Heavy Metal in Baghdad: The Story of Acrassicauda

The inspirational story of Acrassicauda, an Iraqi heavy metal band, whose members' struggle to stay alive as their country fell into bloody insurgency echoes the unspoken hopes of an entire generation of young Iraqis.

Born out of a basement rehearsal space in Baghdad and inspired by western bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Slipknot, Acrassicauda ("Black Scorpion") played only three live shows in Iraq before the country began to disintegrate around them. Rebels and religious fundamentalists accused them of Satan worship. Eventually it became impossible to find any venue where they could safely perform. Still, they refused to let their dreams die.

In their internationally acclaimed, award-winning documentary, Suroosh Alvi and Eddy Moretti's raw, uncensored portrayal of daily life in war-torn Iraq struck a chord with music fans around the world. Featuring never-before-seen photographs, Heavy Metal in Baghdad is the untold story behind the film, picking up with the band where the documentary left off and revealing how its extraordinary story -- and the humanitarian efforts it inspired -- changed the lives of everyone who helped to tell it.