Uncle Woe, and second is Striving Toward Oblivion by Vorga.

#73 – A Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell In The Metal Community Mar 29, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal talks to Ethereal Shroud mainman Joseph Hawker about being out as a gay man in black metal circles. In an in-depth chat, Joseph tells Tom about how his experiences of growing up as queer in a homophobic, racist environment inform what he wants to express in his music, and how dramatically things have changed for gay men in metal in the last decade.

They also chat about how it's really impossible to separate the art from the artist, and how complacent metal has been about the dark corners of its subgenres.

There's two picks for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox this week, with Matt picking Caged In Gold by Helpless, and Tom being utterly predictable in picking Dread Reaver by Abbath.

Plus there's news of something very, very special Tom's doing at Roadburn Festival.

#72 – Diamond Head, Diamond Heart Mar 22, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal returns to one of their favourite topics, Ghost, to discuss how the band did something amazing for the trans community with a Metallica cover.

Speaking of Metallica covers, the seminal NWOBHM classic 'Am I Evil?' by Diamond Head is this week's Camp Classic, with that was a huge influence on the biggest metal band of the lot proving fertile grounds for HBFM's trademark digressions.

Plus this week's visit to HCGBs sees Love And Hatred by Grey Moth, and War Of The Worlds, Pt.2 by Michael Romeo go into the jukebox.

#71 – Hell Bent On Wednesdays Mar 15, 2022

Yasmine Summan, the music journalist, social media guru, and TikTok star, most famous for their work at Altpress and as one-third of On Wednesdays We Wear Black, guests. They talk about being out as non-binary in metal, about racism and sexism in metal and alternative music (and also the music industry), the weight of expectations, and the foibles of social media platforms.

This week's visit to HCGBs see Close by Messa and Vexier by E-L-R go into the jukebox as promised, plus there's the inevitable inclusion of Impera, the new album from metal's most gay friendly Satanic pop-tastic band, Ghost.

(Oh, and WE'RE UP FOR AN HMA!!!)

#70 – Peace Sells… But Who's Bi-ing? Mar 08, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal highlights a simple show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community – and the bi community in particular – shown by Ireland's foremost thrash metallers Gama Bomb. Because sometimes simple gestures mean a huge amount.

Swedish pop metallers Amaranthe provide this week's Camp Classic, as 'Drop Dead Cynical' is up for discussion. And it's a conversation that starts off with comparisons to pop goddesses, and somehow moves rapidly into NSFW territory. As you probably expect.

Plus there are two new additions to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, with Let There Be Witchery by Midnight and The War To End All Wars by Sabaton (quelle surprise) going in.

#69 – Village People In Camo Pants Mar 01, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal welcome Sabaton frontman Joakim Brodén to the show, who's on to chat about how Tom thinks his band look really gay – and why Joakim agrees, and says so on stage.

Triptykon's 'Goetia' is the Camp Classic this week, with Tom G Warrior's imploration to Satan somehow connecting on a queer level with Tom… even if he is scared Matt will think he's crazy.

Plus this week's entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Ein Abbild Der Leere by Kluizenaer, and Damnum by Allegaeon.

(And yes, we know which number episode this is. Help yourselves.)

#68 – "The Chance Of Me Getting Knocked Out Is Not Worth The Risk" Feb 22, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal hears from its LGBTQ+ audience about their experiences of trying to date as a metalhead, and whether that's a barrier to their romantic lives as queer folk – with a predictably wide range of views getting in touch.

'Broken Cross' by Architects is this weeks' Camp Classic, and it's amazing both how easily the hosts each hear the same thing, and how strongly they both interpret that as being directly relevant to the queer members of the bands' audience.

Plus this week's releases for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Death Panacea by A Pale December, and Acts Of God by Immolation.

#67 – A Trans Fist In The Face Of Bigots In The Metal Scene Feb 17, 2022

With Hell Bent For Metal finally able to do an in person interview, Tom goes to Durham to meet singer, drummer, and trans pioneer in the metal scene, the metal as hell Kat Shevil Gillham. They discuss what playing heavy metal means to Kat, how the scene has changed, and how she is quite happy to piss off people who need it.

The ferocious 'All Hail The New Flesh' by Strapping Young Lad is this week's Camp Classic, which gives the hosts a chance to reminisce about a great band, and also explain why this song reminds them of that guy who just wants everything in him.

Plus the mops are on standby in the Hate Crew Gaybar, as froth is expected about Zeal & Ardor's self-titled album, Metanoia by Persefone, and The Long Road North by Cult Of Luna.

#66 – Is Being A Metalhead A Barrier To Queer Dating? Feb 08, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal asks whether being a metalhead is a barrier to queer dating life, and the hosts discuss their experiences of this.

They ask if the metal look, metal culture, and not being part of the more stereotypical gay scene, are additional sources of difficulty to queer romantic life. They also invite audience input and will follow this up, so that other parts of the LGBTQ+ community can offer their experiences in a future show.

Plus it's a bumper visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar, with Səni Uzaq Kainatlarda Axtarıram by Violet Cold, Where Myth Becomes Memory by Rolo Tomassi, and Born Of Obsidian by Kurokuma all going into the jukebox.

#65 – Rammstein? New German Hardness? Oh Matron… Feb 01, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal returns to one of their favourite topics this week, as Rammstein are up for discussion again. (And not just Tom's appreciation of Richard Kruspe's arms… although that does come up…) This time, the hosts explore the band's varying relationship with homoeroticism – which hasn't always been as deliberate as you might expect.

This week's Camp Classic is 'Silver Tongue' by Light Bearer. And if you're wondering how a 20-minute post-metal epic by a defunct underground band that was part of a planned concept tetralogy of albums speaks to either hosts' queer side, then you're in good company. Because Matt is too.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar is open for business once more, with the mournful pairing of The Withering by In Loving Memory, and Flames Of Perdition by Dawn Of Solace going into the jukebox.

#64 – Dance Of Death Metal Jan 25, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal once more seeks out heavy metal's finest phallic euphemisms, this time setting their sights on the riff-tastic 'Snakes For The Divine' by High On Fire. And what could possibly be making the hosts giggle about a song with a title like that?

