Storytelling has been a central component in Navajo culture for centuries, with elders assuming the responsibility of passing down knowledge to the youth so their traditions live on. Since the Eighties, a select group of Diné have been cultivating new customs around heavy metal. Dubbed "Rez Metal" by its creators (shorthand for "reservation metal"), this music and scene arose out of the Southwest, and Navajo Nation territory — an expanse of land that covers over 17,000,000 acres across New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

For one week this summer, the Everything Is Stories creative team traveled around the region filming a documentary for Revolver — titled Metal From the Dirt— on the scene's originators and the young bands that are now carrying the Rez Metal torch, including I DontKonform, Mutilated Tyrant, Born of Winter and Ashtaroth. The following photographs from that shoot provide a glimpse into this devoutly DIY community.

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton

photograph by Clarke Tolton × photograph by Clarke Tolton