The best music genre or band documentaries (think Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey or Some Kind Of Monster) work two angles: they appeal to the fans by packing the films with the best bands and music; and they’re informative, so someone who wants to learn about the genre or band can do so, and even die hard fans might learn a thing or two.
Slave To The Grind: A Film About Grindcore by Doug Brown won’t win any awards for narrative or flow, but it checks a lot of boxes: Repulsion, Napalm Death, Siege, Terrorizer, Earache, Brutal Truth, Discordance Axis, A.C., and the list goes on. The bonus disc has video of a Q&A with Repulsion and Terrorizer L.A. (and deleted scenes and other extras). There’s even a quick demonstration of a blast beat.
Brown has been putting the time and effort into promoting his film, getting it screened at various death metal festivals internationally and touring it (which included a Washington D.C. show and screening last year). Slave To The Grind succeeds better at the former angle of getting thumbs-ups from fans than at educating, but it’ll hold your attention and it’s entertaining. Those are two good checked boxes right there.
Pick it up at grindcorefilm.com.
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