This week's Camp Classic is a long look at the danceable death metal of Dyscarnate's song 'The Promethean'. And as well as explaining why this song makes them believe when you say you want it that way, there are discussions both about how you need to be extremely skilled musicians to make people want to dance to death metal, and also about why there's such a strong link between pop music and gay men.

(HCGBs is closed this week, due to industrial action. Full explanation in the show.)

#63 – Slave To The Grindr Jan 18, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal recounts the story of how Sebastian Bach, when he was still in Skid Row, was at the centre of one of heavy metal's most upsetting incidents of homophobia involving a t-shirt with an offensive slogan – and how Seb's actions since are a brilliant example of how people can grow and change.

This week's Camp Classic is 'I Wish I Had An Angel' by Nightwish, which leads to a lengthy discussion of, amongst all things, the awfulness of trawling through Grindr. After some sass about their outfits in the video, obviously.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees jukebox additions in the shape of Shadow And Flames by Riverwood, and Light Bends by Pridelands.

[CW for homophobic language, obviously]

#62 – Czech My Brain Jan 11, 2022

Viktor Palak, host of Modeláři, a radio show in the Czech Republic that specialises in metal (and related genres), chats to Hell Bent For Metal about his experience of being out in metal, how metal has more points of affirmation than we might acknowledge, and how he views queer life in his home country.

This week's Camp Classic is 'Seven Hills' by While She Sleeps. And while the song's meanings might be immediately and specifically clear, that doesn't stop there being plenty of room to identify queer relevance in Loz Taylor's lyrics – particularly in the areas of solidarity and finding mental resilience within yourself.

And this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees the jukebox get new entries in the shape of Modern Escapism by Blanket (which is one Matt's still spinning from last year), and Epigone by Wilderun (which is Tom's first 2022 entry into the jukebox).

Warning: This episode includes (very, very) bad Yorkshire accents.

#61 – The Ultimate Gay-Off: Power Metal v Black Metal Jan 03, 2022

Hell Bent For Metal moves into 2022 by taking on a major, pressing question: Which subgenre is the gayer, black metal or power metal?

This week's Camp Classic is 'Destroyer Of Senses' by Shadows Fall, from their 2002 album The Art Of Balance. And as well as being a metalcore classic, it also has clear queer relevance to both hosts.

Plus there are new entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox additions, as the hosts correct errors by putting albums they missed in 2021 into the jukebox, with Noktvrn by Der Weg Einer Freiheit, and To Overtake | To Overcome by Voidsphere being added.

The Hell Bent For Metal Blooper Reel 2021 Dec 31, 2021

Hell Bent For Metal aim to present a high standard of podcast to you all… and these are the moments that absolutely did not qualify, but that you may still find funny.

This is a compilation of all the blunders, bungles and bodily noises that Hell Bent For Metal had to leave on the cutting room floor in 2021.

Happy New Year, and we hope to see you in 2022.

#60 – Inhuman Rumpage Dec 27, 2021

Hell Bent For Metal recall a time when Guitar Hero was a global phenomenon, and it made a London power metal band one of the best known bands in the world – and that the song that did it, DragonForce's turbocharged 'Through The Fire And Flames', had a video that looks a tad more gay than the band may have intended.

The Camp Classic this week is suitably NYE-friendly, as Whitesnake's 'Here I Go Again' (the 1987 version – the metal one) spawns digressions about queer dating and the brilliantness of camp. But with so many lyrics relevant to queer life, how could it not?

Plus the visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees the jukebox receive albums to ring in 2022 in party mode, with Spineshank's Self-Destructive Pattern and Unleash The Archers' Abyss picked.

#59 – Transilvanian Homo Dec 20, 2021

In the Christmas episode, Hell Bent For Metal unintentionally cause James and Dan from the A Gay And A Non-Gay podcast to have a surprisingly passionate discussion about stereotypes around metalheads and metal bands, in the second part of the chat between the two pods.

This week's Camp Classic is the apparently unlikely 'Leave No Cross Unturned' by Darkthrone. And while the 2013 epic from the Norwegian black-metal-turned-crust-turned-speed-metal legends might sound a stretch, its joyful gay relevance is one Tom's convinced about – but will Matt agree?

Plus there are two "seasonal" entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, as the hosts pick albums to get them through Christmas. Matt goes for the winter wonderland of Pariah's Child by Sonata Arctica, and Tom goes for the Mesopotamian fire of Enki by Melechesh.

#58 – The Devil Wears Dillinger Dec 13, 2021

This week, Hell Bent For Metal celebrates the time Dillinger Escape Plan marked same-sex marriage becoming legal in the USA by releasing a shirt for The Trevor Project, which is a charity that aims to prevent suicide amongst LGBTQ youth.

This week's Camp Classic comes from one of the hosts' top 20 albums of the year, which means it's time for Powerwolf's 'Alive Or Undead' to be looked at from a queer angle. Or, more accurately, several of many potential queer angles.

Plus this week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees the hosts run concisely through their top 20 albums of the year, then enter one album each from those top 20s to the jukebox. Those albums are Empire Of Love by pod favourite Violet Cold, and Tales Of Othertime by Stormkeep.

#57 – Sashay To Hell Bent For Metal Dec 07, 2021

Hell Bent For Metal are joined by Dan Hudson and James Barr from the UK's biggest LGBT+ podcast, A Gay And A Non-Gay. They discuss their new documentary 'Sashay To Hell', about the Non-Gay (Dan, who loves metal), taking the Gay (James, who very, very doesn't) to Bloodstock.

This week's Camp Classic is the perhaps rather surprising choice of 'In The Grip Of Winter' by death metal legends Autopsy. From which, much to even his surprise, Matt manages to find exactly the same thing to identify with as Tom.

Plus there are three entries for the final regular visit of the year to the Hate Crew Gaybar, as Servant Of The Mind by Volbeat, None But A Pure Heart Can Sing by So Hideous, and The Holocene Termination by Demonstealer all go in the jukebox.

And the hosts discuss their very first gig together, which was Leprous' last-minute show in Leeds.

#56 – Camp Suey! Nov 29, 2021

Hell Bent For Metal casts a queer eye back over the varied and plentiful looks of Daron Malakian, the inspired guitarist of System Of A Down. In the return of the #YesHomo feature, Tom and Matt explain why some of these appearances erroneously set off the gaydar of both hosts.

