Mini Docs
Metal Sam
Special | 4m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Afghanistan native ‘Metal Sam’ has re-established his true passion of playing metal guitar
For 21 year old 'Metal Sam' music is freedom. A native of Afghanistan, he and his family were in Kabul during the Taliban takeover. Forced into worry and fear - he threw away his guitar which was seen as supportive to western culture. Now, two years later, his family have found their way to a better life in New Haven, CT, where Metal Sam has re-established his true passion of playing metal guitar.
Mini Docs
Metal Sam
Special | 4m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
For 21 year old 'Metal Sam' music is freedom. A native of Afghanistan, he and his family were in Kabul during the Taliban takeover. Forced into worry and fear - he threw away his guitar which was seen as supportive to western culture. Now, two years later, his family have found their way to a better life in New Haven, CT, where Metal Sam has re-established his true passion of playing metal guitar.
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(guitar amp noise) (metal guitar playing) (Narrator) Most Americans have n connection to the 20 year long Afghanistan war.
Beyond reading the headlines, perhaps shaking their heads at the way American forces were withdrawn and learning about the people at risk left behind.
People wanted to change after that long period of war, not knowing that that change could be worse.
It was terrifying and it was very sad and depressing to see all of that happen.
(crowd in street chanting) (gunfire) Its hard to leave your country behind.
Nobody wants to like leave their country But when things like that happen you have to like give it up.
because we played black metal in a country like Afghanistan, which is super religious, and they're against all kinds of freedom seeking activities, they burn down musical instruments.
strictly forbidden by Taliban.
(metal music) There was a lot of uncertainty.
But generally we wanted to leave because we were threatened.
And it wasn't.
good for us to stay anymore, that was really one of the horrible moments of my life.
(metal music) I listen to everything metal like Slam, Black, Death, Thrash Metal every time I heard distortion, it would just sound very good to my ear.
(metal music) It's a way to express your freedom and to show like you can be a part of something very cool, part of a community that is accepting all religions, all races.
(large crowd noise) I was just in the center of the city when that happened.
And people were fleeing, getting away.
A lot of people went home.
A lot of people went to the airport.
Some made it to the planes.
Some went home to just protect their families (clean guitar music) It was quite stressful.
And it was a long journey.
Very tiring.
We went to Mazar-i-Sharif first, which is another province, and then we were taken to a temporary accommodation to hotels.
And then eventually, after one month, we were evacuated using charter planes.
that was one of the most exciting moments that I've ever had in my life.
when we were on the plane and after one month, it finally happened.
So everyone was excited, very happy.
There was still a chance that they could return the plane or just shoot it down.
But we made it.
I got a good workout I almost started to get angry, which is good.
Im good when I'm angry.
I write music about war and peace I was born in a war torn country and how terrible it is to have war.
And I think thats the whole message.
And I want to, express freedom through my music.
