Perhaps the most interesting case of religion and heavy metal is that of the emergence of a substantial Muslim metal fan base in the Middle East. Mark LeVine writes all about his personal experiences with the metal culture in the Middle East in his book “Heavy Metal Islam”. LeVine spent many years traveling to Middle Eastern countries such as Israel, Pakistan, Iran, and Lebanon. While there he interviewed a great number of metal fans and musicians, and from this he learned a great deal about Islam's place in metal. In his book, he focuses mainly on the oppression that many Muslims metal fans experience on a daily basis. In many Middle Eastern countries absolute freedom of expression is often very difficult to come by, due to strict religious and political authorities. Due to this oppression, heavy metal music in these countries is often demonized, and looked down upon greatly. LeVine notes that Muslim metal fans have even been “arrested, jailed, and even tortured for being ‘Satan Worshippers’” (16). Even though many of the principles of Islam conflict with immoral themes in heavy metal, the genre has gained a small Muslim fanbase because it offers a way for them to express their discontent and speak out against the unfair oppression that they face.
An important metal band in the Middle East is the Israeli band Orphaned Land. Orphaned Land is not strictly Muslim, but a large percentage of their fans are. The band shows both Arabic and Jewish influences, and for this reason their style and lyrics are rather eclectic (LeVine 116). Their lead singer Kobi Farhi explains that the band is “the next level of religion, because we’re more open. We take things that are in conflict and bring them into harmony rather than driving people apart” (LeVine 117). This valiant cause of promoting religious tolerance can be seen clearly in a picture of the band that shows them dressed up as Jews and Muslims, and Fahri dressed as Jesus. Even though heavy metal is seen by many in the Middle East as immoral and against Islamic principles, it has gained a significant Muslim fan base, and it provides many Muslims with an effective way to fight injustice and promote peace.
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