Privacy Policy & Legal Disclaimer

Effective Date: August 2023

Welcome to The Heavy Metal Citadel (“we”, “us”, or “our”). This Privacy Policy and Legal Disclaimer outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website [www.heavymetalcitadel.com] (the “Site”), interact with our content, and participate in our community.

By using this Site, you agree to the practices described below. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

1. General Disclaimer

The content published on The Heavy Metal Citadel is intended for entertainment, artistic expression, commentary, and news reporting within the heavy metal and underground music scenes. While we strive for accuracy and integrity, the views and opinions expressed on this Site are those of the authors and do not constitute professional advice, nor should they be interpreted as fact in a legal, medical, or financial context.

Some articles may contain satire, humor, or subjective criticism. These expressions are protected forms of speech and are not intended to harm, defame, or mislead.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including but not limited to:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • User-submitted content (e.g., music, photography, video, commentary)

  • Social media handles

We may also automatically collect non-personally identifiable information through the use of cookies and analytics tools (such as Google Analytics), including:

  • IP address

  • Browser type

  • Device type

  • Time spent on the Site

  • Pages visited

This data helps us improve site performance, track content engagement, and better serve our audience. You may opt out of cookies by adjusting your browser settings.

3. Use of Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

  • To communicate with you regarding submissions, features, or inquiries

  • To feature content (with or without attribution, based on your request)

  • To manage newsletter subscriptions or announcements

  • To respond to requests for removal or content updates

  • To maintain site functionality and security

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may disclose it if required by law, court order, or governmental authority.

4. User-Submitted Content & Intellectual Property

By submitting any content to us (photos, music, text, audio, video, or other media), you affirm that:

  • You own or have the appropriate rights to the content

  • You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to use, display, reproduce, distribute, modify, and share the content on our platforms (website, social media, podcast, newsletter, etc.)

  • You indemnify us against any claims arising from the unauthorized use of third-party material.

If you would like your content removed or credited differently, please contact us at contact@heavymetalcitadel.com, and we will address the request promptly.

5. Image Use and Attribution

We occasionally use publicly available imagery (photography, press photos, or performance visuals) for commentary, educational, or journalistic purposes. Unless stated otherwise, we do not claim ownership over these images.

If you are the copyright holder of any media used and wish for it to be credited or removed, please contact us with verification, and we will take appropriate action without delay.

6. Interviews and Third-Party Opinions

We frequently conduct interviews and publish contributions from musicians, fans, industry personnel, and third parties. The views expressed in such content are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Heavy Metal Citadel.

7. Community Contributions (Music, Brands, TikToks, etc.)

We encourage our audience to share their bands, brands, gig photos, videos, memes, and other media with us. By submitting such content, you agree that we may feature it on our Site and affiliated channels, and that you have the right to do so. We are not liable for content that infringes on third-party rights when submitted by users.

8. External Links

The Site may include links to external websites and platforms (e.g., Bandcamp, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram). We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of any third-party website. Once you navigate away from our domain, your interaction is governed by the third party’s terms and privacy policy.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Heavy Metal Citadel shall not be held liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your access to or use of the Site, or from reliance on any content therein.

We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

10. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to this page, with the revised date indicated at the top. Your continued use of the Site constitutes your acceptance of any changes.

11. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or content requests related to this policy, please contact us at: heavymetalcitadel@gmail.com.

The Heavy Metal Citadel respects the rights of creators, the freedom of expression, and the chaotic beauty of the underground scene. Thanks for being part of it.