Interview With Matt ; assistant to Sam Dunn (Director of the movie "A Headbanger's Journey") - 5th June 2006
 

Matt: I received your name from Sam Dunn, director of the film Metal: A Head banger's Journey. I’m currently working as a researcher with Sam on his next film, tentatively titled Global Metal. I’m hoping that you might be willing to take a few minutes of your time to answer a few questions about the scene in Iran. What are the biggest metal bands from your
country?

Milad :if you let me I’d name: Ahoora, Kahtmayan, Pod, Sds,...

 

*What are the different styles of metal in your country?


We are the only band here that plays power metal; there are few thrash and death metal bands also.



*What do metal bands in your country sing about?


You know metal is banned here. There is no permission to work. There have been few live gigs, and we are the only band that had played with vocals. So in order to gain more chance to perform, most of them decided to be instrumental bands! But you know the rest that do have vocal parts (including us) have our own type of the lyrics like any other bands in any part of the world; you can read our lyrics in our website.



*How has the metal scene changed over the years?

it's a long story. Once there were a lot of bands here. But they died one after another and now there are a few left that are still active. Because there is no air to breathe here. You have to lose every thing to be a metal musician here. But you'll gain nothing. Because they do not let you work. They do not let you to be heard. And you have to live, you know?! So many of them disappeared. The metal scene once was very warm but now it's filled with deep depression.



*How do you think your metal scene is different than other scenes in other countries?


You know there are many differences. We do not have the permission to perform; we do not have the permission to release. Which country is like that? You need any bigger difference?!



*How does society respond to metal in your country? In other words, how are metal fans viewed by the government, church, authorities etc?

Very bad! You know when you don not have the chance to be heard and the chance to be seen, there will be no big improvements, and your offer is rejected anyhow. Because there is no clarity .there are a lot of metal fans here, but society is something else. They look very bad to us! If I may speak frankly, we are looked just like a bunch of godless junkies that are lost in eternal darkness.



*What are the metal festivals in your country?
 

You kidding me?! Metal festivals? Rock music in any form is forbidden here.



*Who else should we talk to about your metal scene?


I think there are few metal bands that I mentioned, I hope they’d be a help to you.

*Thanks very much.