Puerto Rico Heavy Metal Studies

For the past forty years, the Caribbean has spawned a massive array of metal music, which for the most part has remained under the radar from the rest of the world. It is nearly impossible to capture the entire history of metal in the region given its prolific output. Nevertheless, this documentary sheds some light on three metal scenes in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The documentary examines how each island's metal scene has been influenced by history, culture, and political context.

This documentary explores the development and survival of a small, yet highly active, metal scene in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. Heavy metal music seems completely out of place in this setting when examined in the context of the island’s culture and history. Still, a local metal scene has existed during the past 30 years despite the challenges faced, and continues to thrive. How have they done it? That is what the film explores by focusing on the role of their strong communal ties that help them critically assess questions related to national identity, language, colonial politics, religion, gender, social transgression, and survival. You will never see the Caribbean in the same way...