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Metalheads the world over rejoice at Jokowi's win
The worldâs heavy metal fans have been in celebratory mood over the past two days and now they are set to see one of their own occupy the highest office in the worldâs third-largest democracy
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The world's heavy metal fans have been in celebratory mood over the past two days and now they are set to see one of their own occupy the highest office in the world's third-largest democracy.
Fans even gleefully dubbed president-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo as the first 'metal president' in history.
One of the first prominent metalheads, as fans of the music are traditionally known, to congratulate Jokowi on his victory was Randy Blythe, singer of legendary metal band Lamb of God, who took to social media platform Instagram to express his joy.
'Incredibly, ladies and gentlemen, the new president of Indonesia is a metalhead and a Lamb of God fan. Yes he digs Napalm Death, Metallica, Megadeth and Lamb of God among others. Holy c#*p! The world's first heavy metal president,' Randy said in his Instagram post on Tuesday.
The well-respected metalhead said he hoped to get the chance to discuss heavy metal records with Jokowi, who he dubbed 'a man of the people', despite knowing little about Indonesia's current political situation.
Randy's post was instantly picked up by several internationally renowned music publications like Metal Hammer, Loudwire and Revolver magazine, which in turn prompted more metalheads to share the articles on social media.
The New York-based metal legend Anthrax was another outfit that congratulated Jokowi on his win over rival Prabowo Subianto, the Gerindra Party patron.
Through the band's official fan page on Facebook, Anthrax expressed its pride in Jokowi's achievement and its members wished all other countries could have a metalhead in office.
'Now if only all other countries would follow suit,' read the statement from Anthrax on Tuesday.
Metal Hammer has also profiled the response of local metal band, Burgerkill, who congratulated the Jakarta governor.
'I'd like to congratulate Mr. Jokowi, a metalhead like us, on becoming the president-elect of Indonesia,' said Burgerkill guitarist Ariestanto, as quoted by the heavy metal publication late on Wednesday.
Ariestanto, who is more widely known as Eben, said he hoped the genre would gain more respect for having a metalhead as president.
'You don't have a metalhead as your president very often, so I'm hoping metal music will get more respect in our country. It's not music that will make kids go straight to hell like many Indonesian parents believe. It's just an aggressive [and also beautiful] style of music that our president will enjoy while leading the country,' he said.
Soon after news broke of Jokowi's win, Metal Hammer also published a playlist comprising heavy metal tracks recorded by Indonesian bands like Seringai, Burgerkill, The S.I.G.I.T and (((Auman))).
Rolling Stone Indonesia editor-in-chief Adib Hidayat said the success of Jokowi in winning the presidency was extraordinary as the furniture businessman did not readily fit into the mold of most politicians.
'There is a certain lifestyle choice and 'taste' that Jokowi has that does not conform to the stereotype of the politician,' Adib told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Adib said Jokowi's election could dispel the notions that heavy metal music was for the unkempt masses, or was a bad influence on youth.
'Jokowi's win makes us proud that heavy metal has finally got its due. He can also convince people that metalheads can be 'cool' like him and strive to achieve what he has achieved,' he said.(tjs)
