Bloody Chunks: Vietnam's underground metal scene
- Text by Cian Traynor
- Photography by Neil Massey
As soon as photographer Neil Massy moved to Vietnam, he wanted to cut through its veneer: a vibrant country with a young population still defined by war.
There was something about the culture, the people and their attitude to life that he and his wife connected with – so much so that after three visits, they settled in for six years.
“I had travelled a lot with my work but had never lived in another country,” he says. “The only way I felt I could learn anything of meaning about Vietnam was to spend time there, to get under the skin of day-to-day life.”
His instincts lead him to a sporadic series of free gigs in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) where teenagers freaked out to the sounds of rock and metal.
Eventually he befriended musician Trung (pronounced ‘Choum’) of grindcore band Wuu. He’s the founder of Vietnam’s first and only metal label, Bloody Chunks Records, and the man widely credited for developing Vietnam’s current metal scene.
Through Trung, Massey gradually developed a better understanding of that subculture and saw the potential in capturing its combination of brutal energy and hardcore following.
“My formative years were spent shooting and watching bands like the Damned and Fugazi,” he says. “The energy and spirit of the metal gatherings resonated with my early experiences at punk gigs: full-on and exhilarating.”
Though Massy hadn’t shot in black-and-white for 12 years, just developing the film proved difficult. It was only salvaged when a search for processing chemicals in the backroom of a photo shop in Saigon turned up a kilo of powdered developer and some crystal fixer.
Using used some clear vinegar as stop bath and some old German medium format film, Massy came up with a home processing kit that felt perfectly in keeping with the DIY spirit of his subject.
While editing over a thousand shots, Massey quickly recognised that there was more to these gigs than just music. For many young Vietnamese, it was a welcome means of escape.
“Pressure to conform in Vietnam comes from all sides,” he says. “From the communist government but, even more so, from within the family unit itself. In Vietnam, filial responsibility and obligation is central to the family structure… which makes self-expression and finding your own voice more challenging.”
Check out more of Neil Massey’s work.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
The art of paying attention: How Austria’s Alps reward slowing down
Lebensgefühl — With a growing movement of art and music rooted in the area’s mountains, trees and waterfalls, the region is showcasing the importance of the human relationship to nature.
Written by: Sophie Lou Wilson
Grainy, yearning memories of Europe’s ’90s free rave heyday
Never Alone — A new photobook from Cheyenne Clementi and Valentina Morandi presents pictures they made over seven years while touring the continent as part of the Tekno Mobil Squad soundsystem crew. It archives parties, people and a lifestyle largely consigned to the past.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Hanoi’s nightlife faces raids & repression, its underground scene modulates
Spaces Between the Beats — Tensions between nightlife and authorities have grown in recent times, as police target venues and their patrons with increasingly frequent drug testing and searches. With clubs becoming hostile spaces as a result, Hanoi’s electronic music community is finding new spaces and forms of expression, reports Martin Guttridge-Hewitt.
Written by: Martin Guttridge-Hewitt
Queer resistance & sun-soaked solidarity at the world’s largest trans pride march
Our Future, Our Fight — Over the weekend, over 150,000 people marched at the London Trans+ Pride, with the parade ending at Trafalgar Square for the first time in history.
Written by: Ella Glossop
In photos: Black Texas life since emancipation
Kinship & Community — A new photobook and exhibition showcases the rich culture, history and community of African American folks in the Lone Star State, whose existence in the region predates colonial Britain.
Written by: Miss Rosen
American Football: The One With The Feelings
Many moons — The Midwest emo architects transformed a college experiment into a coming-of-age soundtrack. 25 years on, their latest iteration sees them bottle the same magic for the ups and downs of middle life.
Written by: Tracy Kawalik
