Metal Church
In Western France is Clisson, a small town, known for its architecture and winegrowing, but more importantly for its transformation each year into the Hellfest, a rock music festival lasting three days. The book, Hellfest – A Pilgrimage For Metalheads by Corentin Charbonnier discusses and deliberates all things metal and why these festivals are crucial to our evolution as social beings. This particular festival began in 2005 and it contained all the hallmarks of what we see today, including the bad weather, which does not dampen the spirits of the audience. Founded by Ben Barbaud, metalheads congregate on this hallowed site fervently and with a mindset to enjoy themselves no matter what.
The metal community has always been associated with the dark, doomy and gloomy. The entire genre covers an expansive list of sub-genres, yet within that there is conformity, recognition and belonging. The denizens residing therein are attracted to what is generally perceived as weird and abnormal, consequently Heavy Metal music has never been in fashion. A metal fan has only to see another person wearing a similar band T-shirt, and without words there is an immediate connection, a psychic interaction if you will, a shared knowledge and passion. Music is a form of escapism in the very least. It is a glue that binds us, it is a haven for the lost and abandoned, it is a booster for the weary and it is the foundation piece of forming meaningful and lasting relationships. An expedition into the metaphysical, into the philosophical, determining our nature, our habits and our evaluation of our surroundings.
Corentin, an Anthropology student, chose to delve into music festivals and how they respond to the challenges of our society. As an avid observer and spectator, he spent his time watching and immersing himself in this culture and all it’s rituals. Like any religion, we too have our sacrament, or rites of passage even, be it in the moshpit, stage diving, crowd surfing or part of the wall of death. Each of these acts, much like the fans, are unique in their intensity and yet collectively they consolidate as a unique brand in its own right. What we learn is that people need a stress relief mechanism to forget about their daily struggles. Attending an event like this is an ideal opportunity to do that, there is a whole calendar of activities and bands to distract you and let you be yourself. To attain a healthy balance in life this type of activity is imperative, and from his research we can conclude that our physical, mental, emotional and indeed spiritual aspects require our undivided attention to maintain a satisfying and productive equilibrium. The book is insightful and detailed in its approach, with photographs and statistics to show how the scene developed to its position as a global mainstay.
We are the architects of our own destiny, we rise and fall as the conquest allows, we remain valiant and strong throughout. We are Hellfest.
Hellfest – A Pilgrimage For Metalheads by Corentin Charbonnier, Doctor of Anthropology and President of the Throne of Thanatos association.