Penelope Spheeris’s The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years is an intriguing, fun, but ultimately empty follow-up to Spheeris’s exploration of the punk scene. In looking at the ’80s metal scene, her subjects are more narcissistic and less self-aware – which may be an accurate representation of the culture, but it makes for a much less compelling, more surface-level documentary. Many interviews with some of the more established names in the business are obviously staged – playing into their own personal mythology. It’s curious to see some of the major stars talk about getting sober, and Spheeris does manage to cut through the bluster from time to time to find some truly honest moments. The film’s at its best when it spends time with the aspiring musicians, capturing a naivety that is both laughably absurd and undeniably charming.
