Hell Bent For Metal

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected