A Guide to Metal Bands From Beijing

Metal – you either love it or hate it. And if you love it, chances are you might have dyed, waist-long hair, a full beard (even if you are a woman), a number of tattoos (perhaps in one or two places you don’t usually show in public), you probably like motorcycling (or are a radical environmentalist), you enjoy alcohol (because that is integral to enjoying this type of music) and you just might be really into fantasy role playing (your avatar most likely being the dwarf because his beard looks exactly like yours).

Are you this person? Then you might enjoy one of the following band recommendations – or all of them – as we take a look at five metal artists from Beijing. Maybe you’ll find your new favorite band too!

Nine Treasures (九宝 jiǔ bǎo)

Although the band Nine Treasures was founded in Beijing in 2010, all of the members are from Inner Mongolia. They spent their early years playing gigs in the metal clubs of Beijing, but today they have moved back to their home, Hohhot, because the city of Beijing, though full of possibilities, was simply too big, literally: They needed to drive two hours to get to the studio.

Nine Treasures plays Mongolian folk metal and combines traditional Central Asian instruments with the modern rock and metal sound.

Yaksa (夜叉 yè chā)

Yaksa was founded in Sichuan in 1995, and just two years later the band moved to Beijing. There, they quickly became an important part of the local rock and metal scene. Their style is often described as metalcore or nu metal (a style of metal that, among other things, features rap vocals), which at that time, brought something new to the table in Beijing.

Voodoo Kungfu (零壹 líng yī)

Voodoo Kungfu (also known as Zero One), formed in 2003 in Beijing, has always been a very mysterious band whose music features themes of religion and occultism. Vocalist Nan Li claims that he has “been to hell but survived to bring back the voice from hell” after being bitten by a cobra and falling into coma.

The band combines Western metal music with traditional folk instruments from all around China – Voodoo Kungfu’s music is inspired by Nan Li’s travels through Inner Mongolia, Yunnan and Tibet, and his experiences with the local cultures, music, and religion.

There's more to this story! This article originally appeared on our sister site, Jingkids International.

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READ: Post-Rocking in Beijing: An Interview with Macondø

Images: Unsplash