It’s in Brazil, Israel, China, Morocco, the United States, Norway, and beyond.

It’s passionate, expressive, and can be used as a force for change.

Its fans are among some of the most devoted in the world, flying from all over to attend concerts of up to 100,000 people.

Listening to it is a punishable offense in Iran.

It’s heavy metal music, and contrary to what one might expect, it’s sweeping the globe, influencing young and old alike, and helping to form its own subcultures on nearly every continent.

Join scholars Dr. Mark Levine, Dr. Jeremy Wallach, Dr. Deena Weinstein, and Dr. Esther Clinton at the University of Dayton’s Heavy Metal and Globalization: A Symposium as they speak from personal experience and research, breaking down stereotypes about this style of music and explaining how heavy metal music has spread and impacted cultures around the world.

“When most people think about heavy metal music, they just think that it’s a bunch of guys with long hair and spandex… but research shows they’re a lot of good musicians and looking to affect change,” said Dr. Bryan Bardine, associate professor at UD and the organizer of the symposium.

From research on how the genre has bred an underground resistant counter culture in the Middle East, to why the music appeals to people of different cultures around the globe, these four speakers will explore an array of topics concerning the global spread of heavy metal music.

One international appeal to heavy metal music is in the messages found in its songs, which are often a call to end oppression and to embrace social justice.  For example, the members of Iraqi band Acrassicauda, having survived both the Gulf War and Iraqi War, focus on messages imbued with the struggle of living in an area rife with conflict, losing family and friends to war, and even having to flee from bombings during their own musical performances.

Bardine suggests that heavy metal music is a logical medium for conveying these messages.

“It’s a music that motivates them, it’s more intense, it’s more aggressive,” he said.

It is these messages and passion which pervade the genre of heavy metal music and render it so fluid across cultures, drawing its fans together to experience a bond that is rarely matched by any other genre of music.

Come to the symposium to explore the spread of heavy metal music as an example of grass-roots globalization while this genre is growing and becoming more diverse throughout the world.

As Bardine suggests, there’s good reason to set aside any preconceived notions about heavy metal music and take the time to better understand the genre and its broadening global influence:

“There’s more to it than just loud music, there’s more depth, and it’s not going anywhere.  It’s getting more diverse.”

The symposium will be held on Friday, Nov. 9, from 3-6 p.m. at the University of Dayton’s Sears Recital Hall in the Jesse Philips Humanities Center.  This event is free and open to the public.  The event is presented by the University of Dayton’s Department of English and Arts Series in conjunction with other campus partners.

For those who are interested, there will also be a pre-symposium film screening of the documentary, Global Metal, at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, held in ArtStreet Studio B screening room.

For more information about arts events at UD, visit www.udayton.edu/arts.

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(submitted by Lauren Glass – a senior at the University of Dayton, where she is studying journalism and working as a social media assistant for ArtStreet)

I have been writing about Dayton and the music being played here since April, and one of the majestic things I have discovered is the people that I have met.  At the beginning of my journey, I couldn’t imagine where I would be headed, but I know that the road was going to be paved with excitement.  This past Thursday, another story was added to my book.  I arrived at the local establishment Tank’s, and I met up with local music artist Dan Raridan.  Dan is the lead singer of the band Dan Raridan and the Calientes.

I have previously met Dan recently at a show his band played at Canal Street.  Our exchange was brief, but the kindness he displayed to me was long lasting.  He came up to me as I was sitting at the bar, talking to another patrons that just was passing through town.  The patron heard from someone in town that they needed to check out Dan’s band, along with the other bands performing that night (Tim Pritchard and the Boxcar Suite, and Kyle Byrum).  Dan thanked each and every person that was at the show.  We sat down for a minute and he talked about how he was working on a new album, and it was near completion.  It was cool that he sat down with me, and we kept in touch thru social media.  So, when we met again at Tank’s, the night promised to be even better than that first meeting.

Pitchers of Guinness later, Dan (along with his friend, amazing photographer Gary Mitchell) and me dove into all kinds of topics.  We talked about the country of Costa Rica, and the wonder of how they don’t have an army.  We talked about surfing, as Dan is an avid surfer.  We talked about Mitchell’s photography, and the great places to do photo-shoots.  Dan gave me a CD that includes a lot of solo work from 2008. The night felt as if the three of us were friends for a long period of time.

Dan Raridan and the Calientes have recently released their newest work, Give It Up.  The album is longer than the band’s previous work, 2008’s Bus.  The album dives into a list of topics, with the garage rock influenced ‘Would You Liked To?’ which talks the beginnings of asking a girl out.  The moody ‘Sunshine In The Rain/Be My Love’ discusses losing the one that you love, and wanting them back.  ‘Dream With Me’ has Buddy Holly influences in Dan’s guitar play.  ‘Take This Ship To Shore’ has a Cali feel to it, with its laid back sound.

The band’s inception began back in 2008.  Raridan worked on many projects, diving into electronic music, performing at art shows, and was even DJing at one point.  It got to a point when Raridan wanted to do something different.  So, he picked up his guitar and started writing shows, and started going to open mic nights around town.  During this time, he met bassist Alessandro Cortez and drummer/percussionist Erich Reith.  The three met at South Park Tavern.  The trio played together briefly, as Reith was part of another local band, Puzzle of Light.  With the opening, Raridan met drummer Larry Smith.   Smith was part of a successful Clash tribute show.  Raridan fell in love with the drumming style of Smith.  He enjoyed it so much that he invited Smith to a rehearsal.  Immediately, the energy and the connection with the three men was there.  “I loved the moment that we started playing”, Raridan explained to me during our sit down conversation.  “Alessandro is such an amazing bassist, and have Smith playing with us, it was just so incredible.  The chemistry was there right off the bat.”  When I asked if that happens to most bands, Dan replied simply, “No.”  In 2010, Dan Raridan and the Calientes released their first album, Bus.  The album is heavily charged, with influences Smith’s time with The Clash tribute band, along with influences of Bruce Springsteen.   The end result is a passionate blend of rock, punk, and blues.  Here’s a video from the band during a set in 2011.  Song is called ‘Hold On’

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Raridan has been working on this album for some time.  When we were at Tank’s, I noticed that Raridan had a notepad with him.  He explained to me that he writes at all times.  He gave me the example of him walking back to his place recently.  He noticed that there was a group of kids playing in the middle of his neighborhood’s road.  The joy and carefree attitude that were spilling all over the children paved way to a part of the notebook.  Raridan also writes a lot of poetry.  He showed me all of his writings in his little notebook, which also included one of the songs that are part of the new album, ‘Goodbye Terry’.

Dan Raridan has coyness to him that throws you off.  When performing with the band, Raridan brings everything to the table.  Every single emotional is thrown into the set.  When you sit down with him, he comes off a little shy.  However, when you get more into the conversation with him, you take notice that it’s just his style.  He is so laid back, and he is an emotional person.  When he talked about his band mates, he talked about the love and admiration he had for them.  “I love those guys (Alessandro and Larry).  They are my family”, Raridan said.  “They have given me the gift of their talent and time and love.” After our night at Tanks, I posted a photo of the album of his solo work he gave me onto my Instagram and Facebook profile.  I mentioned that it was very kind for him to give me this CD of music he did solo in 2008.  Raridan posted this comment:

It brings back great memories. 2008 was a pivotal year for me. I’m still floating from the love and hope and inspiration I received that year. I met Alessandro in 2008. And soon after, Larry… Meeting you has reminded me of that time, that spark. Thank you for that.

To download the new album Dan Raridan and the Calientes, go to danraridan.bandcamp.com.  While you there, download the band’s  first album, Bus.