Metal Music and the Re-imagining of Masculinity, Place, Race and Nation ||

Metal is a form of popular music. Popular music is a form of leisure. In the modern age, popular music has become part of popular culture, a heavily contested collection of practices and industries that construct place, belonging and power. The arrival of Donald Trump in the White House has shown that angry white men still wield huge social and cultural power in this new century. The aim of this monograph is to explore metal music - might be seen as leisure spaces that resist the norms and values of the mainstream; but also how they might also serve to re-affirm and construct those norms and values. In particular, this book is interested in how forms of metal might work to re-imagine masculinity, race, nation and class in an intersectional way through the myth of warrior masculinity and blood and soil. This monograph explores the history of the myths, and the reaction by fans to the music. The focus is extended to bands that use the warrior-nation myth in places and countries beyond the global North, and in ways that challenge or subvert hegemony. Half Title Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents About the Author Chapter 1-Introduction, Context and Methods Reflection Introduction Context Methods The Structure of the Book Chapter 2-The Old Nationalism and Masculinity: Historical Review Introduction A Brief History of the Nation-state Hobsbawm, Anderson and the Invention of Nation The Invention of Race The Invention of the Gender Order Chapter 3-Populism, Nationalism and Masculinity Today: A Review Introduction Postmodernity – What It Describes Postmodernity: The Consequences The End of Nationalism, Race and the Hegemonic Gender? Chapter 4-Theories of Leisure and Music; and Music, Identity and Place Introduction Leisure Studies and Leisure Theory Music as Leisure, and Music Leisure Spaces Chapter 5-Iron Maiden: True Stories of Men at War Introduction “Charlotte the Harlot” “The Trooper” “Aces High” Chapter 6-Manowar: True Metal Warriors Introduction Battle Hymns Into Glory Ride Hail to England Sign of the Hammer Chapter 7-Bathory and Viking Metal Introduction Bathory and Black Metal Bathory and Viking Metal Chapter 8-The Norwegians as “Authentic” Vikings: Enslaved, Windir and Wardruna Enslaved Windir Wardruna Chapter 9-Pagan Metal in Eastern Europe Introduction Graveland Drudkh Chapter 10-Finnish Folk Metal: Raising Drinking Horns in Mainstream Metal Introduction Finland and Finnish Nationalism The Rise of Folk Metal Finntroll Korpiklaani Ensiferum Chapter 11-English Heritage Black Metal and the Equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Yorkshire Introduction Wodensthrone Winterfylleth Annwn Saor White Medal Chapter 12-Challenging Hegemony? Darkestrah, and Zeal & Ardor Introduction Darkestrah and Turkic Folk Metal Zeal & Ardor: Black Black Metal Chapter 13-Conclusions References Discography Index Metal is a form of popular music. Popular music is a form of leisure. In the modern age, popular music has become part of popular culture, a heavily contested collection of practices and industries that construct place, belonging and power. The arrival of Donald Trump in the White House has shown that angry white men still wield huge social and cultural power in this new century. The aim of this monograph is to explore how metal music might be seen as a leisure space that resists the norms and values of the mainstream; but also how it might also serve to re-affirm and construct those norms and values. In particular, this book is interested in how forms of metal might work to re-imagine masculinity, race, nation and class in an intersectional way through the myth of warrior masculinity and blood and soil. This monograph explores the history of the myths, and the reaction by fans to the music. The focus is extended to bands that use the warrior-nation myth in places and countries beyond the global North, and in ways that challenge or subvert hegemony.