Hell Bent For Metal

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.)

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