SATURDAY 10 | Ever since Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple became the first to unleash heavy metal’s monstrously high-volume machismo back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, metalheads, also known as headbangers, have been branded ‘Satan’s spawn’. In truth, many are anything but – particularly within the Buddhist confines of 21st century Cambodia. “We’ll be doing our best to share everything we’ve got: our power, our minds, our feelings.” Sam, 20, is an international relations student and ‘clean’ non-screaming vocalist with post-hardcore and metalcore band, No Forever. “We do this every time we’re on stage; we love what we have and we love to share.” And how do the folks back home take to Sam’s super-loud, super-fast sound? “I have to hide from my parents. They just know I love singing and they love my voice, but they don’t know what I’m doing right now. The market for metal here is so small we can say there’s no market at all, but it’s what we love.” Hers is far from a unique experience, says Zoro. Ask this 18-year-old IT student and No Forever’s resident screamer what his family’s take is and he throws up his hands. “Oh my god! My dad, who plays guitar and keyboard, said: ‘What kind of music is this screaming? You should scream to the cows. They’re the only ones who will listen.’ I said: ‘Dad, you don’t accept the revolution. You’re only listening to hard rock like Carlos Santana, The Eagles, Scorpions.’ Zoro smiles. “Now he says: ‘Keep it up, if that’s what you want.’ Nowadays, I can scream in my house whenever I want.”
WHO: No Forever & AOA
WHAT: Post-hardcore metal
WHERE: Show Box, #11 Street 330
WHEN: 7:30pm August 10
WHY: \m/ \m/ \m/