Extreme metal--one step beyond heavy metal--can appear bizarre or terrifying to the uninitiated. Musicians of this genre have developed an often impenetrable sound that teeters on the edge of screaming, incomprehensible noise. Extreme metal circulates on the edge of mainstream culture within the confines of an obscure 'scene', in which members explore dangerous themes such as death, war and the occult, sometimes embracing violence, neo-fascism and Satanism. In the first book-length study of extreme metal, Keith Kahn-Harris draws on first-hand research to explore the global extreme metal scene. He shows how the scene is a space in which members creatively explore destructive themes, but also a space in which members experience the everyday pleasures of community and friendship. Including interviews with band members and fans, from countries ranging from the UK and US to Israel and Sweden, Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge demonstrates the power and subtlety of an often surprising and misunderstood musical form.

In this first-ever atlas of the heavy metal phenomenon, Ian Christe delivers a bird's-eye view of this dark and forbidden music. The ultimate headbanger history, Sound of the Beast reveals tales of concert hysteria, courtroom drama, and musical triumph with: Interviews with Black Sabbath, Metallica, Morbid Angel, Megadeth, Twisted Sister, Kiss, Slipknot, and many others Genre boxes explaining black metal, power metal, thrash metal, nu metal, and more More than a hundred rare and unpublished photos A thirty-year graphic timeline of metal milestones, hilarious metal lists, and the twenty-five most original recordings of all time

"* * * * * * The most incredible story in the history of music a heavyweight book."-"Kerrang " "An unusual combination of true crime journalism, rock and roll reporting and underground obsessiveness, "Lords of Chaos" turns into one of the more fascinating reads in a long time."-"Denver Post" A narrative feature film based on this award-winning book has just gone into production.