This week's Camp Classic is 'Leave Me Here' by Cult Of Luna, from the Swedish post-metallers' 2004 album Salvation. And while there's one very superficial reason CoL speak to the hosts' queer sides, there's a rather deeper reason that's the focus.

Plus this week sees two releases going into the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, with the Carcass' Torn Arteries and Rhapsody Of Fire's Glory For Salvation being added.

#55 – Bloodstock's Adam Gregory Nov 22, 2021

Hell Bent For Metal talks to Adam Gregory, one of Bloodstock's directors, about the aftermath of transphobic social media posts by Vicky Hungerford (booker and director for the festival).

In an in-depth discussion, Tom and Matt talk to Adam about what the festival's done to educate themselves about why Vicky's comments were offensive, what they've done to improve their inclusivity towards the LGBT+ community, what Bloodstock stands for, and forgiveness.

Plus there's just enough time to pop into HCGB's to add Gonemage's new album Sudden Deluge, and Khemmis' fourth album Deceiver to the jukebox.

#54 – Queer Stories From The Home Of Metal Nov 15, 2021

On Sunday November 14, Hell Bent For Metal took part in Queer Stories From The Home Of Metal, an event celebrating the LGBT+ community of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England: the place heavy metal was born. Recorded in front of a live audience at Subside Bar, the hosts are joined by two of Birmingham's queer residents, Eva Echo and Andy O'Malley, about their experiences of being out in metal, and out in the place metal started.

As they were in the West Midlands, they also took the opportunity to explain why 'Breaking The Law' by Judas Priest speaks to their queer side, in this week's Camp Classic. Given Rob Halford being the most famous gay man in metal, and also being from the West Midlands, it was the perfect choice.

Back home from Brum, there's just time for a quick trip to the Hate Crew Gaybar, where this week's jukebox additions are Into The Hollow Earth by All Hail The Yeti, and Pelgrimsoord by Ossaert.

#53 – Holy Diva Nov 09, 2021

Hell Bent For Metal celebrates when White Ward very recently stood Side By Side with us, and made their stand against homophobia completely clear in as vocal a way as they could. As they're one of the hosts' favourite bands, this one felt personal. In a very, very good way.

The absolutely classic Dio anthem 'Holy Diver' is this week's Camp Classic, as both Tom and Matt immediately agree that it speaks to their queer sides, in many different ways – which leads to a bucketload of digressions about growing up queer.

There's some brief queer metal news regarding Bloodstock and Mastodon.

Plus there's the usual visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar, where this week's picks for the jukebox are Swagger And Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole by Diablo Swing Orchestra, and Diorama by Møl. And it's safe to say that there has never been less agreement in the bar.

#52 – Profoundly Homosexual Post-Black Metal Joy Nov 01, 2021

As Hell Bent For Metal's first birthday arrives, the podcast has good news to talk about, and an in-house favourite to turn into a positive Camp Classic.

Roadburn Festival's first announcement for their 2022 edition gets discussed, not just because there's loads of amazing stuff in it, but because they've shown everyone else how to do LGBT+ representation right.

A Skindred show – the first gig either host has been to since the pandemic began – gets celebrated, not just because it ruled, but because they are still effortlessly making gay people feel welcome at their shows.

And a song from Empathica by Unreqvited, Tom's first HCGB entry (before it was even called HCGBs), gets revealed as a Camp Classic. Somehow 'Empathica II: Everwinter', a post-black metal song with no lyrics, speaks to his queer experience of the world, and he and Matt dig into why.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox sees gets two new additions, as Self Loather by Ghost Bath, and Dark Connection by Beast In Black, both go in.

#51 – Lowen, Pupil Slicer, And Power Metal Boxer Shorts Oct 25, 2021

Nina Saeidi from Lowen talks to Hell Bent For Metal about intersectionality, and how their gender identity, sexuality, and ethnicity have affected their experience of heavy metal. This includes some candid descriptions of racism and assault, but also some timely positivity about how respect for people's correct pronouns is improving (ironic, given this chat was moved from last week's episode due to the events covered in that show).

Katie from Pupil Slicer also makes a welcome return to talk about her band's new single, 'Collective Unconscious', and the accompanying video, both of which are relevant to the LGBT+ community. The conversation takes in media biases, and the way minorities (including much of the LGBT+ community) can be used as punchlines by comedians.

There's also a brief chat about some huge, revealing news about power metal underwear. It's not a big part of the show, but they may contain big parts.

Plus there are new entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, in the shape of Cradle Of Filth's new album Existence Is Futile, and Green Lung's sophomore album Black Harvest.

#50 – Bloodstock, We Have A Problem Oct 18, 2021

Last week, Vicky Hungerford, the director of Bloodstock Open Air, the UK's biggest metal festival, used her social media account to tweet about how anyone who included their pronouns in their email signature could expect her to put their emails in the bin. Hell Bent For Metal has to talk about this.

We decided that, while we have to talk about what happened, and why it's bad, for some this week's show, we would rather spend as much time as possible relaying messages from our trans and non-binary friends and listeners about why pronouns matter, and why "pronouns in the bio" (and the like) can be so helpful.

There's also some chat about why subsequent attempts by Vicky Hungerford to calm the ire she'd stoked only served to make things much worse, and about how we see the way forward for a festival whose claim to be a welcoming, inclusive festival has been tarnished.

After all the heavy stuff, there's also a visit to HCGBs at the end, for some fun with Twelve Foot Ninja's album Vengeance, and Blodet's EP Vision. Because nothing counters heavy stuff better than… er… more heavy stuff, apparently.

#49 – Death Metal Vs Homophobes Oct 11, 2021

There's a bumper crop of news for Hell Bent For Metal, with talk of specials, and details of the podcast's first live event.

The main chat for the week is about how the most Swedish sounding band ever to come out of the US, Black Breath, wrote a Satanic death metal song that sounds like defiance to homophobes. Sort of. Who knew it was so easy to get from 'Black Sin (Spit On The Cross)' to eschatological homophobic religious extremists?

Plus it's a trio of additions for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, with In The Court Of The Dragon by Trivium, Classics by Four Stroke Baron, and Oxidized by Frontierer all added.

