Making metal in authoritarian states

Making metal in authoritarian states

From AGITATORS ANONYMOUS the Alan Averill Podcast by Alan Averill

March 20, 2026 · 37 min · Season 1 · Episode 294

About this episode

Alan Averill explores how metal music thrives in authoritarian states and harsh conditions.

Following a trip to Albania I consider all the various coefficients that have to go together to allow scenes to exist in harsh conditions, religious oppression, totalitarian regimes or outright poverty, how does metal always somehow find a way through any cracks to take root. Even in the harshest conditions, and why that struggle is what defines so much of the glory of old metal. Yet some reasons across the globe are also much more subtle and not what you would imagine on first glance....Let's take a look at why and how scenes take root nemtheanga_primordial on the gram support the show over at : https://patreon.com/AlanAverill Primordial on Spotify YES THERE'S A NEW Primordial LIVE ALBUM OUT !! https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BZr6WHaejNA63uhZZZZek?si=yFFV8ypSSDOESUX62_0TzQ sponsored by Metal Blade records https://metalblade.indiemerch.com/ promo code AA 2024 for 10% off your order ships worldwide For info on my work as a booking agent go to: https://www.facebook.com/DragonProductionsOfficial or email alan@dragon-productions.com Primordial cds/lps available from https://www.metalblade.com/primordial/ death metal VERMINOUS SERPENT…

Topics covered

  • metal music
  • authoritarian states
  • music scenes
  • religious oppression
  • totalitarian regimes

Keywords

  • Albania
  • struggle
  • old metal
  • scenes

Sponsors

Metal Blade records

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Primordial, Verminous Serpent, Dread Sovereign

Places: Albania

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