Accountability, Inclusion, and Iron Maiden Dreams: What California's Metal Scene Can Learn From This Week's Headlines

Some weeks in metal news feel like a mirror held up to the entire scene, and this is one of them. Between fresh abuse allegations rocking a touring outfit, a punk legend doubling down on a controversial mosh pit policy, and a guitarist musing about what could have been, there's a lot for California's metal and hardcore community to chew on. None of this week's biggest stories originated in the Golden State, but the themes — accountability, inclusivity, and the enduring pull of classic heavy metal — run straight through our local scene.