#48 – Wherever I May Bone Oct 04, 2021

Matt's ill, so Hell Bent For Metal welcomes back the gayest straight metal fan, Abhi Ahluwalia, as guest host, to take a look at the feast of euphemisms that is 'Spit Out The Bone' by Metallica. "Oh Matron!" just doesn't do that one justice.

Boogie metal belter 'Earth Rocker' by pod favourite Clutch is this week's Camp Classic, with it being revealed as a genuine queer metal anthem – even if that may have come about by accident.

Plus the new additions to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox this week are Quicksand's new album Distant Populations, and Enslaved's new EP Caravans To The Outer Worlds. (And you can probably guess who picked which record.)

#47 – Hell Bent Against Racist Metal Bands Sep 27, 2021

Sick of finding racist or even Nazi bands within our scene, Hell Bent For Metal explains exactly why it's especially important the LGBT+ community, and our podcast in particular, stand against racism and the rise of the far right in metal.

After that horrible topic, there's a much more fun time to be had in this week's Camp Classic, as we explain why Ensiferum's folk metal/disco/country song 'Two Of Spades' spoke to us as queers.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox's new additions this week are The Work by Rivers Of Nihil, Strength by Unto Others, and Forlorn by The Answer Lies In The Black Void.

#46 – Amon Amarth's Massive… Weapons Sep 20, 2021

Hell Bent For Metal makes a gay assessment of Amon Amarth's habit of holding big axes, mighty hammers, and long, long swords in ways that might just be more suggestive than the metal-as-hell intention. Expect innuendo.

This week's Camp Classic is 'STFU!' by Rina Sawayama, a song in which Matt and Tom both see queer relevance, but in very different ways.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox gets its weekly updates, with Conquering by Employed To Serve, Eternal Blue by Spiritbox, and Remains by Hellish Form all added.

#45 – Mince With Me In Hell Sep 15, 2021

In a bumper episode, Hell Bent For Metal talks to Andrew O'Neill – comedian, Edinburgh Festival fixture, former Terrorizer columnist, and the creator of the show The History Of Heavy Metal – about their experience of expressing their gender identity in the metal world, and about being an outsider in most rooms they're in. (And Altar Of Plagues. Standard HBFM.)

In this week's Camp Classic, the relevance to the queer experience of 'Walk With Me In Hell' by Lamb Of God, and what on earth this has to do with Pride, music college, and a certain area of Reddit.

Plus this week's additions for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are ManiaCult, the eleventh (!) album from Belgian brutal death metallers Aborted, and Wolf Hex, the new record from Canadian riffsters Wormwitch.

(Yes, this episode is later than planned. Real Life got in the way. Sorry.)

#44 – Death Metal, And Big Gay Choruses Sep 06, 2021

The Night Flight Orchestra (who are very camp) did a video earlier this year which was clearly pro-LGBT+. Which meant Hell Bent For Metal (also camp) had to talk to them. So this week, NFO's David Andersson (also of Soilwork) speaks to Matt about showing your support for the LGBT+ community, embracing the camp, and the joy of a big gay chorus.

Vallenfyre's 2011 debut album, A Fragile King, has a special place in Tom's heart thanks to his history with it. And despite knowing precisely what it's about, the song 'Desecration' has taken on a very queer-specific meaning in his head. He and Matt chat about why.

Plus this week's additions for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are the new EP from Ukrainian jazz/black metal band White Ward, and Istok, the latest album by Russian shoegazy black metal band Trna.

#43 – Roots Glorious Roots Aug 30, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast fondly recalls that time Rammstein's guitarists kissed on stage in Russia, and explains that, coming from that band, and given the location they did it in, this gesture meant more to the hosts than when some other bands have done similar things. And yes, of course they use it as an excuse to talk about the band's infamous phallic foam cannons.

The latest classic metal song to be outed as mega gay is 'Roots Bloody Roots', as the Sepultura anthem is this week's Camp Classic. And there are a surprisingly large list of reasons for it.

Plus this week's entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Aphelion, the new album from Matt's less-than-secret obsession Leprous, and Differences In Language And Lifestyle, the debut album from Croatian genre-ignorers Moon Unit.

And yes, Mr Rushton had to be tied down while the first one of those was discussed. For his and everyone else's safety.

#42 – I Bedazzled A Bear Once Aug 23, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast fondly recalls Mastodon's 'Bedazzled Fingernails', and why it spoke to our queer side in a brilliant way – even if it recalled some less happy things for one of our hosts.

Defunct mathcore project Iwrestledabearonce are hauled out of metal's past, expressly for the purpose of explaining why their name becomes rather suggestive when viewed through the prism of gay slang.

Plus this week's entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Primordial Arcana, the new album from atmospheric black metal masters Wolves In the Throne Room, and Colors II, the prog metal odyssey from Between The Buried And Me.

So, as well as IWABO, HBFM visit HCGBs with WITTR and BTBAM. Clear as glittery soup.

#41 – Land Of Gender Dysphoria Confusion Aug 17, 2021

Shelby Logan Warne, the singer and keyboard player from Kyros, answers questions from the audience about her recent experience of coming out as trans. It's all the questions regular guests would never, ever be asked, but Shelby wanted to.

Topics include how the band's audience have dealt with the news, what the experience of realising her identity was like, her experience of coming out as trans in her personal life, and the issues surrounding trans healthcare.

Plus Agrypnie's latest album Metamorphosis, and Beautiful Ghosts from pod faves Unreqvited, are this week's entry for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox.

#40 – Gazzetta Metallo Italia Aug 09, 2021

Tom and Matt answer the questions you always wanted to ask a queer metaller but were afraid to, including whether the homophobia problem in metal is unique to the genre, and what the gay perspective on hair metal is. Which provokes opinions.

This week's Camp Classic is 'The Mighty Ride Of The Firelord' by Rhapsody Of Fire, from their 2000 album Dawn Of Victory, back when they were still simply called Rhapsody. This prompts a discussion on cultural differences that influence what is or is not viewed as gay.

Plus this week's Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox additions are Exhumed Information by Italian death metal/'80s horror movie soundtrack band Fulci, and Sentient, the debut EP from UK groovy metallers Insurgent.

