Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam

by Mark Levine
Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam
book data
48 ratings, 3.29 average rating, 18 reviews (more data...)
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published
July 8th 2008 by Three Rivers Press

binding
Paperback, 320 pages

url

isbn
0307353397    (isbn13: 9780307353399)

description
“We play heavy metal because our lives are heavy metal.”
—Reda Zine, one of the founders of the Moroccan heavy-metal scene

“Music is the weapon of the f...more




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Cwl
08/10/08
Cwl rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Read in August, 2008
The emergence of metal in the Middle East/North Africa is interesting and important and should be documented. Having said that, there were things about this book that irked me. The author is an academic and it shows--a recurring theme in the book is the menace of "neoliberal globalization", although the author's main evidence for said menace is untestable hearsay like "The trilingual texture of the conversation symbolized one of Abid's key points, which is that Iran is becoming ...more
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Russell
07/15/08
Russell rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in August, 2008
I thought this was a fascinating social critique on metal (and other music) and the role it plays in middle eastern societies. What was really eye opening was the amount of persecution metal, hip hop, and sometimes all forms of music undergo in all of the countries that were discussed in this book. From the more liberal regions like Dubai to the stifling regimes of countries like Iran, this book paints a vivid picture of the challenges musicians face in islamic cultures. I would recommend thi...more
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BAYA Librarian
01/17/09
BAYA Librarian rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: non-fiction
Read in September, 2008
M Written by a professor of Middle Eastern studies at UC Irvine, this examines how Heavy Metal music (and rap and hip-hop) influences a portion of the world's Islamic youth. As much for adults as teens, this book goes into great detail and is fascinating, but not a brisk read. Each chapter focuses on a different country, from Morocco to Pakistan, and he includes lots of interviews and anecdotes along with solid history of these regions. LeVine sees hope in the Islamic youth who identify with...more
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Shannon
08/20/08
Shannon rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in August, 2008
This is a pretty interesting book that shows a different side of the countries written about (Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, and Iran). I don't know much about the rock scene in America, let alone in these countries. But most of us in the west certainly don't imagine Muslims rocking out to metal. The book was fairly interesting, but would have been more interesting if I were a musician or if I liked heavy metal.

I'm a bigger fan of traditional Middle Eastern m...more
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Michael
08/03/08
Michael rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in October, 2008
Since I am working for a while in Egypt this is somewhat interesting, but it isn't something someone would read for fun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not surprisingly, since I am in Egypt, the fifty or so pages in the chapter about Egypt specifically are the most interesting (so far).

I was amused to read, "On the way we passed the local Hardee's - which, as in New Jersey when I was growing up - has become the place for Cairo's metal population to meet after dark. At 1:0...more
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Severin-aime
07/01/09
Severin-aime rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in December, 2008
I believe this to be an example of a 21st century ethnography. The individual stories and descriptions are engaging, while demystifying attitudes of young adults in parts of the Middle East. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in connections to the Middle East that aren't only concerned with religion and/or politics (although those are unavoidable issues).
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Kishwar
11/13/08
Kishwar rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Read in November, 2008
I had a hard time making it through this. It helped that Pakistan - the chapter I was most interested in - was at the end :)
I am not quite sure what the author's point was. Was it just a recounting of the state of heavy metal in muslim countries? Trying to prove that a link exists between politics and heavy metal? That Muslim countries are musically some years behind the west and will outgrow the need for heavy metal?
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Joshua
09/16/08
Joshua rated it: 3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: read-in-08
Read in September, 2008
Interesting book regarding heavy metal and rap music and its popularity in Islamic countries in Africa and the Middle East. Some of these people who play/listen to this music have to do so under secrecy or danger to their well being because of religious leaders and governments who brand them as Satanists or against God. Jail, beatings and persacution may come their way. Now, that's dedication.

The problem is LeVine seems almost like a cheerleader for the cause rather than just being a ...more
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Scott
09/19/08
Scott rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in August, 2008
recommended to Scott by: Robin Hopkins
recommends it for: crckt, zach
I'm still reading it but I can comfortably give it four stars before I'm done. I would have given it five but I think the guy's political outlook veers a bit too sharply into the "modern liberal (aka bourgeois) democracy will fix things" camp, and tails religion a bit too much. But I tell you what...the human connections he makes with the metal heads, hip hop kids, punks and goths all over the Muslim world are a revelation. This is a view of the Muslim world that is not bogged down in ...more
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Michael
12/09/08
Michael rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: pop-culture
Read in September, 2008
Not as good as you would think. Although readable, it would have been better as a series of articles in a magazine. One impressive thing is how dedicated the bands are despite government harassment.
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Susan
06/02/09
Susan rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: read_and_review
This book requires background knowledge of heavy metal and its subgenres, as well as major artists.
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Stefanie
01/27/09
Stefanie rated it: 5 of 5 stars

fabulous, with a great analysis of imperalism/colonization/globalization, too!
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Jeremy
02/28/09
Jeremy marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read
Has a copy to sell/swap
I just bought this, and it looks interesting.
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Andri Click
10/06/08
Andri Click rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in November, 2008
Tertarik karena judulnya. Mulai baca beberapa halaman awal. Lumayan menarik, cerita tentang perkembangan musik heavy metal di dunia Islam. Sayang gak ada cerita tentang di Indonesia, padahal Indonesia kan negara dengan jumlah muslim terbesar di dunia. Kalo udah kelar, nanti akan gw email si penulis, dan tawarkan untuk edisi revisi nanti masuk cerita perkembangan heavy metal di Indonesia. Banyak koq temen2 yg siap jadi nara sumber.
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Laura
09/23/08
Laura rated it: 3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: lost-interest
I'm not much for non-fiction, to be honest. This caught my eye, though. I figured, I don't know as much about Islam as I should, but I certainly know a lot about Heavy Metal. The concept was interesting.

Anyway, so far it's pretty good. I can easily set it down for a while, but pick it back up w/o missing a beat.

I gave up. I think I just need to admit I'm not a reader of non-fiction. I have yet to finish one.
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Gabriel
10/14/08
Gabriel rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Discussed at SF Gospel:

"Heavy Metal Islam... underscores the complexity of Muslim culture—a culture that the Western media paints in black-and-white."

Full post here:

http://sfgospel.typepad.com/sf_gospel/20...
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ross
08/19/08
ross rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Oddly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I should have. The writing wasn't great and I do have little interest in hearing about the author's foray into recording a nu-metal song with several Muslim musicians.
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Becky
05/12/08
Becky marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read
recommended to Becky by: Random House newsletter
Caught my interest...
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Gina
06/22/09
Gina marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read

Jonah
06/19/09
Jonah marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read


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