Islam Metal Heads

This lecture at the the bookstore last thursday was quite unexpected and original. Basically the lecturer traveled throughout different islam communities in different nations to investigate an underground movement that is going on in todays islam communities and making a difference...its a fusion of politics, islam and heavy metal rock. The lecterer wrote a book on it called Heavy Metal Islam. What is happening is the youth of islam are turning to Heavy metal to make political statements in nations that are very conservative and opressive. Because the movement is so underground they are able to really say how they feel and speak out against the government without the government really knowing.... the author said"its a way of articulating a political space where there is no political space" being that the movement is so underground the can say what they want. The reason Rock and Rap are important to study in these communities is that is is a window in to a sea of change going on underground, it exposes how people are able to be militantly progressive and politically engaged while still being islamic and not being fooled completely by westerners. The author made it that last point clear, that even though the heavy metal music has roots in western music, this music was clearly distinct and the creators were not trying to be westerners. When the author then asked why they choose heavy metal rock of all the music they could have choosen for the message the answer he got made sense..."our lives are heavy metal,we live in a community with little hope, a bad economy, and a corrupt authoritarian regime...Brittany Spears Pop and Bon Jovi is not going to cut it(for this type of message)."