Screaming of slaughter and samurai: motives and methods for exploring premodern Japan in the Japanese folk metal scene

This article brings medievalism into contact with research on metal and sociolinguistics to explore how and why three Japanese metal bands use language to explore Japan’s premodern history and myth. Through interviews and critical analysis of each artist’s lyrics, the article shows that the bands are influenced by acts of medievalism in European metal scenes, but explore Japan’s past for distinct purposes, in response to distinct language ideologies, and using distinct markers of Japan’s linguistic past. Ultimately, the article expands on how medievalism motivates reflections on local pasts, and questions our understanding of how and where its influences manifest.