The film Metal Lords follows two best friends, Hunter (Adrian Greensmith) and Kevin (Jaeden Martell), trying to start a post-death metal band and become the next rock legends. The misfits are struggling to find their way through high school and trying to redeem their outcast identities at the school’s Battle of the Bands.

Hunter and Kevin are nearly polar opposites. Hunter’s a diehard heavy metal guitarist who’s a rebel. His main focus in life is becoming a “Rock God” and his entire identity is wrapped up in the band. Kevin is a shy, submissive guy trying to apply his musical talent in different ways and find his place in high school by getting into metal like Hunter. He’s a great drummer and is in full support of the band becoming successful but knows there’s more to life. Kevin is almost shadowing Hunter, but internally struggling with the desire to experience high school life outside of the band. 

Written by D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones) and directed by Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist)—and with Tom Morello of the rock band Rage Against the Machine as executive music producer—the movie shows a keen awareness of how nerdy, shy, or bullied children are drawn to metal music for its brute power and the high caliber of expertise it demands. Conventional but genuine, Metal Lords comprehends the riot of adolescent emotions and the many ways teenagers manage them.

The film tips a hat to rock legends with references towards icons like The White Stripes and Black Sabbath. At one point, Hunter gives Kevin a list of rock songs like “War Pig” by Black Sabbath, “Mr. Brownstone” by Guns & Roses, “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead to study. As a pat on the back to Tom Morello’s selections, this film has a soundtrack that rock fans will feel nostalgic over. 

This film is a nostalgic reminder of the high school experience, where most metalheads and band kids first fell in love with rock n roll. Will this film have the impact that School of Rock did? Most likely not. But, It’s a great film for a night in, reminiscing on the root of where many of our first metal and rock experiences were formed.