{"id":1182,"date":"2025-10-14T10:04:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/1182\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T10:04:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:04:12","slug":"how-heavy-metals-queens-of-scream-showcase-a-movement-not-a-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/1182\/","title":{"rendered":"How Heavy Metal\u2019s Queens of Scream Showcase a Movement, Not a Moment"},"content":{"rendered":"

– Advertisement –\"Jim\"Jim<\/a><\/p>\n

Heavy metal <\/a>is one of rock music\u2019s most loyal fan genres. Traditionally known for headbanging and dudes, the metal mainstream is shifting. I have always been a self-proclaimed \u201cmetalhead,\u201d and never has the fan base been stronger than it is now \u2014 from Sabbath to Slipknot to Spiritbox.<\/p>\n

Yup, the ladies are present in a big way \u2014 selling out shows without selling out. Women in metalcore, alt metal, and power metal are not only present but popular. The recent shift to harsh vocals, mixed with pop sensibility and powerful visuals, seems to be a trend for a new generation of female performers and the fans who follow them.<\/p>\n

Future female stars? Check out Daedric, The Pretty Wild, and Living Dead Girl \u2014 talented, determined, and business-minded. Gone are the days of needing a major label or airplay to jumpstart a career and define success.<\/p>\n

Social media, hard work, and a DIY attitude have made the field much more accessible for a new generation of strong females who could easily go the pop star or TikTok route but decided to let their vigorous voices and passion for the genre define their art.<\/p>\n

The Model Is Evolving Quickly<\/p>\n

I recently caught up with Molly Rennick, the intoxicating frontwoman and visionary for the band Living Dead Girl<\/a> (whose second full-length metal masterpiece Conspiracy just dropped). She told me about her self-made approach \u2014 and why never compromising in her music or her band\u2019s impressive videos is more important than instant crowd size.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout control, my identity is not my music. If I were a fabricated artist, like a Disney Channel pop star that they write songs for, I would not enjoy music anymore. It has to be my idea, my vision. There was this one band that asked me to join twice \u2014 they reached out to me again recently, where I would be in face paint and anonymous \u2014 and I said no,\u201d said Rennick. \u201cI\u2019ve seen that they are playing huge shows to huge crowds, and that would be really fun for me, but if no one knows it\u2019s Molly, then what\u2019s the point?\u201d<\/p>\n

Living Dead Girl has also worked with Mitchell Marlow (In This Moment) on both of their records. How does an indie band score the perfect producer?<\/p>\n

\u201cI just messaged him on Facebook, asked what his rates were, and told him I am a self-funded musician who wanted to hire him because I respected his work,\u201d explained Rennick. \u201cHe knew I meant business and told me to come up next month. That\u2019s why he took me seriously \u2014 I was a businesswoman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having a team that has a strong belief in artistry is an important piece of the puzzle, and I hit up a few \u201cmale metal believers\u201d who stand by their women.<\/p>\n

Speaking with the founder of Landshark Promotion, Gary Jay, I asked how do you open doors for new artists who clearly have the talent and drive to become unique stars when the genre is so much harder to the ear and not specifically radio-friendly.<\/p>\n

\u201cFortunately, there are a vast number of airplay outlets at commercial rock and classic rock radio that cater to artists and bands with a heavier edge to their music,\u201d said Jay. \u201cI wish there were more, \u2019cause there\u2019s absolutely an audience out there that\u2019s hungry for it. Ultimately, radio is a giant loudspeaker \u2014 an amplifier \u2014 that broadcasts your music, and also whatever you\u2019re doing, to the masses. So, if you\u2019re not doing anything, well, that message gets delivered as well. Musicians that treat their band like a business, that tour extensively, that invest in their own future \u2014 those are the ones that tend to succeed, and the types of artists that we\u2019re looking to work and partner with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay believes the women in the country have every right to be angry, especially in this current climate. He says that the expression of that anger manifested into music is maybe more relevant now than ever before. So, why does he choose to partner with super-heavy artists?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the airplay outlets for the stuff that\u2019s really heavy and shocking aren\u2019t plentiful, there are some \u2014 and their loyal audience is a dedicated, prime target to market aggressive and edgy new sounds to. To me, it all starts and ends with the riff. That\u2019s my point of entry into a song \u2014 a deep, sludgy riff that immediately sends you into air guitar mode,\u201d explained Jay. \u201cAs a radio guy, I\u2019m also looking for a hook \u2014 a massive, monster chorus (I love gang vocals, fist-in-the-air, call-and-response, etc.). There\u2019s gotta be something that brings you back to the song again and again. I think all of the best metal songs have that epic chorus that makes you wanna scream it back at your radio or speakers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legendary radio metal god Munsey Ricci, president of Skateboard Marketing, has definitely noticed a shift in acceptance of the female-fronted, super-heavy genre.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we\u2019ve seen a big shift of women in heavy music,\u201d noted Ricci. \u201cWe have Lacuna Coil, Butcher Babies, Dogma, and Tati from Jinjer. All have left a mark on the format, but we\u2019ve seen a growth of many more artists come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went to to explain in the past, the genre had Doro, Lee Aaron, and Lita Ford \u2014 the two most predominant in the \u201980s. Over the last 10 to 15 years, metal seen a big rise in symphonic metal and hard rock with Epica, Nightwish, Xandria, and Within Temptation. All have made an impact on how fans view music. <\/p>\n

\u201cThen we have Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy, Otep, and Kittie as well \u2014 all of whom have made a massive impact with fans musically,\u201d said Ricci. \u201cIt\u2019s not a man\u2019s world any longer, as the look and the trend have shifted, where some women are making a bigger splash than men are. If you look at many of the newer artists, such as Dystopica and The Burned Over, it\u2019s very clear that they are in a position to leave a legacy on heavy music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Screams And Streams<\/p>\n

Loud ladies are streaming as well as screaming \u2014 the stats for super-heavy, female-fronted music are massive.<\/p>\n

Heavy metal pop superstar Poppy is at close to a billion streams with very little traditional radio support and has had wildly successful tours. Newcomer Daedric is making noise with over 21 million streams on Spotify. Japanese metal icons Babymetal have surpassed the one-billion mark with literally no radio airplay.<\/p>\n

Spiritbox is selling out venues, breaking terrestrial radio barriers, and has over three million monthly listeners on Spotify. Their classic \u201cCircle With Me\u201d has surpassed 100 million streams.<\/p>\n

Cheers to the groundbreakers \u2014 Doro, Lita Ford, Cristina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil, Maria Brink from In This Moment, and more \u2014 who have opened doors for new generations to step through. And to those empowering the genre to move forward. Evolution in the music business is moving fast \u2014 metal fans will not get left behind.<\/p>\n

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated,\u00a0sign up<\/a>\u00a0for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n

\"Terrie\"TerrieTerrie Carr is a Music Features writer for Barrett Media and a Veteran Radio Programmer and On-Air personality who has programmed legendary New Jersey rock brands WDHA and WHTG. She also served as midday host and has opened her big mouth at\u00a0 Q104.3, WPST and WJRZ. In addition, Terrie has programmed at Sirius XM and hosted nationally syndicated radio specials. She is presently the host of her new venture \u201cThe Carr Stereo Podcast\u201d, which talks music and more with some of today\u2019s top artists. Barrett Media recognized her in 2024 as one of the industry\u2019s \u201cBest PD\u2019s\u201d and \u201cBest On Air Personalities\u201d. She was also named one of America\u2019s Best Program Directors by Radio\u00a0 Ink in 2001. Find Terrie on Instagram @TCRockdog or contact her at Terriecarrrnr@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n