SYNOPSIS

 

Angola, a country ravished by 500 years of war, colonialism, exploitation, mismanagement and neglect - while at the same time potentially being one of the richest countries on Earth - has found an expression for its rage, dark energy and collective trauma through the hard hitting sounds of American, British and Scandinavian hard core death metal. Appropriating the distorted guitar, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, atonality, complex song structures and multiple tempo changes, these young artists are creatively transforming the aesthetics of grotesqueness and profound loss into a vibrant passionate life affirming act. A scream into the mad rush of the 21st century.

 

While their American, British and Scandinavian counterparts often invoke slasher filmstyle violence, these young Angolan musicians' familiarity with mortality, mutilation and acts of extreme brutality come from first hand knowledge and family lore. Full of philosophy, social commentary and vital energy, their music reworks their mangled and monstrous history into something life affirming and powerful. It is a new face of Africa, attempting to put the past to rest and move forward with new burning energy.  As one young musician said, "Europe is dead, the future is Angola."

 

THE FILM 

 

We will film the preparations for the festival and follow several of the musicians through their lives, joining them at home and work, with their families and friends and in the studios. We will film the concerts and the aftermath, giving a portrait not only of the characters but the world they are trying to negotiate through their music.

 

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