The International Society for Metal Music Studies

Our mission is to:

encourage and facilitate academic research related to heavy metal music and culture

adopt interdisciplinary approaches inclusive of sub-genres and related genres

establish metal music studies as a relevant and respected academic discipline

contribute to the growth of knowledge within academic and music communities

Latest posts

• CFP: Heavy Metal and Disability, Volume II: Blessed are the Sick3 June 2026
  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)15 May 2026
  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)12 March 2026
  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