He fronts his own one-man black metal band called Saint Vermin, is the guitarist for Halcyon, and is part of Pilgrimage, a doom-death metal band born from a unique collaboration between Maltese and Dutch musicians.

Lovin Malta had the opportunity to speak with Zain Vermin Gauci, and when asked about his perception of the local death metal scene, he candidly discussed the resistance he and fellow other metalheads face.

“It’s no doubt that some people don’t have an open mind about the genre, and that’s okay—it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But we do get comments that are outright idiotic,” he says. “Some assume we’re hardcore criminals, drug users, or even murderers just because of the music we listen to.”

Gauci had also recalled moment where strangers in the middle of the street called him names, simply for wearing a band t-shirt.

“I’d be walking to my local grocer and hear a grown man calling me a Satanist from across the street,” he remembers. “In Malta, being a metalhead means you’re likely to get stopped and told to ‘find Jesus’ just because of your fashion choices.”

Despite the endless misconceptions about death metal in Malta, Gauci praised the metal community as being one of the most supportive and welcoming sub-communities in Malta.

“Many of the people I know in the local metal scene are some of the nicest, kindest, and most genuine people out there,” he stressed. “But it’s not the first time I’ve opened social media to see people spreading false rumours that metalheads are negative and hateful. At some point, it feels useless to even argue, because they believe the lies they’ve made up in their heads.”

At least, not everyone holds these outdated views.

“Thankfully, some people appreciate the genre for its artistic value, even if they don’t listen to it themselves.”

Gauci sees metal as an important part of the Maltese music scene, even if it still remains relatively underground. “In Malta, metal acts as a safe space for artistic expression—especially given how small the scene is. It’s a humble but passionate community.”

He also recognised that the genre’s roots in Malta, go back to the 1980s, and he feels a sense of duty to keep this community alive. “Being in the scene today feels like continuing and even protecting something that has been built over decades,” he explained.

While death metal still remains as a niche, Gauci is very optimistic about the genre’s growth.

“Younger musicians are starting their own bands and getting inspired by metal, so I definitely see it growing. But within metal itself, death metal is still a niche subgenre.”

In a country where music usually leans towards the more mainstream genres, Gauci and his fellow peers are and will continue to push boundaries, challenge stereotypes and create music that speaks to them. Gauci is proving that metal does have a place in Malta, and it’s here to stay.

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