Mysticism, ritual and religion in drone metal

Owen Coggins shows that while a large proportion of drone metal listeners profess to be atheist, the way in which listeners talk about their experiences suggests otherwise.

He explores why language relating to mysticism, religion, ritual and spiritual experience is so prevalent in the drone metal community and its discussion of musical experiences and practices of the genre.

This is the first extensive scholarly study of drone metal and its religious dimensions, drawing on three years of ethnographic participant observation at more than 300 performances, 74 interviews with listeners and other participants, survey data, analysis of sound recordings, artwork and other related material, as well as extensive online discourse about music.