It's a very Italian show. Still camp and brutal though, obviously.

#39 – "I'm Banned From Upstate New York Because My Act Is Too Gay" Aug 02, 2021

Tom talks to Abi Vasquez, singer for UK black metallers Underdark, who tells her experience of being out as trans in extreme metal, and how different areas of the scene deal with it differently – and offers some hope for the way metal is headed for the LGBT+ community.

Matt chats to Peter Angelo, metalhead, amateur strongman, and comedian, where they also talk about his experiences of being out in the metal scene of New England, and how it's quite different to being out in comedy. He explains how he went down brilliantly with a biker gang, but got banned from upstate New York for being "too gay".

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox has just one addition this week, with both hosts uniting behind Mortal Coil by Dödsrit.

#38 – "Straight Guys Have Told Me I Don't Like Girls, I Just Haven't Slept With Them Yet" Jul 26, 2021

Tom talks to Annabelle and Alisha from Witch Fever, a majority-queer band who are all women or non-binary people, about LGBT+ spaces in heavy music, providing the representation in the scene they want to see, and poor behaviour they've been on the end of from straight men.

Matt explains why 'Shock Me' by Baroness speaks to him as a bi man, and what it has to do with learning to deal with homophobia. Tom finds his own relevance to him finding his identity, and somehow links it to Monty Python. Sort of.

Plus this week's new entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Corrupted Pillars Of Vanity by Ætheria Conscientia, and Dark Triad: Bitter Psalms To A Sordid Species by Epiphanic Truth.

#37 – Grand Magus' Massive… Euphemism Jul 19, 2021

One of the LGBT+ heavy metal podcast's favourite things in metal is unveiled – that being how many of the lyrics and titles sound euphemistic and/or phallic. Starting with a classic of the genre: Grand Magus' superb 'Like The Oar Strikes The Water'.

This week's Camp Classic is 'Altered State – Of Matter – iii. Resist' by TesseracT (and yes, we had to write it down to remember!), and the many queer interpretations both Matt and Tom get from it are discussed. Uniquely, this is a Camp Classic with lyrics by a former guest on the show, Ashe O'Hara, who joined us in HBFM #10.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox's new additions this week are Aorta by death/doom gloombringers Majestic Downfall, and Desolate from Icelandic tech death virtuosos Ophidian I.

#36 – Dragula Queen Of Darkness Jul 12, 2021

El Reeve and Claire Simson are the LGBT+ heavy metal podcast's first guests from a majority-female, majority queer band. The Mountain Caller pair talk about the affirming experience that has been, and whether misogyny or homophobia have been larger presences in their experiences.

Tom talks about how a misunderstanding made Rob Zombie's 'Dragula' a source of dread when he was a closeted ball of hormones, as this week's Camp Classic harks back to the late-90s – so naturally there's also mention of what the hell all this has to do with The Matrix.

Plus it's the day you've all been waiting for, as Matt has to talk about Powerwolf, with their new album Call Of The Wild going in the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox – but not before he tries to out-Tom Tom's pick, by putting Harpyie's Minnewar in himself.

It's possibly the campest HBFM yet.

#35 – Wake Up Gay Jul 05, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast invites on a straight cis male guest for the first time, in the fascinating form of Chris Harms from industrial metallers Lord Of The Lost. And when he's a vocal ally, and is talking about gender nonconformity, and how he realised he was definitely straight by giving homosexuality a try, it turns out to make a hell of a lot of sense.

The risqué queer interpretation of 'Wake Up Dead' is given a thorough seeing-to, as this week's Camp Classic sees the hosts reveal that Dave Mustaine may have accidentally written a song about the experiences of a closeted gay man in the 1980s.

Plus The Nightmare Of Being by melodeath legends At The Gates, and Consolamentum by French post-metal instrumentalists Year Of No Light get added to the jukebox in the Hate Crew Gaybar.

#34 – Kvelertak's Homorotic Horror Jun 28, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast takes a long, lingering look at the long, lingering close-ups in the video to Kvelertak's breakout video, 'Mjød', and thinks they look more than a lot suggestively homoerotic. Before the horror sequence starts, anyway.

A hidden gem from Greek black metal legends Rotting Christ is also looked at to show why it's gloriously, fabulous relevant to us as queers – and may just be perfect for something we've committed to making happen.

Plus there's a packed Hate Crew Gaybar, as we take a look at Enslaved's Cinematic Tour 2020 live recordings to see if they're good for showing in the bar. Meanwhile Urne's Serpent & Spirit and Amenra's De Doorn are this week's albums for the jukebox.

Meanwhile Tom's in an especially gay mood, and Matt's inner Poirot is at work as his deduction skills are in top form.

#33 – Diamond In The Scruff Jun 21, 2021

This week on the LGBT+ heavy metal podcast, we celebrate the time Icelandic post-metal cowboys Sólstafir helped queer representation in metal with their video for 'Love Is The Devil (And I Am In Love)'.

We also take a good gaze into Deftones' 'Diamond Eyes', and reveal the reason Tom immediately thought it was extremely gay .

Plus the additions for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox this week are Awakened by Vorvan, and Silver Lake by Esa Holopainen.

Somehow this episode also sees discussions of queer representation in Star Trek: Discovery and Emmerdale, because why on Earth wouldn't it?

#32 – Heavy Rucking Metal Jun 14, 2021

Matt talks to Chris Gregory from Belted Sweater, a proudly gay and stylistically unusual project with highly unambiguous lyrics. They chat about why it was so important for the lyrics to be quite so blunt, for the project's style to be what it is, and Chris' concern (or lack thereof) of how the audience might take it.

We discuss two very different queer interpretations of Black Sabbath's classic 'Die Young', one very positive, and the other absolutely not. And one of which Tom owes to the Blood & Mud podcast making a joke about a Welsh rugby union coach. Sort of.

There's also some news about the man from the Caucasus who Matt's trying to singlehandedly bankroll, and some responses to our discussion of Pride from last week's show.

Plus Flyblown Prince by Code and …And Again Into The Light by Panopticon are this week's pick for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, and after a lot of agreeing this week, we finally have a good old bicker.

