Heavy Healing, a new documentary, has argued that extreme music helps people who are suffering from physical or mental health issues. It also highlights how music works as a last resort for the people who have tried everything so far. The conditions addressed in the film include a wide range of illnesses such as cancer, strokes, cerebral palsy, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, anxiety, and depression.
Watch the official trailer for Heavy Healing on YouTube:
Co-director Seth Abrams, a seasoned music industry professional, experienced an aortic aneurysm at age 34. It was followed by a by a stroke that left his left side paralyzed. Then in 2019, he endured seizures and a brain infection which took away his short-term memories. According to him, the doctors or the people around him were not the only reasons that supported him.
Seth Abrams says:
“When you strip away the doctors and family and friends’ support, it’s the music that gets you through it all. In my case, I specifically leaned on Suicidal Tendencies’ ‘You Can’t Bring Me Down’.”
Director Howie Abrams brings an insider’s perspective on why the music scene needed a documentary like this:
“I’ve encountered far too many musicians who are forced to cope with one disorder or another,” he says. “It’s incredible to see how they’ve been able to rely on the extreme music we grew up with to help them remain motivated and to recover.”
Heavy Healing will be shown at the ReelAbilities Film Festival in New York City. ReelAbilities Film Festival is the world’s largest festival dedicated to disability. Two screenings are planned, the first of which will take place on April 25 at the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem. The second one will be done on April 27 at Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Both screenings will start at 7:00 p.m.
There is also an earlier screening which will take place on April 11 at the New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market in Edison. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Sweet Relief fund for Lou Koller, who is currently battling esophageal cancer. Another screening will take place on April 18 at Las Vegas’ the Punk Rock Museum.
Heavy Healing features many artists such as Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage, Lou Koller of Sick of It All, Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup, Mike Ix Williams of Eyehategod, Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front, Eddie “Sutton” Pomponio of Leeway, Jesse Malin of Heart Attack and D-Generation, Jimi Hazel of 24-7 Spyz, former A&R executive Michael Alago—who worked with Metallica and White Zombie—Michael “Kaves” Mcleer of Lordz of Brooklyn, Jimmy G. Drescher of Murphy’s Law, Brian “Mitts” Daniels of ex-Madball, and Adam Blake of H2O.
Photo courtesy of Heavy Healing
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source newnoisemagazine.com ’
