Today is International Women’s Day and to celebrate the inspirational women in rock and metal music, the second edition of the Women Rock! project has kicked off.

The project celebrates women in metal and aims to inspire men and women of all ages and backgrounds by discussing issues, sharing advice, and celebrating experiences.

This year there are two main events: a panel of female metal stars who share about their struggles and advice, and a collaboration cover of Dio’s "We Rock" by 16 female metal artists. Watch the panel interview and the collaboration cover below.

“I was told to act in certain ways that were very uncomfortable, just to sell more records” says Mariangela Demurtas (singer of Tristania & Ardours), “I’m very happy we’ve learned we can simply say “No!””

In the Women Rock! project, Italian star Mariangela and her peers share their personal experiences as a woman in a male dominated industry. That experience includes being told they have no place in metal. “Who wrote a definition of metal anyways?” counters modern metal phenomenon Lena Scissorhands (Infected Rain), “being told you do not belong is the worst thing to hear.”

In the series of inspirational videos, women open up about overcoming struggles and share advice for newer artists show the world how much women rock! “I’m so honoured to be amongst these amazing women!” says Hel Pyre (W.E.B., Afterblood & King Diamond).

The Project features the following women (in alphabetical order):

Alexis Moore (Tall Dark Whimsey, Alum Occulta)
Britta Görtz (Hiraes)
Callysta Van Niekerk (Posthumous)
Deborah Levine (Lady Beast)
Hel Pyre (W.E.B., Afterblood, King Diamond)
Holly Royle (Disconnected Souls)
Isabel Santoro (solo artist)
Kalonica Nicx (solo artist)
Karmen Klinc (Hellcats, Venus 5, Rock Partyzani)
Leila Abdul-Rauf (Vastum, Cardinal Wyrm, Ionophore)
Lena Scissorhands (Infected Rain)
Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania)
Marion Bascoul (Aephanemer)
Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast, Pentakill)
Ofilia (Arshenic)
Roushan Van Niekerk (Riddlebreak)
Starse3d (solo artist)
Sylvaine (solo artists)
Tiffany Xtine Beamer (Rebel Queens)
Viktorie Surmøvá (Surma)Changes)