Heavy metal scholars flock to Salzburg

The quaint alpine city of Salzburg is used to two kinds of musical visitors: fans of Mozart or the Sound of Music. It is, after all, the birthplace of both.

Next week, however, musical devotees of an altogether different sort will assemble under its baroque towers - and they'll be sporting ponytails, leather jackets, boots and black t-shirts emblazoned with images of skulls and gore.

Salzburg will be host to the world's first scholarly conference on heavy metal, the brainchild of UK academic Dr Niall Scott. Headbangers from universities in Britain, Turkey, Canada and Indonesia will present research papers on heavy metal aesthetics, sub-cultures and politics.



Their studies will include "comparative empirical studies" on bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Metallica.

Research papers include Suicide, Booze and Loud Guitars: The Ethical Problem of Heavy Metal; Controlled Anger and the Expression of Intensity and Authenticity in Post-modern Heavy Metal; and Heavy Metal in a Muslim Context: The Rise of the Turkish Metal Underground.

Scott, a senior lecturer in ethics at the University of Central Lancashire and a proud metalhead, said it was time to "recognise heavy metal's contribution to western society".

There are more details about the conference here.