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The International Society for Metal Music Studies

Our mission is to:

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

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adopt interdisciplinary approaches inclusive of sub-genres and related genres

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establish metal music studies as a relevant and respected academic discipline

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contribute to the growth of knowledge within academic and music communities

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Latest posts

  • CFP: A Collection on Faith No More (title tbc)
    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)
    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
  • Announcement of the 8th ISMMS Conference — Liège, June 2027
    We are delighted to announce that the 8th ISMMS conference will take place in June 2027 at the University of Liège, Belgium, hosted by Marion Brachet and Christophe Pirenne. The theme is Heavy Metal Productions: Sounds, Artefacts, Values. A formal call for papers will be released in the coming months. For now, we invite you … Read more
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Do you study metal music?

Join ISMMS to be a part of the society dedicated to developing the field of metal music studies. Gain access to the journal Metal Music Studies, the latest information from the society, newsletters, and more!

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Metal Studies Bibliography

Maintained by Amaranta Saguar García & Brian Arnold Hickam, the Metal Studies Bibliography is an open access database of academic literature and a vital resource for researchers in metal music studies.

Metal Methodology – Our Podcast Series

Metal Music Studies – The Journal