The first thing a Maltese metalhead would say, if asked about the local underground scene, would be: “It’s small.”

This, of course, is not entirely untrue, so I was curious to know the answer when you put the same question to a fan of the genre from somewhere smaller. I didn’t have to look far: Gozo.

With this in mind, I spoke to a few metal musicians and fans of the genre to get a better feel for the sister island’s metal microcosm.

We start with our Mystery Metalhead, an accomplished musician and devoted fan of the genre. How was the metal music scene in Gozo when he was growing up?

“It was the 1990s and I was in my mid-teens when I came across Guns’N’Roses’ Appetite for Destruction. It blew me away. Metallica soon followed and it got louder from then onwards.

“It became a way of life. In Gozo, within a matter of months, most teenage guys were sporting black T-shirts and ripped jeans. Hairdressers were not earning much from the long-haired youth. The music instilled a new image and it felt good to be a fan of the genre.

“This was the pre-internet era so we shared cassettes and made copies off each other. We only got fresh music from the radio or from a trip abroad. Very soon, we all wanted to be in a band.

“There must have been four bands at that time hailing from a single village. We all had names and were assigned instruments. The only missing factor was the skill.

“None of us even owned an instrument. Eventually, following the acquisition of cheap instruments, music lessons followed and a couple of ‘real’ bands evolved.

“It was a great time. We felt united by the music. Rock nights at the local youth centre were very popular. We all looked forward to an evening of loud metal music and headbanging.

“The locals in the neighbourhood would religiously call the police to come shut down the ‘devil’s music’ and send everyone home. Little did they know that most lyrics had nothing to do with Satan. There was no violence, no drugs, no bad intentions. Just a bunch of 16-year-old guys enjoying the vibe the music was stimulating.”

All of that, of course, is long gone now. How do members of the current crop of metal bands in Gozo, or perhaps ones who also remember the past, view it?

Joe Costa is a veteran of at least three bands before he took on his current role as guitarist of Ascendor, Gozo’s only active metal band at the moment.

He’s been around since the beginning, so he can speak with confidence when he says that there is not much appreciation for metal on the sister island.

“To organise an event is quite difficult. However, we will organise more in the future (with live bands or DJs) even if only a few people show up.

“I myself do not turn up to events sometimes because of work and when this happens it really bothers me, but hey what can one do?”

Another member of Ascendor is drummer Paul Formosa who, rather ironically for a scene so small, got to know musician Andy Fava, who would eventually also join Ascendor , through the latter’s YouTube videos.

I ask him about his favourite ever metal event in Gozo to which he replies: “There have been a few excellent metal events thanks to DJs such as Rodney Debono (Toty) and Matthew Natoli (Dunk).

“As to gigs, one I really enjoyed was when Knockturn Alley and Loathe played here.

“The best gig I’ve enjoyed in Gozo was when Ascendor shared the stage with X-Vandals, who tore the place down with their set.

Listening to great music or playing live is good fun, even if it’s for a small crowd

“Then, when we hit the stage, I’ll never forget seeing members of metal bands from Malta, for example Baħri (X-Vandals), Albert Bell, Simeon Gatt (Forsaken) and members of Martyrium moshing and singing along during our set. It was a proud and satisfying moment.”

The youngest of my interviewees is Rodney Debono, who got started into the metal genre by his older brother and who sometimes seems to be holding up the columns for metal scene in Gozo all by himself.

Rodney, or Toty, as he is known, organises metal nights. Disappointed with the lack of frequency of metal events in Gozo, Debono put himself to work.

“Some three years ago I was approached by a local bar owner who wanted to open an alternative hang-out – a permanent rock bar. I became the resident DJ, playing almost every Saturday.

“Around every two to three months we bring it up a notch by organising an event called Apocalypse, which is Dj- based. I play industrial metal, while guest Djs have the option to play whatever genre they wish.”

One of the Dj’s priorities was to keep the local metal scene going throughout summer as well. Mainly, the idea was to have a few events with local artists – both Gozitan and Maltese bands – performing live.

“During the summer, many Maltese cross over for a short break, so we wanted to create an alternative option for those who wished to attend.

“The support of the bar owner and the facilities and equipment of his club was what made it ultimately possible.”

Debono managed to get a number of bands to perform on the sister island, from X-Vandals to Ascendor, Martyrium, Forsaken, Nomad Son, Dawn of Anguish, Insurgence, Weeping Silence and Oblique Visions.

The events were well received and some bands even returned to perform again.

But in such a microcosm, why bother? Costa’s reply is confident: “For those few people who really enjoy it. Listening to great music or playing live is good fun even if it’s for a small crowd.”

Along similar lines his bandmate Paul Formosa echoes that: “Sometimes we do say it’s not worth the hassle, the expenses and the turnout. But there are times when we crave the metal experience. Playing metal music for and interacting with the metal faithful.”

And for the future? Formosa says that he believes the trajectory seems to be “Gozitan bands play the few Gozitan venues and perhaps the occasional date in Malta.”

That said, Ascendor is an exception as they have played in Malta far more than in Gozo.

“As the only active metal band in Gozo, most Maltese metal bands that would like to gig in Gozo generally contact us to share the stage.”

Debono has even closer plans at hand. “Well, Halloween obviously. I organise a Halloween event – Hell o Ween, which is in its third consecutive year. It’s something that I plan from months ahead because it takes so much time to set up, even with respect to decoration.

”This year we are giving awards to the most gruesome male and female costumes. There will also be a performance by international burlesque dancer Undine LaVerve.”

Hell o’ Ween III takes place on October 31 at Mirage Underground, Victoria.

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