Heavy Metal Mayhem is a high-energy, music-themed retrospective that helps teams surface new ideas, silence blockers, and amplify what’s working well.

When to use this template

Use this format for teams who want to inject energy into their retros, especially after intense sprints or when motivation needs a boost.

How to facilitate

Open with a brief welcome and set the 'rock concert' tone to energize the team for the session.

Ask everyone to brainstorm and share new experiments or ideas under 'Kickstart the Riff'. Focus on fresh approaches or practices to try.

Guide the group to identify and add obstacles, habits, or blockers to 'Dampen the Noise'. Encourage honesty about what's causing friction.

Invite participants to celebrate wins and effective practices by filling 'Amp Up the Classics' with things that should be continued.

Review the board, group similar items, and facilitate discussion to deeply explore key topics in each column.

Decide collaboratively on specific actions or changes to tackle top priorities from the session.

Close by acknowledging team energy and commitment, and summarize the agreed next steps.

Pro Tips

Open a heavy music playlist as background to set a fun, thematic mood—not too loud, just enough to energize.

Prompt quieter team members with direct questions or give time for everyone to jot thoughts before sharing.

Encourage visual metaphors and references to music in notes to keep engagement high and ideas creative.

Use quick polls or voting to speed up decision-making on which ideas or blockers to prioritize.

FAQ

What if some team members don’t like the heavy metal theme?

Let everyone know the spirit is about energy and fun, not just music taste. Focus on the metaphor and invite musical diversity where possible.

How do we avoid the session becoming too upbeat and missing real issues?

Balance celebration with probing questions on blockers, ensuring space for difficult topics alongside positivity.

Is this template suitable for serious or technical teams?

Yes; the theme is a lighthearted wrapper for proven retrospective structure—customize tone if needed to suit your group.

Want a custom template?

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At a glance

Duration
35–50 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🤘🎸 Heavy Metal Mayhem

Welcome to the mosh pit of agile! Crank up the volume as we riff on our successes, thrash out blockers, and keep our teamwork louder than ever. Let’s turn up the tempo and rock our project to the top of the charts!

Template Columns

🎵 Kickstart the Riff

⛔ Dampen the Noise

🔥 Amp Up the Classics

About this template