Cesare Bonizzi looks like the archetypal Capuchin monk - round-faced, stout, with twinkling eyes and a long flowing white beard. But beneath his robes beats a heart of metal. The 62-year-old monk's love affair with heavy metal began when he attended a Metallica concert some 15 years ago. "I was overwhelmed and amazed by the sheer energy of it" he says.

Brother Cesare Bonizzi, also known as Frate Cesare and Fratello Metallo ("Brother Metal") - which is also the name of his band, is a Franciscan monk belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, who has become known in recent years as a heavy metal singer. According to him, "Metal is the most energetic, vital, deep and true musical language that I know."He currently lives in the convent of Musocco, a district of Milan.



Although his full transformation to heavy metal is only found on Fratello Metallo's 2008 release Misteri, Bonizzi has recorded numerous albums in various musical genres. He cites Megadeth and Metallica as major inspirations on his transformation to metal. With his new style of music, which he calls "Metrock" as a combination of metal and rock, he was the opening act at 2008's Gods of Metal, Italy's largest heavy metal festival and playing along with giants such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Slayer. "I do it to convert people to life, to understand life, to grab hold of life, to savour it and enjoy it. Full stop" he says.



Hard rock and heavy metal have, over the years, been criticised as the work of the devil. It's a claim which Brother Cesare, also known as Brother Metal, says is nonsense. The friar, who performs about 100-150 concerts a year, says heavy metal fans have warmly welcomed him and he distances the music genre from Satanism. "About 90 percent are very good, they accept (me), the other 10 percent are more extreme," he said.

With a booming voice, Brother Metal belts out lyrics that are decidedly gritty, talking about real-life issues and not shying away from sex, drugs and alcohol. He does touch on faith and religion but is adamant that he is not seeking to draw people to Catholicism through his stage performances. Brother Cesare says he has never had any trouble with his superiors over his choice of musical career and would like to send his new album to the Pope. "He is a music lover and metal is music!" he says.



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