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

  • Introducing a New Website for Brazilian Underground Metal Zines
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    The website “metalbrasileirozines.com.br” is a recent online source (2024) that converges digitized fan zines of the Brazilian underground metal since the printed versions of the 80s. Navigating on the website is possible to filter the research of the digitized material by each of the twenty-six Brazilian states and the Federal District. People from many parts … Read more
  • CFP: 8th ISMMS Biennial International Conference 2027
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    Introduction The ISMMS (International Society for Metal Music Studies), an international association that initiated new interdisciplinary research on metal music, was officially launched at the first conference held at Bowling Green State University (Ohio, United States) in April 2013. It was titled “Heavy Metal and Popular Culture.” This founding event was followed, in 2015, by … Read more
  • Event: Women & Femme Voices in Metal: Feminist Strategies of Resistance
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    Online event via Microsoft Teams Thursday, July 23 • 3 PM – 5:30 PM CEST The publication of Women & Femme Voices in Metal: Feminist Strategies of Resistance(Routledge, 2026), edited by Jasmine Hazel Shadrack and Francesca Stevens, will becelebrated with an online launch and panel discussion.Through an interdisciplinary, intersectional feminist lens, the collection examines persistentpatterns of … Read more
  • CFP: Scenes and survival: building sustainable futures for local metal music scenes
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    One day conference Liverpool John Moores University Conference organiser: Dr Nedim Hassan (Chief Editor Metal Music Studies) Friday 4th September 2026 Scenes and survival: building sustainable futures for local metal music scenes is a joint academic and industry conference that seeks to explore how contemporary metal music scenes develop strategies for sustenance and survival. Its … Read more
  • CFP: Metal in Central and Eastern Europe (planned with Kohlhammer Meta/Metal)
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    We seek 5k–6k-word chapters on glocalization, transfers, infrastructures, crises, religion/politics, NSBM/antimilitarism, war & diaspora, zines/archives, festivals/economies, and methods/meta-questions acrosssocialist, post-socialist, and contemporary CEE. Abstracts (500 words) + bio (200 words) due 31 July 2026.Editors: Ondřej Daniel, Peter Pichler, Jörg Scheller, Miroslav Vrzal.Chicago style. Peer-reviewed series; OA possible subject to funding. Metal is a significant global … Read more
  • Published: Riffs Journal Special Issue on Ozzy Osbourne
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    Riffs has published a new open access special issue, Ozzy Osbourne (June 2026), edited by Asya Draganova and Benjamin Torrens. Following Black Sabbath’s final hometown performance, Back to the Beginning, in Birmingham and the global reflections about Ozzy Osbourne’s passing, the summer issue brings together a collection of perspectives about Ozzy’s legacy from academic researchers, … Read more
  • CFP: Heavy Metal and Disability, Volume II: Blessed are the Sick
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    Heavy Metal and Disability, Volume II: Blessed are the Sick Co-Editors: Jasmine Hazel Shadrack and Keith Kahn-Harris. Call for Papers: Trauma and disability are [often] discussed in similar terms. Trauma results from a profoundly distressing experience—war, abuse, migration, a sudden death—and is often the focus of therapeutic efforts to heal and become “normal” again. Disability … Read more
  • CFP: A Collection on Faith No More (title tbc)
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    Call for Papers – A Collection on Faith No More (title tbc) Co-Editors: Jasmine Hazel Shadrack and Samuel Thomas Background & Rationale: Faith No More are widely regarded as one of the most important and singular bands to make the transition from the 1980s underground to the Billboard Hot 100 and a period of MTV-approved … Read more
  • Paris Event: One day conference in Paris, ‘Images and imaginaries of metal music’ (in French)
    by Livy Onalee Snyder
    Journée d’étude « Images et imaginaires de la musique metal » vendredi 20 mars 2026 Un événement de la semaine Arts et Médias de la Sorbonne Nouvelle Des pochettes d’albums aux vidéoclips en passant par les concerts, les musiques metal déploient un ensemble hétéroclite d’univers visuels, à la fois spécifiques à la culture metal et … Read more