This photographer takes intense portraits of headbangers mid-headbang

'The moment they abandon all semblance of vanity and surrender to the rhythm'

(Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

Danish photographer Jacob Ehrbahn has been travelling to festivals around Europe to capture “the beauty and chaos of heavy metal rockers in the throes of musical ecstasy”.

His perfectly-timed photos are reminiscent of Lucian Freud paintings, his subjects being all creased skin and rouged flesh.

They were taken at Denmark’s Copenhell, Germany’s Wacken Open Air, Sweden’s Metaltown and more, and will be released as a book on 29 September.

(All photos: Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

(Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

(Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

(Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

“In this collection Ehrbahn’s camera stops time and captures the surprising and life-affirming moments when the headbangers abandon all semblance of vanity and surrender to the rhythm,” a blurb by its publisher reads.

“Ehrbahn transports us to an intimate world disconnected from time and space—a universe where it’s possible to transcend the frenzy and enter an altered state that brings calm, joy, and relief.”

A photojournalist by trade, Ehrbahn is a two-time World Press Photo winner and in 2013 was named Photographer of the Year in Denmark for the second time.

@christophhooton

(Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

(Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

(Jacob Ehrbahn/powerHouse Books)

Liked that? Try: This artist carves skulls out of pearls