We are delighted to announce that the 8th ISMMS conference will take place in June 2027 at the University of Liège, Belgium, hosted by Marion Brachet and Christophe Pirenne. The theme is Heavy Metal Productions: Sounds, Artefacts, Values. A formal call for papers will be released in the coming months. For now, we invite you to read about the themes of the conference in detail.
Theme: Heavy Metal Productions: Sounds, Artefacts, Values
This symposium investigates heavy metal through its multiple forms of production—sonic, visual, and material—by focusing on the objects, practices, and discourses that give it shape and substance. The conference seeks to return to the foundations of what metal does and creates by examining the actions, know-hows, and forms of expression deployed by its diverse actors: artists, fans, technicians, producers, and other cultural intermediaries.
The 2027 ISMMS Conference will explore the dynamics of composition, materiality, writing, and manufacturing—both artisanal and industrial—to better understand how these productions contribute to the development of values, identities, and communities. The event will also engage with the processes of circulation and dissemination that define metal’s globalization, the decentralization of creative hubs, and the symbolic and cultural economies surrounding its production.
We’re thrilled to begin preparing for ISMMS 2027 and look forward to seeing our global community of metal music scholars, artists, and fans come together once again in Liège!