Music Documentaries # 6

With my Music Documentaries posts my aim is to highlight certain scenes, music genres or just in general music history that in my opinion matters and the world should know more about. In today’s installment you get three Metal documentaries focusing on the ‘80s while highlighting scenes in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. Each video focuses mainly on Thrash Metal with the exception of “Metal City” being genre wise more broad in its approach.

First off, please head over to YouTube to watch this one due to age restrictions. Murder in the Front Row is a brilliant movie if you either want to learn more about the Bay Area Thrash Metal scene, relive those times or simply enjoy a well done music documentary highlighting the rise of bands such as Slayer, Metallica or Exodus. I first saw Dubin’s movie on Night Flight, but it’s nice to see that it’s out there for everyone to see for free.

Metal City screams the 1980’s so much it isn’t even funny. This rare VHS tape was uploaded to YouTube just very recently, and it certainly makes for an entertaining watch. Neat Records from the Newcastle area were an integral part for the development of Heavy Metal in the UK in the early to Mid-80’s and this at times hilariously funny video highlights four bands: Venom, Warfare, Saracen and Avenger. Quite frankly Saracen could have been left out, but they do make for a good laugh. Hey, someone out there might even like them.

For an upload with English subtitles, click here. Excellent and truly beautifully crafted documentary about German Thrash gods Kreator, filmed in 1989 and about the time when the band had released their fourth album on Noise Records. This is a movie about Thrash Metal, friendship, brotherhood, family, and so much more. It’s a truly fascinating look at the Ruhr Valley with its problems of deindustrialization, kids with dreams, unemployment and generational views on life, work, music and society in general. A must watch, and until next time!