Richard Custer

Statement

In terms of musical genres, it is hard to argue against heavy metal.  It has evolved from humble beginnings in the city of Birmingham, England to become a force in the world of music to the point where intellectuals are writing critical theory essays on it and university professors are teaching literature courses with song lyrics as the source material.  Heavy metal demands loyalty from its fans as it continues to push the not only the boundaries of music, but also that of culture as a whole.

 

The images in this series are a sample of the experience of a live heavy metal performance.  The subjects range from local bands to those who perform all over the world, their audience, and the symbols that challenge the predominant thinking of our society.