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Montreal is officially a city of excellence for heavy metal music.

City council adopted a declaration proposed by councillor Craig Sauvé, an associate member of the executive committee and avowed metalhead.

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“It’s an immense thrill to be able to talk about this art form that I love so dearly,” said Sauvé after council unanimously approved his resolution hailing Montreal’s role in fostering metal music worldwide and that music’s place in the local arts scene.

“I’m still an active fan. I listen to a lot of it,” he said.

“We’ve been getting amazing response around the world,” he said.

Photo by John Mahoney / Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette photo illustration

Unlike other forms of music, like jazz or classical, metal doesn’t get as much respect as it deserves, Sauvé said.

“I think it’s a little bit of hesitancy because we know we’re a little bit made fun of or maligned because it’s an extreme music form. It’s loud,” he said.

“But it can be very quiet and meditative as well,” said Sauvé, who had cherished the idea of proposing the declaration for a few years.

It notes that metal music has been around in the city for more than 36 years, and that Montreal musicians in that genre have achieved worldwide fame.

Independent opposition councillor Marvin Rotrand raised concerns about the violent influence of some metal music and proposed an amendment, but council speaker Cathy Wong ruled against amending the declaration and it passed as written.