Metal Jew

Daath

It had to happen. A Metal band inspired by Kabbalah:

Link: DaathMusic.

Shma essay competition

I received an 'honorable mention' in an essay competition run by the American publication 'Shma' (see www.shma.com). It's not the best thing I've ever written - in fact, I'm not that happy with it.  I was trying to say something quite radical using simple, non-threatening language, but I think it may simply be simple and non-threatening! Still, I've never had an honorable menion in an essay competition before. The article can be downloaded here:

Download shma_article_proof_copy.doc

METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY

Last year I was interviewed for a documentary called Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
It's now about to be launched at the Stockholm International Film Festival. It should be out on general release next year.

Link: METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY.

The Leevees are Jewish indie rock with a Chanukah obsession - they've just produced a whole album of Chanukah songs.

Super duper.

Metal Israel radio show

Metal Israel is starting a weekly radio show featuring Israeli Metal on Israeli National Radio. What's interesting about this is that Israeli National Radio is the English version of Arutz Sheva - the right-wing, settler-oriented radio station, shut down by the Israeli government.  The radio show is therefore broadcast over the web.

What will be fascinating to see is how Metal fits into right-wing fundamentalist discourse, particularly since the first show will feature an interview with Kobi Farhi of (definitely not setller) Orphaned Land.

The The Lure of the Dark Side

On March 10-12, I'll be speaking on black metal at an exiciting looking conference entitled 'The Lure of the Dark Side: Satan and Western Demonology in Popular Culture' at University of Chester.

The blurb is below:

Personifications of evil in the form of demons, devils, spirits, vampires, and other malign entities can be found across the popular cultural spectrum. One only has to peruse the shelves of music and bookstores or view the content of some of the most successful films and television series to discover evidence for the phenomenal popular fascination with the demonic other. The aim of this conference is to examine the demonic foil within popular culture.
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St. Deiniol’s Library
Church Lane, Hawarden, Flintshire, North Wales CH5 3DF, UK
Tel: + 44 (0)1244 532350
Fax: + 44 (0)1244 520643
Conference fee (including bed, dinner, and continental breakfast): £100
To book, please email Ms Karen Parry: deiniol.visitors@btconnect.com
Website: http://www.st-deiniols.org/