"I live in Finland and so know well that the country is heavy metal mad. It boasts more metal bands per capita than any other country in the world. Metal has long been the nation's unofficial flagship cultural pursuit, with bands (called things such as Nightwish, Apocalyptica and Amorphis) acting as ambassadors where few other cultural figures have broken through abroad."
"As Stratton performed an acoustic version of Prowler, backed by local musician Henri Seger, the tears started to flow predominantly from the men in the audience. At this point I realised one of the main reasons for metal's popularity in a country where the inhabitants are famously emotionally restrained it offers a rare outlet for collective expression. I won't forget the sight of these macho, taciturn Finnish men united in their tears and their denims, the instantly recognisable uniform of the metal fanbase worldwide."
Finland has more metal bands per capita than any other country and embraces heavy metal as a major cultural pursuit. Dedicated fan groups, such as the Crazy Finns, follow bands on worldwide tours and mark anniversaries with emotive gatherings. Live performances can generate intense collective emotion, providing an outlet in a society often described as emotionally restrained. Heavy metal maintains global relevance decades after its origins, with recent mainstream moments including Gojira's Paris Olympics performance and Grammy win, Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary tour, Black Sabbath's farewell gig, and the public outpouring following Ozzy Osbourne's death.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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