I couldn't see, breathe or sing. I blacked out twice': why are so many metal bands wearing masks?

"When US avant garde metal band Imperial Triumphant decided that their image needed a shake-up in 2015, they considered putting on corpse paint, the ghastly makeup popularised by 90s black metal. But, their singer/guitarist Zachary Ezrin says, they then realised how much effort it would take and how uncool the post-gig rituals would feel."

"Despite the practical struggles, and the increased difficulty they bring to headbanging, many more of the genre's biggest stars choose to wear masks. Ghost, Sleep Token and Slaughter to Prevail have risen to festival-headlining, arena-filling status while keeping their appearances (mostly) hidden behind elaborate theatrical creations."

"When you start to sweat, you can't see shit, or breathe, or sing if you're performing in a mask. Last year we played a very tiny club in Stuttgart: super-packed, no ventilation. I can't recollect a lot from that show, because I blacked out one or two times from heatstroke."

In 2015, Imperial Triumphant opted for gold masks instead of corpse paint to enhance their image, avoiding the hassle of makeup removal. Their masks, inspired by 1920s art deco, posed challenges, especially when lost in transit. Other bands like Gaerea face difficulties performing in masks, including heatstroke. Despite these issues, many successful metal acts, such as Ghost and Sleep Token, continue to wear masks, blending genres and gaining popularity. The rise of masked acts has led to a fusion of pop and metal, attracting significant attention in the music scene.

Read at www.theguardian.com