The Books of Metal

Like the rest of you, I'm obsessed with metal. Especially the more extreme varieties. It's only been this century when publishers have finally started publishing material that deals with extreme metal. Most of the books have been in the form of sub-genre discographies, but there are quite a few history books that attempt to cover specific forms of metal. Thanks to the recent Swedish Death Metal book, I've been inspired to write this short guide to the good (and some bad) metal books in my collection.

• SWEDISH DEATH METAL by Daniel Ekeroth (ISBN : 9780979616310) 2008 Bazillion Points

A massive history of the Swedish scene. It includes lots of material from the thrash, crust and black metal scenes as well. A good discography, lots of interviews, lots of pictures. Every metal book should be this good!!!

• THE N.W.O.B.H.M. ENCYCLOPEDIA by Malc Macmillan (ISBN : 3931624161) 2001 Iron Pages (Germany)

800 pages. Small type. Published in Germany, but it's all in English (with some typos). An amazing document of all bands from the NWOBHM. Amazing! A lot of these bands only released one 7", yet they have a thorough history in this book. One of the most concise and detailed music encyclopedias I've ever read. Highly recommended!

• METAL: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE by Garry Sharpe-Young (ISBN : 9781906002015) 2007 Jaw Bone

This book is divided up into genre/country sections and highlights about 200 bands. The band histories are generally really good - certainly much better than Sharpe-Young's previous books. As long as you're not looking for anything obscure, it'll be here.

• A-Z OF BLACK METAL by Garry Sharpe-Young (ISBN : 1901447308) 2001 Cherry Red Books (UK)

Has lots of bands, but not all of them will be considered black metal. Each listing has a discography and may or may not have a history that is even correct. This series has quite a few errors in each book. I can only recommend them if you're a completist. You're better off checking the RockDetector website.

• A-Z OF DEATH METAL by Garry Sharpe-Young (ISBN : 1901447359) 2001 Cherry Red Books (UK)
• A-Z OF DOOM, GOTHIC & STONER METAL by Garry Sharpe-Young (ISBN : 1901447146) 2001 Cherry Red Books (UK)

At least this came with a CD. Don't be fooled by the cover typo that describes the CD as power metal.

• A-Z OF THRASH METAL by Garry Sharpe-Young (ISBN : 190144709x) 2002 Cherry Red Books (UK)

This also comes with a sampler CD. There's plenty of obscure thrash bands, along with some crossover (like COC) and some punk (like DIE KRUEZEN).

• CHOOSING DEATH by Albert Mudrian (ISBN : 193259504x) 2004 Feral House

Subtitled 'The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore'. A great history of early grind as well as the early death metal bands. Recommended.

• TRUE NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL by Peter Beste (ISBN : 9781576874356) 2008 Vice

An American reprint of the ultra-rare Japanese book. All photos. Mayhem, Gorgoroth, Satyricon, Darkthrone. Includes reproductions of interviews with Mayhem from Slayer magazine and the infamous Kerrang articles and interviews with Burzum.

• BLACK SABBATH by Martin Popoff (ISBN : 9781550227314) 2006 ECW Press

The best history of the band that I've ever read. Over 300 pages with lots of interviews with all the members and plenty of photos. Highly recommended.

• LUCIFER RISING by Gavin Baddeley (ISBN : 0859652807) 1997 Plexus (UK)

It's really a history of devil worship in Western culture, but he has some nice chapters on the music, specifically metal, through there is plenty of industrial music represented. Interviews with Anton LaVey, Danzig, Mayhem, Burzum, and more.

• SOUND OF THE BEAST by Ian Christie (ISBN : 006052362x) 2003 Harper Collins

One of the first histories of metal that includes the extreme forms - thrash, death, and black. It's a little dated now, but well worth the read.

• HELL BENT FOR LEATHER by Seb Hunter (ISBN : 0060722924) 2004 Harper Collins

The author recounts his life in a sub-DOGS D'AMOUR English sleaze rock band. It's funny and entertaining, but not too metal.

• THE GREAT METAL DISCOGRAPHY by Martin C Strong (ISBN : 0862417279) 1998 Canongate (UK)

At this time, a very dated discography. Very little extreme metal, but lots of hard rock and sleaze rock.

• THE COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO HEAVY METAL by Martin Popoff (ISBN : 1896522327) 1997 Collector's Guide (Canada)

Avoid! It's a collection of reviews of lots of metal, punk, and hard rock. You know something's wrong when his favorite CELTIC FROST record is 'Cold Lake'.

LINDA LOVELACE 'Golden Summer' c10

(2008, Destructive Industries DI003)

Here's another tape release from rising label Destructive Industries.

Don't let the name fool you too much. This is a side project by Thomas from RU-486 dedicated to one of the queens of the Golden Era of porn, Linda Lovelace. She's performed some perverted acts in front of the camera. This tribute channels those depravities into your ear.

The tape starts with some immense sexual jackhammering and subtle feedback morphing into harsher squeals. As the cascades overload and pull out, an organ loop comes into play. The screeches and white noise turn into puffy mosquito bites. As the loop fades away, gauzy sheets of white noise make way for and ending of robotic jackhammering.

