There are some books that should be read by everyone who deals with Metal music.
One of them is Professor Nelson Varas-Díaz, who explores how Metal affects and benefits communities in countries such as Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina.
The professor’s book focuses on how Metal in Latin America is used to challenge colonialism.
How bands like Flor de Loto use metal to deal with their current oppression to build a better future.
The effects of colonialism, such as racism, political persecution, ethnic extermination, and extreme capitalism, continue to negatively affect societies.
His extensive ethnographic research includes areas such as:
Puerto Rico
- Cuba, The Dominican Republic,
Mexico
- Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Argentina,
Chile
In essence, Dr. Varas-Díaz records how Metal musicians and listeners engage in “extreme colonial dialogues” as a strategy to challenge the past, but also to present all forms of oppression.
The book, published by the University of Chicago Press, suggests that most existing studies of metal music in Latin America are based on theoretical frameworks.
Instead, Dr. Varas-Díaz explores the region through his own history and experiences, providing a roadmap for this emerging way of music analysis.
Like the fact that while Latin America can boast of a huge stream of music scenes, after almost four decades, very few bands have become well-known.
With Sepultura, apparently, being the only band that seems to really make it to the mainstream pantheon.
Dr. Nelson Varas-Díaz is a Professor in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies at the International University of Florida.