Annual festival few days away for metal fans in China

[Photo provided to China Daily]

One of the most prominent changes in China's metal scene in the past few years has been the use of traditional cultural elements in the music of many homegrown bands, rather than copying performances by Western bands.

At this year's festival, Chinese metal band Black Kirin will give their debut performance. Formed in 2012 in Changchun in Northeast China's Jilin province, the band, started by Fang Seng, a composing major from Shaanxi Normal University, released their songs online and won lots of fans for combining Peking Opera, Chinese folk music with heavy metal sounds.

Dream Spirit, another festival participant, shares a fervent love of ancient Chinese culture and integrates it into their lyrics and rhythms. Band members usually wear traditional clothes onstage, such as long robes and boots, which remind the audience of martial arts practitioners, a practice started by Tang Dynasty, among the country's oldest metal bands.

"I have been living with metal music for nearly 20 years. It brings me energy and hope. I don't know if I can still rock at age 60 but I'm sure more young people will join me in future," says Kou.

If you go

3:30 pm-11:30 pm, March 26. Tango Club, 79 Hepingli (West Street), Dongcheng district, Beijing. 400-610-3721.