#89 – Hell Bent For Riot Act 2: The LGBTQ+ Metalhead Guide To Eurovision

Hell Bent For Metal

Hell Bent For Metal joins forces for the second time with Riot Act, the alternative music podcast, as their host Steve Hill joins Tom and the returning Matt Rushton to present you with the LGBTQ+ metalhead guide to the Eurovision Song Contest. The annual celebration of kitsch, camp, and occasionally, a good song or two, has long had a huge queer following, and it's even flirted with metal from time to time.

The hosts (the ones who like Eurovision, anyway) present their favourite ever performances, and also pick out some of their most hated. And there's obviously chat about the biggest metal moment in the competition's history, a huge queer pioneer winner, some "interesting" UK entries, and the biggest act ever to come out of the contest – themselves a massive gay icon.

There's also a round up of a couple of news items from Riot Act's world, plus the Hate Crew Gaybar is open once again, with albums from Muse (at Riot Act's suggestion), Ether Coven and Soilwork going in.

It's an epic show, but for a 66-year-old competition that's iconic for the queer communities of entire continent, it's comparatively restrained.