Resistance and Counter-Memories in Persian Black Metal

Sina Winter, a pioneer of Iranian black metal, was forced to leave Iran because of his music. As the leader of the band, From the Vastland, Sina has produced music celebrating the pre-Islamic heritage of Iran and Zoroastrian tales. After performing at the Inferno Music Festival in Oslo in 2013 and appearing in the documentary Blackhearts (2017), he was forced to relocate. ¬e Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted him because of his media exposure and several artists continue to be persecuted due to their music. In the West, black metal bands tend to be in uenced by ancient legends and traditions, whereas in religiously authoritarian countries, such practices are o en harshly punished. In Iran, black metal is generally considered to be blasphemous. In addition, the lyrical content featured in Sina's work is controversial, as he celebrates a heritage that the Islamic Republic wishes to eradicate from collective consciousness. ¬is paper presents some results of my most recent studies looking at how black metal artists in Iran use their art to preserve ancient heritage and defy social norms.