Music, even metal, can change the world. Overshadowed by news of terrorism and the Taliban, the metal scene in Pakistan has been pretty far underground. The Pakistani youth are changing that. On Saturday night in Karachi, six bands, with names like Venom, Trauma and Reclamation, competed in a battle of the bands for a paltry 60 dollars American.
These youth are trying to circumvent the media, who they see as partly to blame for Pakistan's reputation as a haven for terrorists. Hena Nizar, the event organizer, said, "They portray our country in such a way that it forces people to think we’re a terrorist country." They are also trying to peel their country from the grip of the Taliban.
[Navid] Chohan strummed his guitar for heavy metal band Reclamation, young men who want to take back Pakistan’s reputation from the Taliban and shatter what they call misperceptions created by negative headlines.
"When people hear about Pakistan, they just feel that it’s all terrorists living in this country, even though it’s not true," Chohan said. "I mean look at me. I don’t look like a mullah or a terrorist."
-CNN
Another added:
"We have a different mentality than the Taliban," said metal-head Sharik Ahmed. "They play with guns. We play with instruments."
-CNN
Aided by three English language stations, including Karachi's City FM 89, Heavy Metal is getting bigger in Pakistan and in 9 years has become one of the most popular genres. One of the most listened to shows is Black Sundays, a three hour all-metal program.
So far there has been little or no backlash from the extremists or the Taliban, but City FM 89's program director, Munizeh Sanai still worries:
"We are deeply concerned, because we don’t know what triggers attacks," Sanai said. "We’d like to think we’re not important enough to be a target, but you just don’t know."
-CNN
Up The Irons, my Pakistani metal-head brethren. Keep playing, loud enough for the world to hear.