Popular Culture Review Volume 30, Number 1, Winter 2019 | Page 255

Popular Culture Review 30.1
cal scenes ” ( Norman 118 , 136 ). O ’ Drona ’ s incorporation of tales and legends , local myths , and folk traditions in his music play a powerful role in the preservation of County Clare culture and identity .
Matt Sage and Caelli Jo Brooker explore the “ Manifold Intensities : Musical Identities in Contemporary Antipodean Metalcore and Post-Hardcore ” in their chapter , focusing on performance authenticity in Australia ’ s national music scene . The meteoric rise of the metalcore and post-hardcore subgenres reflect the inclusiveness and diversity of the Australian local scenes . The contrasting extreme and melodic vocal techniques exemplify the subgenre . Intense live performances are characterized by energetic mosh pits and anthemaic crowd accompaniment . Amanda DiGioia ’ s chapter ends the collection , looking at the heavy metal scene in a tiny sliver of New England . “ Love Breed or Hate Haven ? Localized Narratives of Identity in Heavy Metal Scene of New Haven , Connecticut ” utilizes fan and musician interviews to explore the music scene on the East Coast . DiGioia finds that New Haven residents ’ shared identity of civil rights ( in a culturally pluralistic community ) puts them and the local music scene in opposition to the general political climate of the United States . DiGioia also highlights the prominent visibility of marginalized groups and the inclusion of gender racial “ others ” in the scene .
Karjalainen ’ s “ Epilogue ” nicely ties together the complex negotiations on national and local identities in in the heavy metal scene , observing that the contradictions and paradoxes therein can be traced back to complex questions of authenticity and authority ( 192 ). The strengths of this collection are numerous , but the sheer breadth of focus emphasizes the underserved local scenes and under-explored approaches to contemporary music studies . As heavy metal completes its
244