A Documentary By Randy M. Salo
Reviews:
"We’ve not seen, heard or experienced Madder Mortem quite like this before. Enter Randy M. Salo’s documentary Howl of the Underdogs, the riveting, entirely open, and yet honestly tragic story of the Norwegians’ musical, personal, and cultural innards/skin”
- Decibel Magazine
“Through breathtaking imagery and engaging interview footage, I felt like I was reliving the moments as if they were my own.”
- Metal Digest
"In 76 exciting, dignified and in some places painful self-delivering minutes, answers are sought as to where all this darkness in the band comes from - and here not an inch is left in the statement"
- Norway Rock Magazine
- Decibel Magazine
“Through breathtaking imagery and engaging interview footage, I felt like I was reliving the moments as if they were my own.”
- Metal Digest
"In 76 exciting, dignified and in some places painful self-delivering minutes, answers are sought as to where all this darkness in the band comes from - and here not an inch is left in the statement"
- Norway Rock Magazine
Festivals:
2021 Doc n’ Roll Festival - World Premiere Screening London
2021 microRocken, Odal Rock Festival - Norwegian Premiere
2021 microRocken, Odal Rock Festival - Norwegian Premiere
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Howl Of The Underdogs
Directed by
Randy M. Salo Run time: 77 min. Public Performance Rights Licensing:
Starting at $299 Organizations & institutions please contact info@passionriver.com today for a quote |
Add Howl Of The Underdogs To Your Collection Below!
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Log Line:
An intimate and uncompromising look into the 20 year struggle between rock visionaries Madder Mortem and body image, gender double standards and a culture of conformity.
Short Synopsis:
Howl of the Underdogs is the story of the Norwegian metal band Madder Mortem and their singer who, struggling with a life-long eating disorder in an image-obsessed industry, undergoes weight loss surgery to battle the demons that have given birth to their music. After filming with the band during their 20th anniversary year as they recorded new music, toured Europe, and reunited all of their former members in Oslo for a once-in-a-lifetime show, the film explores how the band boils down their internal demons, Scandinavian cultural norms, and an image-obsessed industry into inspirational music that reaches fans around the world.
Long Synopsis:
Agnete M. Kirkevaag has accomplished more than most, with advanced degrees in education and psychology, she devotes much of her life to helping troubled youth deal with their issues in constructive ways. She can teach from experience, having spent years converting her inner struggle into critical acclaim through her band, Madder Mortem.
Since Agnete was 13 years old, she has struggled with an eating disorder — a secret she has kept from her family and bandmates her whole life. As her band approaches their 20th anniversary, Agnete’s weight gain and whether her weight has hurt her bands success in the last years, has pushed her to the brink of mental collapse.
In her small rural village about an hour outside Oslo, Agnete and her brother BP began playing music together when they were still in grade school. From their humble beginnings in the local youth club, they would eventually give life to Madder Mortem. From the beginning they were difficult to categorize, metal to be sure, but their brutal, expansive, vulnerable, and above all else, honest sound didn’t check a lot of boxes in the image driven metal scene of the late nineties. Still they cut their own path and began receiving international critical accolades.
Protected in their relatively insulated community, Agnete and her bandmates forged a unique and experimental sound that was given life by her deeply personal and empowering lyrical style. As the band began gaining international attention, the demands of having a public image collided with their Scandinavian cultural norms of humility. This conflict infected the band leading to anxiety and panic attacks, but as the singer, Agnete took on the brunt of this collision. The demands put on her by the industry to look and act a certain way began taking a toll on her, fueling her longtime eating disorder and depression. As the band struggled to stay relevant, Agnete couldn’t escape the feelings of guilt that if she looked more like women on MTV, the band would be more successful. This inner struggle to define and love herself is channeled into the lyrics and music of the bands albums. These songs would be found by people all over the world, deep in their own struggles, finding a release in the brutally honest and uncompromising music that assures them that they’re not alone.
The film follows Agnete over the course of one year where she opens up about her eating disorder, undergoes weightloss surgery, and prepares her band for their 20th anniversary concert including recording new music, going on tour across Europe, and holding down her job as a teacher in the local school. As Agnete comes to terms with her past — her accomplishments and struggles — we witness her physical and mental transformation.
An intimate and uncompromising look into the 20 year struggle between rock visionaries Madder Mortem and body image, gender double standards and a culture of conformity.
Short Synopsis:
Howl of the Underdogs is the story of the Norwegian metal band Madder Mortem and their singer who, struggling with a life-long eating disorder in an image-obsessed industry, undergoes weight loss surgery to battle the demons that have given birth to their music. After filming with the band during their 20th anniversary year as they recorded new music, toured Europe, and reunited all of their former members in Oslo for a once-in-a-lifetime show, the film explores how the band boils down their internal demons, Scandinavian cultural norms, and an image-obsessed industry into inspirational music that reaches fans around the world.
Long Synopsis:
Agnete M. Kirkevaag has accomplished more than most, with advanced degrees in education and psychology, she devotes much of her life to helping troubled youth deal with their issues in constructive ways. She can teach from experience, having spent years converting her inner struggle into critical acclaim through her band, Madder Mortem.
Since Agnete was 13 years old, she has struggled with an eating disorder — a secret she has kept from her family and bandmates her whole life. As her band approaches their 20th anniversary, Agnete’s weight gain and whether her weight has hurt her bands success in the last years, has pushed her to the brink of mental collapse.
In her small rural village about an hour outside Oslo, Agnete and her brother BP began playing music together when they were still in grade school. From their humble beginnings in the local youth club, they would eventually give life to Madder Mortem. From the beginning they were difficult to categorize, metal to be sure, but their brutal, expansive, vulnerable, and above all else, honest sound didn’t check a lot of boxes in the image driven metal scene of the late nineties. Still they cut their own path and began receiving international critical accolades.
Protected in their relatively insulated community, Agnete and her bandmates forged a unique and experimental sound that was given life by her deeply personal and empowering lyrical style. As the band began gaining international attention, the demands of having a public image collided with their Scandinavian cultural norms of humility. This conflict infected the band leading to anxiety and panic attacks, but as the singer, Agnete took on the brunt of this collision. The demands put on her by the industry to look and act a certain way began taking a toll on her, fueling her longtime eating disorder and depression. As the band struggled to stay relevant, Agnete couldn’t escape the feelings of guilt that if she looked more like women on MTV, the band would be more successful. This inner struggle to define and love herself is channeled into the lyrics and music of the bands albums. These songs would be found by people all over the world, deep in their own struggles, finding a release in the brutally honest and uncompromising music that assures them that they’re not alone.
The film follows Agnete over the course of one year where she opens up about her eating disorder, undergoes weightloss surgery, and prepares her band for their 20th anniversary concert including recording new music, going on tour across Europe, and holding down her job as a teacher in the local school. As Agnete comes to terms with her past — her accomplishments and struggles — we witness her physical and mental transformation.
