Surviving the Satanic Panic Part 3

In this unflinching and deeply personal series, I pull back the curtain on my experience of public vilification and social alienation. For nothing more than being a long-haired male who loved heavy metal, I found myself branded with labels I never imagined — “devil worshipper,” “cult leader,” “dangerous influence.” These accusations weren’t just words; they were daggers aimed at my identity, my reputation, and my sense of belonging.

I take readers inside the emotional and psychological fallout of being misunderstood and demonized for my passions. Through raw storytelling, I explore the fear, anger, and defiance that come with living under the shadow of society’s moral panic. This is more than a memoir of heavy metal fandom — it’s a portrait of how easily difference can be scapegoated, how stereotypes can spiral into persecution, and how one person fights to reclaim their own narrative.

But the story doesn’t end in bitterness. Out of the chaos, rejection, and misrepresentation came a deeper search for truth and meaning. What began as a fight for identity became a spiritual journey — one that led me, unexpectedly, to the redemptive love of Christ. In the end, the same trials that tried to break me became the very road that carried me into faith, hope, and a new life defined not by false accusations, but by grace.