Heavy Metal deployed as a weapon of war

One of the stranger stories in the media today was the news that Azerbaijan had made use of local heavy metal musicians as part of their war against Armenia. The New York Post reported

The Azerbaijan military has released a bizarre heavy metal music video touting their war weapons and featuring lot of explosions amid a violent dispute with its neighbour Armenia.

The guitar-shredding propaganda tune “Atəş”— or “Fire” — was performed by a group of local heavy metal rockers dressed in combat uniforms....

It’s performed by the local musicians Ceyhun Zeynalov and Narmin Karimbayova, backed by the Nur Group

Sadly the continuing conflict over land led to "dozens" of deaths when fighting broke out last weekend.

Of course the military use of Heavy metal is not new. The American military used it against General Manuel Noriega in Panama. The BBC wrote of the events in 1989:

The repressive military leader had holed himself up in the Vatican's embassy in Panama City, after President George Bush Senior invaded Panama.

Noriega was facing a US indictment for drug-trafficking, as well as claims he had rigged the 1989 election.

The embassy was surrounded by US troops, but he refused to give himself up.

The US army decided to use psychological warfare - by blasting a wall of sound non-stop outside. A fleet of Humvees mounted with loudspeakers rolled in, and rock music rolled out.

In the case Noriega surrendered though the Vatican (unsurprisingly) complained and the music stopped after three days. Apparently the playlist used by the US troops is available on You Tube.