Metal Music Studies is explicitly multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary: embracing both musicological research and music theory about metal music, and social scientific and humanistic research about metal music as a genre. We are interested in original papers on metal music. We aim to receive contributions from researchers and theorists aligned with the subject field of metal music studies, but also researchers and theorists from other disciplines who feel that their interest in a form of popular music marginalizes them from the core debates in their discipline.
The journal consists of two sections: a main section for full papers; and a second section for shorter pieces, reflections and reviews.
We would be happy to receive contributions from scholars in the parent disciplines of music theory, musicology, aesthetics, music technology, performance, art, policy studies, politics, cultural studies, economics, pedagogy, sociology, linguistics, psychology, history, regional studies, theology, philosophy, and natural sciences. As well as new research and theory on metal music in all its forms, the journal will accept and commission shorter pieces from those involved in the metal music industry: journalists, label owners and other industry insiders, managers, musicians and fans.
Submissions
We are now accepting full papers (no more than 8000 words) for section one of the journal, and book reviews and short articles (3000 words) for section two.
From volume 8 onwards, MMS welcomes the following new contribution formats for section two:
Critical album reviews – These are 1500–3000-word reflections on albums that have marked the evolution of metal music in some manner. These critical album reviews will link the album’s music, lyrics, and images to theoretical debates in the field of metal music studies.
Critical concert reviews – These are 1500–3000-word reflections on concert related experiences that help us understand metal music and its current directions. These reflections may include perusals about COVID-19’s impact on concerts, the short- and long-term implications of online concerts, themes addressed in concert dialogues that may be linked to theoretical discussion on metal music, and personal experiences in concerts that may shed light on how metal is manifested throughout the world.
Interviews with musicians, producers, and other industry personnel – These are 3000-word transcriptions of interviews with individuals in the music industry, or even within academia, that can shed light on topics of interest for metal music studies. These may include interviews with musicians, conversations with the producers of albums of interest, and/or insights from other personnel in the music industry that can accompany ongoing theoretical reflections in metal music studies.
All submissions should be sent via the 'Submit' link on this page, which will direct to the MMS manuscript submissions system.
