A HEAVY METAL ARCHIVE

Words by Jarenni Ambriz

“When I was 18 years old, I used to ride the bus and look at all these little shops around here…and I would think, wow, if I could just get one of these little buildings, I would have a record store.

I would have a music studio for my band. I would get a silk screen and make my own T-shirts. I’ll do whatever I want in there. Now I'm 35 years old, and I have all of what I wanted when I was 18.”

— Andres, owner of Necroplasm
in San Fernando Valley, California

Andres is one of the members of the local metal scene in Southern California that I interviewed for the heavy metal archive I am creating at Cal State LA. As he recounted his journey to becoming a business owner, he revealed his longtime involvement in the scene as a fan, musician, and promoter. Now, he owns a shop where he cultivates a space dedicated to his passion for metal and horror.

The heavy metal scene of Southern California is more than just music—it is a community of local musicians, business owners, promoters, and fans who have been involved for years. Within this community exists artistry, passion, and a strong sense of belonging. Local metal shows serve as both entertainment and hubs for sociopolitical engagement, from fundraisers for Palestine to grassroots organizing. The heavy metal scene plays a vital role in the lives of its members

The Archive: A Space for Preservation

This archival collection is an extension of my undergraduate research project at Cal State LA, where I examined how local metal musicians navigate their roles as both artists and entrepreneurs while maintaining their authenticity within the community.

As an institution serving East LA, Cal State LA's archive primarily preserves the histories of diasporic and immigrant communities, as well as the many first-generation students who attend the university. Given this commitment to representing marginalized communities, it was the perfect place to document a music scene often overlooked by mainstream media and academia.

The heavy metal archive will be part of the Cal State LA special collection titled Sounds of the Underground: Music Scenes in LA from the 1960s-2000s, an initiative highlighting the city’s diverse musical history.

Mortalis at The Smell, Los Angeles, 2024

Bridging the Academic
and the Personal

Before recruiting participants for my project, I had to gain IRB approval, which required me to outline exactly how I would contact local bands, message them, and structure my interviews. The process felt overly tactical and distant from the organic relationships I hoped to build. Though my research was community-oriented, I was acutely aware of my role as a researcher, and at times, it made me feel disconnected from the people I was studying.

Archives often have a reputation for being inaccessible, housed within academic institutions that require photo IDs or faculty approval for access. Even our language can be exclusionary, filled with academic jargon that makes research legible only to other scholars.

Inspired by the ethos of Azalea Camacho, the head of our department, I wanted to ensure that my role as an academic would directly benefit my community rather than simply using it as data.

Creating a Lasting Impact

This collection ensures that the local metal scene will have a lasting presence in the archive, but I wanted to do more. In April 2025, I will curate an exhibit in the University Library showcasing the meticulous work that goes into building this community. The exhibit "Metal in the Underground" will feature oral history excerpts, ethnographic observations, and artifacts from local bands. To further engage the public, the archive will also host a launch event with live performances from two local bands, promoting the archive and exhibit to both students and community members.

Documenting the Scene Through Photography

There is an indescribable energy at metal shows. For musicians, performing in front of a crowd and interacting with fans feels electric.
As a fan myself, I have experienced this firsthand.

While conducting my research, I began photographing bands to document this environment and give back to the local scene. Given that social media is crucial for music promotion, I hoped my photos would be useful to the bands as well. Photography became my way of immersing myself in the community while remaining an observer. The exhibit will primarily feature these photographs, along with display cases showcasing band merchandise. The photos will be arranged in layers, creating the effect of the underground scene rising above.

Wasted Eternities at The Haven, Pomona, 2024

From Researcher to Community Member

Initially, I was not an active member of the local scene. I listened to metal and occasionally attended shows, but I didn’t engage with the community beyond that. My project began as a way to develop my skills as a scholar, but it ended up giving me so much more. What was once an imagined community became a real one.

At first, I felt like an outsider. But it wasn’t the community that made me feel this way—it was me. As I built relationships with local musicians and promoters, I realized how welcoming and supportive they were. Despite not knowing who I was, they embraced me and my work.

I aim to continue this community’s legacy in my future projects. Forever inspired by heavy metal, I hope to bring the inclusivity of this scene into the institutions I work with—whether universities or archival facilities—encouraging them to develop deeper ties with the communities they serve.

Kumsumption performing at Brick’s Bar, Los Angeles, 2024

Exhibition poster

Postscript

This exhibit opened on April 10th, 2025 and is on view at CSULA until the Fall.

It was difficult to picture exactly how the exhibit would look prior to installation. I had an image in my head but as it all came together, I realized how closely it reflected the DIY nature of the underground scene. 

The backdrop consisted of black and white flyers and photos all stacked onto each other, and the exhibit case was plastered with printed flyers. Even the installation of hanging images was improvised by attaching them directly from the ceiling tiles. 

One of the attendees of the event described the contrast with the rest of the library, saying they felt transported into another space.

This was very affirming to hear, as I tried to stay authentic to the feeling of metal throughout this whole project—integrating its community ethos into the institutional setting

Installation view

Exhibit Opening

Students, fans, and local metal musicians all attended the event. The reactions of the artists featured in the exhibit were priceless. They were all very thankful and at a loss for words, unable to describe the feeling they felt seeing their hard work displayed on the wall. The exhibit recognized the important roles local musicians play in keeping the scene alive. It made them feel special and seen, and ultimately that was the main purpose of the exhibit.

During the performances of the local bands, a few of the audience members came together in a line and embraced each other while headbanging. This was the cherry on top of the event as it reassured me that the exhibit successfully unified the community.

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