Over the summer, instead of working on college applications or preparing for his normal-education classes, senior Niko Kelly started a heavy metal band in his house. Niko Kelly, well-known for his black hair and nose ring, finally released his first album on April 1st: “I Hate the World and I Love Heavy Metal Music So Much and Brent Bryner is My Worst Enemy.” To listen to his first, renowned, album, you can find Niko’s music under the Spotify name “The Heat Death of the Universe.”

On March 30th, Niko and his band members—Thomas Sorrow and Bartholomew Agony—released their album to the public at Norwin High School. The students were heavily influenced by Metallica, Black Sabbath, Megadeth, and Pantera. During all lunch periods, Niko’s band, “The Heat Death of the Universe,” gave out CDs to students and played their music on the loudspeakers so that everyone could hear.

“I withdrew my commitment from Pitt for Puppetry and decided to focus more on my music,” said senior Niko Kelly. “I’m so excited to get a kick-start on doing what I really love: producing heavy metal music for all to hear. It truly is my passion.”

Niko’s first production of songs from “The Heat Death of the Universe” features over 18 songs that Niko Kelly worked hard on throughout the entire summer, and most of his high school career. Despite the band’s unconventional start in the music world, Niko’s band quickly grasped the attention of many incoming freshman.

“After listening to ‘I Hate the World and I Love Heavy Metal Music So Much and Brent Bryner is My Worst Enemy’ I really felt inspired to give high school my best effort, and really make the best out of my experience at Norwin,” said freshman Maxwell Fleckenstein, who always blasts Niko’s music in his AirPods.

Lead singer of a pop-country band at Norwin High School, Brent Bryner, is well-known to be Niko’s number one rival in terms of high school bands. With opposing music and styles, these two can’t seem to agree on anything.

“He is my opp,” said senior Brent Bryner.

The two used to be best friends in their freshman year of high school, however they grew apart as soon as Niko started to pursue a heavy metal music style—in contrast to Brent’s country style.

On a random school day in March, Niko previewed some music to his first album during C lunch with a bunch of his friends: Brent Bryner, Charlie Closson, and Joe Korhnak. After running up to the front of the cafeteria with his pink electric guitar, Niko immediately burst out into song, singing so loudly that everyone in the high school—including English teacher Mr. Fleckenstein—came out to listen to Niko’s performance.

“Performing in front of the whole school was so awesome and rad,” said Niko Kelly. “I couldn’t imagine a better way to show the school and my teachers my passion: heavy metal music. Hours of time spent into practicing my chords and lyrics really did pay off. The entire cafeteria was jumping around. It was so cool dude.”

Of course, Brent Bryner was seen by many students to be very disappointed and upset during Niko’s spontaneous performance. Brent immediately rivaled Niko’s music by loudly singing country music from his favorite artists, Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen, and Shaboozey.

“I got so jealous of Niko performing in front of the school that I started to sing to conquer Niko’s performance,” said Brent Bryner. “I didn’t even realize I was singing so loudly until people from Hahntown Elementary School and Hillcrest Intermediate School started to cheer me on from outside of the high school.”

In the future, Niko plans on releasing a number of songs over the summer. Now that he has the time to pursue music without the pressure of Puppetry school, Niko plans on surpassing the success of Brent Bryner’s country music for once and for all.