This is a numbered edition of 36 copies. The last few releases from Destructive Industries sold out quickly, so don't hesitate to contact the label below.

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Contact Info:

Please check their website.

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EVILE 'Enter The Grave' CD

2007, Earache Records MOSH 353

Thrash Revival. That phrase scares me. Not because of the thrash part. I love thrash. I've been listening to it since 1984. Not a week goes by without a little EXODUS or TESTAMENT. I'm afraid there will be a score of bands jumping on the thrash bandwagon to make a quick buck. I don't need to hear another watered-down 'Kill 'Em All'. I heard plenty of that in the late 80's when death metal killed thrash dead.

So anyway, there's a band from the UK called EVILE. They play thrash. And they're on Earache. And they got Flemming Rasmussen to produce it. So this should sound like early METALLICA. Wrong!

The first track is pretty typical thrash: lyrics about killing, a galloping riff, melodic breaks, fast chorus. Everything sounds nice, though the bass is a little too low in the mix. Musically I heard a lot of EXODUS and some (early) METALLICA. Matt Drake has a great thrash voice; it's rich and melodic and doesn't sound like the other thrash singers.

The second track is where the CD really begins to take off. 'Thrasher' has some beautiful, tight riffing. And it's fast. It's so good that on the next track, 'First Blood', when Matt sings 'Master', I expect 'of Puppets' to come next. Thankfully, it doesn't.

This CD is not all blazing speed. There is a nice intro to 'Man Against Machine'. EVILE keep the musical pace varied throughout so no thrash fan will get bored with this.

The lyrics are pretty typical thrash. Lots of killing and destruction. There's also a song about gladiators (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM did that one better), a killer shark (reminding me of 'Piranha' by EXODUS), a song based on a book/movie (isn't that where ANTHRAX gets their ideas?), and schizophrenia (hello SEPULTURA).

Nonetheless, this is a very good first effort and should be in the collection of any thrash fan. EVILE has studied hard and learned their lessons well. They recently toured with MEGADETH and will be touring Europe with EXODUS.

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Contact Info:

Please visit Earache Records.

Or Evile's page.

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RU-486 'Princess of Rot' c10

(2008, Destructive Industries DI002)

I got this recently in a trade from the label. It's a c10 (the perfect noise length) in a plastic case with inserts and lyrics. I'm glad to see that people are still making tapes.

The first track starts off with some feedback and mid-range rumbling. Then comes the screamed, buried vokills. Lyrics are included, but not necessary. This guy has the vocal skills of a great hardcore singer. It sounds like there are no effects applied, just raw emotion, fighting to be heard over the noise. After some percussive beatings, everything's spent and falls into a final feedback squeal.....

The second track, Day Job, has a wider dynamic range with screeching feedback and muffled low-end rumbles. At times the feedback squelches subside, leaving nothing but a subsonic grind. The track ends with a whimper.

Don't hesitate to contact the artist below. This is a numbered edition of 25 copies and well worth every minute of it's sonic abuse.

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Contact Info:

Please check their website.

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BIZARRE UPROAR 'Bunker Sessions' CD

2007, Housepig Records HPIG-013

Here are 8 tracks of harsh junk noise. Like his fellow Finn, GRUNT, BIZARRE UPROAR recorded all of these tracks live in the studio. The first track starts off with some screeching junk rhythms. Then the noise comes at you like a hungry machine. It doesn't let up until 28 minutes later, when the metal beast lurches back into the darkness from whence it came. And lurking somewhere in the maelstrom is a chaotic piece of noisecore.

If you'd like a second spin, just put your CD player on 'Random'. This CD is divided into 99 tracks, so the replay value is enormous. Herein lies a multitude of ways to scramble your brain. Exceptional.

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Contact Info:

Please visit Housepig Records.

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LEGLESS / GAS SATORI split CDr

LEGLESS / GAS SATORI 'Split' CDr (2007, Deviant Amusements 01)

This split comes in a minimalist jewel case. Contact LEGLESS below to see if it's still available.

The first track, by LEGLESS is a dense study in disentegration. Just when you think the roars and the scrapings are taking you somewhere, you realize you're nowhere. That's when the screams come in. Dense, harsh noise that might lead you towards enlightenment. Or not.

GAS SATORI provides the opposite flavor. Twelve tracks of short blasts. Almost like MASONNA, but without the tension of silence. The machines don't shut off, they just jerk along, making you lose your path until you're too pummeled to even care. After all is said and done, you still hit 'play' and ride it again.

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Contact Info:



Email : dannypropert(at)yahoo(dot)com.

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LEGLESS Inconsequential 3"CDr

LEGLESS 'Inconsequential' 3"CDr (2007, Terra Firma Records)

This 3" CDr comes in a small envelope with a poster. It's numbered of only 60 copies.

LEGLESS presents an impressive squall of feedback and pedal abuse. The scree twists and turns through unnamed corridors bringing with it harsh sheets of fuzz and the occasional scream. And before you know it, you're pulverized.

Overall, this is a pretty impressive release. The sounds are fresh and balanced, and the whole thing is very well mixed.

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Contact Info:

Please check their website.

Or email : dannypropert(at)yahoo(dot)com.

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