Hell Bent For Metal

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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