Ozzies everywhere: Leicestershire to Ohio to Paikpara

Once upon a snowstorm, heavy metal blasting from a car stereo saved a man’s life. Or so claimed a 1990s print ad that ran with the tagline, ‘Judas Priest saved my life.’ The story went that a man trapped in the snow was miraculously rescued when Rob Halford’s screams pierced through the blizzard and alerted help. The joke sold speakers. But it was also kind of believable. Because that’s the thing about heavy metal. It doesn’t ask to be heard. It bludgeons its way into your ears.

Cut to 2025. Ozzy Osbourne just died. Judas Priest isn’t selling sound systems anymore. Metal isn’t on the charts and the long-haired leather-clad gods of yore haven’t ruled pop culture in decades. But try telling that to the 80,000-strong crowd at the Download Festival in Leicestershire each June where bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden and Slipknot still reign supreme. Or to the sea of loyalists at Sonic Temple in Ohio, where crowds top 120,000. Or, closer home, at underground mosh pits and DIY metal fests in Bangalore, Bombay and Bengal.

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