#31 – We Don't Belong At Pride Jun 07, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast celebrates Pride month… by explaining why we two metalheads don't feel welcome there, and why being metalheads is a big part of this. We also suggest what we could do to improve this – and accidentally commit to one of those steps.

We also take a look at the most famous song from Dimmu Borgir's classic Death Cult Armageddon, the anthemic 'Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse', and why it speaks to us as queers, in this week's Camp Classic feature.

Plus All My Dreams Came True by Wreche and Solace by Neurotech are this week's addition to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox.

#30 – Why Does Metal Attract So Many Homophobes? Jun 01, 2021

Fashionably late, the LGBT+ heavy metal podcast takes a little diversion from the usual format to field your questions, such as just why metal has so many homophobes, how other queers react to finding out we're metallers, and how easy it is for us gays to meet potential partners.

We still take our usual visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar though, where Es Grauet by Ungfell and Wretched Abyss by Noctule are added to the jukebox.

Oh, and we've got a fairly major announcement about the future of the podcast…

#29 – "Keep Quiet About That Gay Stuff" May 24, 2021

Hal Sinden, Talanas frontman and Eulogy Media head, talks to Tom about becoming progressively more overt about his sexuality. He also recalls some of the bad experiences he's had along the way, including when a publicist told him not to discuss "that gay stuff".

Tom and Matt also take a look at 'Enchantment', the opening track on Paradise Lost's goth metal classic Draconian Times, about the myriad ways it speaks to us as queers.

Plus the HCGB jukebox gets two new additions, in the shape of Ice Fleet by Kauan, and Culling Culture by Vexed.

Bizarrely, this episode contains surprisingly little discussion of the Eurovision Song Contest.

#28 – In My Kingdom (Violet) Cold May 17, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcasts gets emotional as Matt & Tom discuss a brand new statement of support for the LGBT+ community, in the shape of Violet Cold's new album Empire Of Love.

The title track from Oceans Of Slumber's album Winter is also revealed to have not one but two separate ways it spoke to us as queers.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox this week has three new additions, with Fixation by The Ember, The Ash, The Baring Of Shadows by Kardashev, and Har by Dordeduh all get discussed and admitted.

Which does mean we may have set a record for the most languages mangled by Tom in an episode…

#27 – Man On Man II: The Happy One May 10, 2021

We discuss Man On Man again – but unlike the last time, this one's for positive reasons, as we talk to Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman about their gloriously gay project, and why it matters.

Our Camp Classic this week is the time-travelling oddity 'Save Us From Those Who Would Save Us' by Hell (the NWOBHM act Andy Sneap revived) from their 2011 via 1983 album Human Remains. And while this one has wide queer relevance, it's of particular relevant to the experience of one half of the podcast.

Plus the HCGB jukebox sees Matt add Fortitude by Gojira, and Tom add VII – Kenoma by Fyrnask.

#26 – Buffy The Vampire SLAY-ER! SLAY-ER! May 03, 2021

There's a twist on the LGBT+ metal podcast this week, as having spent ages explaining bits of metal we hear differently because we're queer, this week we're going to talk about something queer we see differently because we're metalheads, starting off with Buffy The Vampire Slayer, with its groundbreaking lesbian representation.

This week's Camp Classic sees Tom inevitably talking about Immortal, as 'Damned In Black' gets looked at through gay eyes.

Plus the HCGB jukebox gets new additions in the shape of Benthos' debut album II, and the long-awaited third Ageless Oblivion album, Suspended Between Earth And Sky.

#25 – British Steal Apr 26, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast is joined this week by Willow Ryan, guitarist and vocalist from sludgy doom band Body Void. We chat about how the LGBT+-friendly nature of metal spaces varies between online and the real world, and how freeing playing live can be if you're queer.

This week's Camp Classic is the Judas Priest anthem 'Living After Midnight', which has some very unsurprising metaphors for queer life – and a surprising link to Grand Theft Auto.

Plus the HCGB jukebox has two new additions, in the shape of In Transmission by Capra, and Multiversal by The Beast Of Nod.

#24 – The Faust And The Furious Apr 19, 2021

Tom and Matt reluctantly takes on the thorny subject of Bård Eithun, better known as Faust, the former Emperor drummer who murdered a gay man, Magne Andreassen in 1992 – and who has been welcomed back into the fold for a second time.

As the Norwegian black metal legends announce Faust's guest appearance for a live stream event, the LGBT+ heavy metal podcast explains why this is such a kick in the teeth for us gays – and what we think the way forward should be.

To cheer us up after all that, we swing by the Hate Crew Gaybar for something fruity, and to discuss why Sleeps Society by While She Sleeps and Cursed Be Thy Kingdom by Bewitcher are being added to the jukebox.

CW: discussions of violence inc. murder, and homophobia

#23 – Flashdance Apocalypse Apr 12, 2021

This latest queer view on metal sees Ithaca singer Djamila Azzouz join us for a chat on being a queer woman in heavy metal.

We also delve into the unlikely gay meanings we've drawn from Fleshgod Apocalypse's turbobrutally symphonic song, 'The Violation'. And try not to fall out over one of us being less of a fan than the other.

Plus there's the usual bickering as Frozen Bloom by Olhava and Lake Drinker by Horndal are the latest albums for the HCGB jukebox.

Shockingly, we even managed to keep largely on topic this week. We're very sorry about this, and anticipate normal service resuming next week.

Camp Classic Special #1: Sonata Arctica – Larger Than Life Apr 08, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast presents its first special episode, as we go for a deep dive into the queer meanings we take from Sonata Arctica's brilliant 'Larger Than Life'.

We tried to cover this in HBFM #19 but had so much to cover, it needed its own epic show to cover all the metaphors for queer life hidden within.

(And for the quite epic digressions we manage to veer off into, obviously. The Ian McKellen one is shocking.)

#22 – Children Of Bodom's Unintentional Gay Slang Apr 05, 2021

The latest queer perspective on metal enjoys an unexpected relevance to the LGBT+ community within Leprous, 'From The Flame'.

We chortle at the very different meaning of the title of Children Of Bodom's Hatebreeder, should you be familiar with gay slang.

Plus Interstice by Knoll and Menschenmühle by Kanonenfieber are the latest albums for the HCGB jukebox.

(And yes, of course that means some dreadful mangling of German by Tom.)

