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MMS 101

Our series of short posts on different topics in metal studies, written to introduce a general audience to current research.

Metal Methodology

A podcast series hosted by ISMMS Secretary Owen Coggins featuring interviews with notable scholars in metal studies.

Events, CfPs & more

All information about events, calls for proposals, and other announcements related to metal music studies.


All Posts

  • Metal et Metalheads: Des Mythes et Des Rites
    Conference at the Philharmonie de Paris with the collaboration of the International Society for Metal Music Studies 5–6 April 2024 https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/fr/activite/colloque/26793-metal-et-metalheads-des-mythes-et-des-rites Designed to resonate with the international exhibition presented at the Philharmonie de Paris, this conference explores and questions this culture, its representations, its audiences and its paradoxes with international artists, professionals and researchers. The … Read more
  • Heavy Metal & Global Premodernity II
    The second running of this biennial conference will take place March 15-17, 2024 on Zoom. Registration is free and open to all, and required to attend. Register here. For the full program of panels, workshops, and events, and other information, including the conference playlist, see the conference website here.
  • Black Metal is for Everyone! Symposium and Concert 28–29 February, 2024, Indiana University Bloomington
    Please see details below about this event or view the full website here. Black metal is extreme music: fast tempos, heavy guitar, screeching vocals – it’s not usually thought of as everyday, easy listening., that’s for sure.  Black metal got its start in 1990s Scandanavia and was associated with church burnings, Satanism, and acts of … Read more
  • Charlène Bénard PhD defence, 19 December 2023
    We are excited to share news of Charlène Bénard’s PhD defence at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, on 19 December 2023. Her thesis, on symphonic metal, women, genre, and gender, is titled ‘Le “metal à chanteuse”, un genre musical? Une enquête sur la construction médiaculturelle d’un genre musical par le gender. Le cas du metal … Read more
  • ISMMS 2023 Elections Results
    The results of the recent election for two Ordinary Member positions on the Executive Board of the International Society for Metal Music Studies are as follows:  Gérôme Guibert and A. Rose Johnson have been elected to the Board. They have confirmed their commitment to serve four year terms from 1 January 2024 to 31 December … Read more
  • 2023 ISMMS Elections Open: Vote Now
    Voting in the 2023 ISMMS elections is now open in the Members’ Area of the ISMMS website. All current members of the society are welcome (and encouraged!) to vote. You will need to be a current member to vote, so please consider joining the society to have your say. There are three board positions open: 2 Ordinary Member … Read more
  • Elections for ISMMS Executive Board Positions, Nov-Dec 2023
    The positions of Secretary and two Ordinary Members on the ISMMS Executive Board will become available at the end of the current terms of Dr Owen Coggins, Dr Reinhard Kopanski and Douglas Mattsson, none of whom intend to stand for re-election. We therefore call on the ISMMS membership to elect candidates to serve four year … Read more
  • Call for Chapters – Breaking the Silence: Minority languages in contemporary music as reclamation, resistance and revitalisation
    Lead Editor: Gareth Schott (University of Waikato, NZ)  We invite extended abstract proposals for chapters that explore the significance of songs sung in marginalised or minority languages within contemporary music genres (from indige-punk, metal, hardcore, hip hop, rap, pop and so on). For so many minority cultures, language signifies survival. Language presence in contemporary music … Read more
  • Call for Expressions of Interest: New Editors for Metal Music Studies
    The Editorial Board and Intellect seek expressions of interest for a new Editorial team (Sections 1 and 2) for Metal Music Studies. Aims & Scope This peer-reviewed Journal provides a focus for research and theory in metal music studies, a multidisciplinary (and interdisciplinary) subject field that engages with a range of parent disciplines. It provides … Read more