A grassroots metal music festival in Tennessee faces backlash from religious groups and conservatives.
In 2022, radio hosts and music promoters Raven Moonla and Zach Moonshine organized an underground metal music festival in small-town Tennessee. Their efforts became a lightning rod for controversy, drawing outrage from religious fundamentalists and conservative politicians, while simultaneously becoming a rallying point for those outside the Bible Belt’s constrictive culture. “DEATH REIGNS” follows Zach and Raven’s Metal Devastation Festival, exploring its impact and triumph over those who attempted to silence it.
“DEATH REIGNS” comes from Randall Kendrick, the director of “The Steel Garden,” which won Best Documentary at the Hub City Film Festival and received an honorary award from the mayor of Brownsville, TN. The film is projected to be completed and released in 2025, with a teaser trailer set to debut in the coming months.
The film maker posted on social media:
“In 2023, I had the exciting experience of attending a locally-run metal festival in Tennessee dedicated to promoting underground metal bands of all sub-genres. Today, I am thrilled to announce my next documentary project, “DEATH REIGNS,” which focuses on this incredible festival.”
“DEATH REIGNS” will feature interviews with the festival organizers and performances and interviews from standout bands in the festival’s past and current lineup, including SUMMONER’S CIRCLE, CASKET ROBBERY, AUTUMN LIES BURIED, QUIESCENT MANTIS, SUN MANTRA, and THE RED MOUNTAIN .
“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the story of this festival to the screen, and I hope you all enjoy it upon release. As with my last film, “DEATH REIGNS” is being made completely independently, without any studio or outside funding. A teaser trailer will be released in the coming months, and details on its release will be announced soon. Filming is already underway and will continue until the end of the year, including coverage of the 2024 Metal Devastation Music Festival.”
“I highly encourage everyone to attend the Tennessee Metal Devastation Music Festival in Jackson, TN, on October 5th. Be a part of the film by joining the crowd, moshing, and supporting great underground bands.”
“A huge shout-out and thank you to the talented artist at Luciferium War Graphics for designing the film’s logo.”
“Stay tuned for further updates, and thank you all for your vocal support.”
Metal Devastation Music Fest:
Date: October 5th, 2024
Location: The Amp, Jackson, TN
Ticket Information:
https://hubcityevents.com/events/tennessee-metal-devastation-music-fest-2024-10-5-2024
The lineup for Tennessee Metal Devastation Music Fest 2024 is now complete, featuring a stellar array of bands:
H1Z1
Summoner’s Circle
Arsenic Addiction
Violence System
Sun Mantra
EMBR
Diabology
Quiescent Mantis
Illusion Of Fate
Soma Irot
THE RED MOUNTAIN
Killcrown
Magnets For Maniacs
Autumn Lies Buried
We extend a huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for making this event possible: Dark Sails Entertainment, Metal Devastation Radio, Metal Devastation PR, Extreme Management Group, Inc., Exitus Stratagem Records, Black Doomba Records, The Downtown Tavern, Misfits Market EXPO, SmithodditieS, Beauty and Bees, Beards and Bees Beardcare, Enchanted Inks’ Tattoo & Piercing Studio, Michigan Metal Fest, Lisa Adkins Photography & Marketing, and Metal-O-Mania.
Tickets are on sale now! Scan the QR code or go to this link: https://hubcityevents.com/events/tennessee-metal-devastation-music-fest-2024-10-5-2024. We can’t wait to see you all in October for an unforgettable day of metal mayhem!
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