#21 – "When You Go To Download, Do You Open Grindr?" Mar 29, 2021

This week on the queer take on metal, guest Scott talks about being a gay metalhead working in the live music industry, and going on Grindr at metal festivals.

We explain why 'The End Of Heartache' by Killswitch Engage has a strong gay connotation for one of our hosts.

Matt gets technical with Grorr's Ddulden's Last Flight, and Tom goes completely nuts for Maestitium's Tale Of The Endless.

Plus we've got your nominations for heavy metal gay icons.

#20 – Unleashed In The Beast(milk) Mar 22, 2021

The increasing openness of Rob Halford is celebrated, and the biggest parallel between the life of the gay man and the metalhead is revealed thanks to Beastmilk's modern classic Climax, on the latest LGBT+ take on heavy metal.

Matt and Tom discuss how heavy metal's most prominent gay musician – the Metal God himself, Rob Halford – has got more open and frank in his discussion of his sexuality, and why that is important. We explain why it matters that the LGBT+ community can discuss sex as freely as straight folks, and how Halford is helping that happen.

The superb debut album by Beastmilk (now Grave Pleasures) is this week's Camp Classic, as we share the surprising common ground between the metal fan going to a show, and a queer person going to a gay bar – and what that has to do with a post-punk band that extreme audiences like Roadburn Festival immediately embraced.

Plus there's the usual gushing and bickering in the Hate Crew Gaybar, where the latest additions to the jukebox are Lost In The Waves by Landmvrks, and The Crown's latest album Royal Destroyer.

There's also some follow-up on the relative gayness of cocktails, another shocking confession about gaps in Matt's blockbuster movie viewing, and some gossip about who Tom wants to take his shirt off more in the new series of Line Of Duty. Completely predictable random digressions, then.

#19 – Pupil Slicer, And Sonata Arctica's Accidental Coming Out Epic Mar 15, 2021

The frontwoman of one of the hottest new bands in metal talks transphobic media bias, and a power metal epic turns out to be queer metaphor overload, in the latest queer take on metal.

Katie Davies from UK mathy grinders Pupil Slicer is the latest voice from those members of the LGBT+ community who make metal happen. She chats to Tom about the band's lyrics, and some of the LGBT+ issues they cover, including the transphobia inherent in much of the current media climate.

Matt and Tom also discuss 'Larger Than Life', the 2014 epic by Sonata Arctica, and find the whole thing awash with relevance to the queer experience, and coming out especially.

Plus the entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are the new Orden Ogan album, Final Days, and Exanimis' debut record Marionnettiste. One of which needed a peace treaty to be signed before discussions could begin.

There's also shocking revelations about a gap in Matt's blockbuster movie knowledge, and Tom steps in two massive gay clichés.

(Also Matt's mic gets possessed by a gremlin for one second around the 45 minute mark. We're sorry about that. We will stop feeding it after midnight.)

#18 – Anaal Nathrakh's Adaam Ant Armograaphy Mar 08, 2021

The latest queer take on heavy metal sees Tom and Matt have a look at the time Trivium took a stand on the side of the LGBT+ community, and when grinding black metallers Anaal Nathrakh made us think, "camp".

We discuss 'And Sadness Will Sear', the song Trivium wrote about the homophobic murder of Matthew Shepard. We cover what it meant to us, why this was so significant in the timeline of metal bands coming out as allies, and how we feel about the song hearing it now.

This week's Camp Classic is the unlikely Birmingham brutality of Anaal Nathrakh, and their 2016 searing blast of annihilation 'Depravity Favours The Bold'. Tom and Matt have radically different interpretations, one rather painful, and the other an entirely positive recognition that has something to do with 1980s pop music. Sort of.

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar sees three additions, with Obarșie by Sur Austru, The Golden Pentacle by Marco Garau's Magic Opera, and Wreath Of Frost by Starforger all added. And no, we're not making that middle one up.

Plus the usual overenthusiastic digressions, obviously.

#17 – The Queens We Want To Be Mar 01, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast this week is joined by Orion, the vocalist in Ilsa, a Washington, DC-based metal band who've had multiple queer members over the years, and at one stage, were a majority-queer band.

Tom talks to Orion about his experience of that, and about hiding queer references in plain sight just like Rob Halford did so well. They also talk about dodging neo-Nazi gangs in the American capital city, the US' problem with violence against transwomen (especially transwomen of colour), and about being the type of queens we want to be.

This week's Camp Classic is Dream Theater's signature tune 'Pull Me Under', and how both Tom and Matt drew very similar queer meanings from the same song.

Plus the albums for Hate Crew Gaybar this week are Sunnata's Burning In Heaven, Melting On Earth, and Krononota by In Tormentata Quiete. Because apparently Matt really does want to make Tom sound as ignorant as possible.

There's also a little follow-up from last week's show on metal's internet homophobia problem, and Matt follows through on his promise to inject as many mid-00s pop references as possible into the podcast. Also euphemisms, obviously.

#16 – Internet Metal's Homophobia Problem Feb 22, 2021

Heavy metal on the internet has a homophobia problem. An unpleasant set of examples in the past week force the LGBT+ metal podcast to confront this.

Matt and Tom discuss why the homophobic comments below stories involving gay musicians are such a problem, how it makes gay and bi people feel to see these kind of intolerance, and whether this accurately reflects metal culture in general.

There's also a dig back into the host's experiences of being visibly LGBT+ within metal, and what needs to be done to move the issue forward – and why all of this is a part of why Hell Bent For Metal exists.

There is just about time to sneak two more records into the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, in the form of Crawl Below's 9 Mile Square, and The Thule Grimoires by The Ruins Of Beverast.

Plus there's your standard bickering about Morrissey and The Beatles, and some chat about how an abyssal extreme metal sounds like the Sugababes. Naturally.

#15 – The Bear On Stage In The Leather Harness Feb 15, 2021

Tom chats to CJ, singer in Manchester-based hardcore band Dead Retinas. CJ discusses his experience performing on stage in a leather sex harness, how tolerant metal and hardcore crowds are when really pushed, plus a little more general background about the bear tribe itself.

Elsewhere, Iron Maiden's The Wicker Man gets a queer reinterpretation for this week's Camp Classic, where Tom and Matt find a surprising amount of overlap in the common LGBT+ experiences the track evokes.

