Hell Bent For Metal

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.

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.

Tom talks to Abi Vasquez, singer for UK black metallers Underdark, who tells her experience of being out as trans in extreme metal, and how different areas of the scene deal with it differently – and offers some hope for the way metal is headed for the LGBT+ community.

Matt chats to Peter Angelo, metalhead, amateur strongman, and comedian, where they also talk about his experiences of being out in the metal scene of New England, and how it's quite different to being out in comedy. He explains how he went down brilliantly with a biker gang, but got banned from upstate New York for being "too gay".

Plus the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox has just one addition this week, with both hosts uniting behind Mortal Coil by Dödsrit.

Hell Bent For Metal welcome Sabaton frontman Joakim Brodén to the show, who's on to chat about how Tom thinks his band look really gay – and why Joakim agrees, and says so on stage.

Triptykon's 'Goetia' is the Camp Classic this week, with Tom G Warrior's imploration to Satan somehow connecting on a queer level with Tom... even if he is scared Matt will think he's crazy.

Plus this week's entries for the Hate Crew Gaybar jukebox are Ein Abbild Der Leere by Kluizenaer, and Damnum by Allegaeon.

(And yes, we know which number episode this is. Help yourselves.)

Hell Bent For Metal host Tom has been back to Roadburn to host another panel about queerness in heavy music, and reports back on how the festival's efforts to make themselves a welcoming, inclusive place have clearly, visibly paid off.

The show's been on hiatus due to a bereavement, with Roadburn being the one bright light in the dark. And while the panel (which featured Body Void, Pupil Slicer, Backxwash, and OvO) was a great moment for queerness in heavy music – and Tom personally – it wasn't the only reason that was the case, as the hosts discuss.

There's also a rundown of the musical side of a unique festival, including unexpected joy found in Sangre de Muérdago and Oiseaux-Tempête (spelling FAO Matt), and the more expected highlights of the four days in Tilburg.

Plus this episode's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Heimdal by Enslaved and Deathless by Hellish Form added to the jukebox.