Bloody Rain and Thorny Roses. Gender Coding in Thrash and Hair Metal
Bloody Rain and Thorny Roses. Gender Coding in Thrash and Hair Metal

Summary/Abstract: In the mid 1980s two new subgenres of heavy metal were created inthe USA: hair/glam and thrash metal. Hair metal was mostly played by menwho were perceived as effeminate – something which seemingly goes againstmetal’s emphasis on masculinity (and implied homophobia). Thrash metaldistanced itself from its rival by a more masculine visual code, a moreaggressive sound, but also with the choice of words and subjects in their lyrics.By comparing early albums by some of the most famous bands of bothsubgenres it is possible to point out the most common supposedly 'feminine'and 'masculine' keywords, themes and images which are embedded in theiralbums, as well as different strategies of constructing 'masculinity'.

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