The new Netflix film Metal Lords may be a coming-of-age film about teens who want to play heavy metal, but for executive music director Tom Morello, it's also a good example of how music can help people through tough times, including the shocking loss of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
While promoting the movie, Morello told ABC Audio that he isn't "that comfortable" talking about Hawkins' death, because, he notes, "It's still pretty fresh." However, he says the movie allows him to "reflect upon" what he calls "the redemptive power of music."
"You know, for friends and musician friends -- alive and who have passed -- and how I've felt their music has helped and transformed me and how they have been helped and transformed by music --- that's something to reflect upon that, y'know, has some analogous connection to the movie," Morello explains.
Metal Lords follows two high school friends, Hunter and Kevin -- played by Adrian Greensmith and Jaeden Martell -- who start a metal band together. In search of a bassist, they recruit school band cellist Emily, played by Isis Hainsworth. Teen drama ensues, lessons are learned and of course, there's a Battle of the Bands...all set to a heavy metal soundtrack.
Metal Lords is directed by Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist filmmaker Peter Sollett, and was written by Game of Thrones co-creator D.B. Weiss. It premieres on Netflix April 8.
(Trailer contains uncensored profanity.)