THE PIT presents 'Playing With The Devil - Becoming Zeal & Ardor'

Available right now on the THE PIT VOD platform with a 7-day FREE trial.

“What if, back then, the slaves had denied the religion of their oppressors? What if they had become Satanists? That was the basis of a few songs, and I released Devil Is Fine on Bandcamp, without any great expectations.” (Manuel Gagneux)

As new addition to its list of programs, THE PIT VOD platform presents ‘Playing with the Devil : Becoming Zeal & Ardor’, a documentary exploring exploring the rise of Swiss-American musician Manuel Gagneux and his groundbreaking band, Zeal & Ardor. Blending Black Metal with African-American spirituals—a concept born from a response to online racism—the project propelled Gagneux from obscurity to global fame after the release of Devil Is Fine (2016).

Through pivotal moments like their early tours, albums Stranger Fruit (2018) and Zeal & Ardor (2022), and the protest-driven Wake of a Nation EP, the documentary tackles themes of religion, racism, and cultural appropriation. While fans see him as a leader breaking taboos, Gagneux struggles with the weight of their expectations, offering an intimate look at his creative process and personal challenges.

The full documentary is available right now on the platform with a 7-days FREE trial.

Stream the documentary on The PIT

…Synopsis…

The GET THRASHED journey begins in the early 80s, where Metallica and several other bands laid the groundwork for what would become a lasting impression on the face of heavy metal music. These bands helped ignite local scenes in Los Angeles, the Bay area of Northern California and New York City, which helped fuel a worldwide, thrash metal movement.

By the dawn of the 1990’s, thrash bands had gone from playing backyard BBQ parties to headlining arenas and Metallica were on their way to becoming one of the biggest metal acts of all time.

But as legions of headbanging, stage diving and moshing metalheads were flocking to see their favorite bands, the musical tides had begun to change. In the early 90’s, an evolving musical landscape sent thrash metal spiraling back into the underground. Some bands broke up, some artists returned to their day jobs and some passed away. While the music lived on, the scene was forever changed.

***
For reminder, THE PIT is and available right now through the following link and your best ISP.