As the Palaces Burn

The latest film by Don Argott (who won the IDFA PLAY Award for Music Documentary with his previous film Last Days Here) starts out as a leisurely portrait of the heavy metal band Lamb of God. The friendly band members reflect on their lives while we are treated to footage of their concerts all over the world: screaming guitars, guttural songs and head-banging masses from Colombia to India. We also meet several fans, clad in their characteristic tattoos and black shirts. Lamb of God offers guidance and an outlet, whether you live in Bogota, Jerusalem or Richmond, Virginia. But when the band lands in Prague, the story takes a bizarre turn. Two years before, a Czech fan died after falling from the stage, and now singer Randy Blythe is arrested and indicted on manslaughter charges. The band is in shock, both because of the tragic death of the fan and out of concern for the erratic Blythe. The second half of the film nicely captures the emotional impact the trial has on Blythe and his friends. In voice-over, they talk about the case and their relationship with their fans. As the Palace Burns is an unexpectedly sensitive look into a scene that is so often associated with violence. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)