Plus this episode's additions to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Cara Neir's new album Phase Out, and The Design Abstract's latest record Technotheism.

Also includes chat about how to accidentally offend work colleagues with your music taste, and what links Lady Gaga with death metal.

[CW: Descriptions of homophobia/homophobic language]

#14 – Oh Those Russian Queens Feb 08, 2021

Tom is joined by new permanent co-host Matt for your regular queer visit to the fabulous world of heavy metal.

We delve into how one of the most controversial moments of metal's history, Metallica's divisive Reload, to look at it an aspect close to our hearts: quite how unintentionally gay they managed to looked.

The week's Camp Classic is one of the greatest ever metal covers of a non-metal song: Turisas' version of Boney M's disco classic, Rasputin. What possible way could we have viewed this from a queer perspectives?

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar's additions this week are Cleopatra by Everdawn, and Le Tyran Et L'Esthete by Les Chants de Nihil. And no, we can't pronounce that correctly, and yes, we're very sorry.

#13 – Hell Bent For Riot Act Jan 29, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast joins forces with alternative music podcast Riot Act for a special expanded crossover episode, as we both try our hands at each others' content.

Tom puts Riot Actors Remfry and Steve well out of their comfort zone with a chat about how Rammstein's video for Sonne left him feeling awkward as the only gay boy in the room.

There's some new music stylistically unfit for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox that Steve and Remfry bring forward, in the shape of the new album from Steven Wilson, and a solo EP from Depeche Mode's Martin Gore. How will Tom get on with that?

Back on the Hell Bent For Metal side of things, new records from Tribulation and Accept go in the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, with differing outcomes.

Plus we meet in the middle to discuss Divide And Dissolve's heavy-as-hell anti-racist new opus.

#12 – Why Not A Three-Piece Suit For Dying Fetus? Jan 24, 2021

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast this week allows the snappiest-dressed man in metal on to guest host this week, as for one week only, Tom allows a straight man into the room – to help us agree how really, really gay some of metal is.

Black Sabbath are the latest band to have one of their classics viewed through a queer lens, as Fairies Wear Boots gets the Camp Classic treatment.

And we look at where some of black metal legends Satyricon's fashion choices ended up looking both grim and fabulous at the same time – some of them so obvious even the straight guy spotted them first.

Plus releases from Asphyx and Gatecreeper are the latest to be added to the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox, and Abhi reveals how wearing dapper suits to death metal shows really works out.

#11 – Maynard James Keenan's Marriage Equality Blues Jan 18, 2021

This week on the queer take on metal, a triumphant moment in LGBT+ history is remembered, with a little help from many metal bands, but a lot from Tool's frontman.

Plus Cathedral are the latest band to find out one of their songs is camp as a row of tents. OOOOOOH yes, darling.

And Clutch and Orange Goblin have records added to the heavy metal gay bar jukebox.

Plus it's the close of the opening chapter of Hell Bent For Metal, as we say a farewell.

(Oh, and the kitten's back again.)

#10 – Queer And Loathing In St. Petersburg Jan 11, 2021

This week, the queer take on heavy metal speaks to two gay men, both of whom sing in metal bands, to get their perspectives on being out and gay in heavy metal. And they describe very different experiences.

First, Benjamin Julian Ganzhorn, vocalist in Danish band Daze Of June, speaks of what a positive experience he's had in metal, even down to showing tour mates what Grindr is really like.

Then Ashe O'Hara, formerly singer in British djent pioneers TesseracT, and now singer of Voices From The Fuselage, paints a much lonelier picture of being a gay man in the metal scene, and speaks about what it's like to be asked about your sexuality while on tour in Russia.

It's a revealing, unexpected, and very frank discussion.

#9 – Between The Balls, The Wall And Me Dec 28, 2020

The queer look at heavy metal this week takes in both one of the 21st century's most forward thinking bands, and one of the greats of the classic era.

One of Between The Buried And Me's most madcap odysseys gets the Camp Classic treatment, and we discuss what that has to do with one of the key composers of the great American songbook.

We also look at how German greats Accept tried to look ultra metal, succeeded, but also ended up with some visuals that we couldn't possibly not misinterpret.

Plus we've got the final round-up of our top albums of 2020, with deep dives into records from Ulcerate and Kassad. Also some entirely unavoidable double entendres.

#8 – The Sniper Of The Trans Community Dec 21, 2020

The LGBT+ heavy metal podcast this week is joined by very special guest Mina Caputo from Life Of Agony for an extended discussion of her experiences of being out as trans in rock and metal, and how those experiences influence her creative process. [CW - descriptions of transphobia]

We also have the first half of our albums of the year chat, and Joe tries not to cringe at Tom shoehorning Christmas/metal puns in between KoK gags.

#7 – Ooh-Wah-Ah-Ah-Ah-bsolutely Fabulous Dec 14, 2020

The queer take on heavy metal this week takes on an unlikely Camp Classic in the shape of Disturbed. Yes, that Disturbed. David Draiman and co. Really.

We're also offered an important perspective on how being trans and gay at metal shows compares to being trans and gay in gay bars.

Plus after "agreeing to disagree" on our current favourite music last week, can we find common ground over two 20 Buck Spin releases?

And Joe's kitten makes a (probably not) one-off special guest appearance.

#6 –BDSM Gear And Black Metal Dec 07, 2020

Venom's classic look gets queer eyes cast over them this week, as we ask the crucial questions about how the godfathers of black metal ended up setting off so many false positives on gaydars.

There's also a queer ear scanned over a classic from one of Devin Townsend's best albums.

We also have the usual strong opinions about music, this week looking back at albums from earlier this year by Konvent and Voilet Cold.

#5 – Horny German Werewolves Dec 01, 2020

Werewolf-obsessed German power metallers Powerwolf get looked at from a gay perspective this week, as we wonder what could possibly be relevant to our interests in a song about "being excited in a gentleman's fashion"… and the undead.

We're joined by musician Ria from the band Karnstein, who talks about her experiences of being out within heavy metal.

Plus there's a bumper crop of ramblings about music we're into, where Tom tries to dig himself deep, deep into a hole he prepared for himself in the last episode.