Metal Lords (2022)

Metal Lords is special because it treats teenage obsession—especially the kind that makes you feel like an alien in your own school—as both hilarious and oddly heroic, with a sincere affection for the kids who cling to loud music like a lifeline. Peter Sollett rides a sweet spot between raunchy, riff-fueled comedy and a surprisingly tender coming-of-age story, letting Jaeden Martell and Adrian Greensmith play their friendship’s push-pull with real bite, while Isis Hainsworth brings a bruised, magnetic intelligence that deepens the band’s energy. The vibe is scrappy and good-natured, full of humiliations, small victories, and the kind of catharsis you only get when you finally make noise on your own terms. It’s not for everyone—there’s strong language, teen partying, and some mean streaks of bullying—but if you’ve ever loved a genre, a friend, or a dream a little too loudly, this one hits like a power chord.

Metal Lords wants to be a warm, loud love letter to teenage outsiders who find salvation in heavy music, and you can feel the affection for metal culture underneath the noise. The problem is it often plays like a checklist of high-school movie beats—bullying, band drama, party detours—stitched together with patchy pacing and direction that doesn’t add much spark. If you’re hoping for sharp character work or a story that truly earns its big emotional turns, this may feel sloppy and oddly at odds with the “misfits unite” message it’s aiming for. Still, the young cast is likable, the music energy is real, and if you’re in the mood for a rough-around-the-edges teen crowd-pleaser with strong language and some raunch, you might have a decent time.