Rating: 
Summary: Great idea, not so great execution
Review: A very tough task Mr. Strong has embarked upon with this book, and it's quite informative. However, like so many books of this kind, there are tons of mistakes and typos. In Ozzy's section for example, keyboardist Don Airey is called Don Avery, and Mike Inez is said to have played bass on "Ozzmosis" when it actually was Geezer Butler. Drummer Deen Castranovo and keybaords players Rick Wakeman and Michael Beinhorn (the LP's producer) and even guitar great Zakk Wylde aren't even mentioned! Nor is Joe Holmes who replaced Wylde on the ensuing tour which also John Sinclair return on keys and midway through saw Butler and Castronovo leave replaced by Robert Trujillo (who he does mention) and Mike Bordin (who he doesn't). This is just a minor example. Also, for whatever reason he only lists the Top 100 album placings for US charts when it goes to the Top 200. I don't get it. He also fails to update lineups on many of the later albums by bands. He lists no personnel on the last 4 Dio albums! And, many singles have the b-sides and a-sides backwards. Also, I'm ahuge Asia fan, but metal? Plus, he hasn't updated their career since 1994! That being said, he must be given credit for the inhuman effort and I'll continue supporting his works.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Overview
Review: from the roots on up, this book has it all. sure, it delves into the hard rock realm a bit, but it does not detract from the accuracy, range, and intelligence of this reference book. this book is far superior to anything martin popoff has written. it is thorough and educational. i've been an active participant in the metal scene for more that 15 years, and this book had a thing or two to teach me. there are some ommissions, but that's what updated editions are for. get this book. learn your history and see your future.
Rating:
Summary: A Nice Reference Book That Could Have Been Much Better
Review: I was pretty disappointed by this book. First of all,there are a bunch of omissions(Where's Grave Digger?). Secondly,there are way too many bands in here that just don't belong in a book about heavy metal(Bryan Adams,Prodigy,Loverboy,Prism). He also considers many bands "hard rock" when they are actually metal bands. I think this book could have been better if it was written by a serious metal fan rather than a music generalist like Martin Strong. However,the track listings are very useful for trivia purposes,and the illustrations(caricatures of different bands)are great fun. Try Headbangers:The Worldwide Megabook Of Heavy Metal Bands for a much better book of this kind.
Rating:
Summary: A Nice Reference Book That Could Have Been Much Better
Review: I was pretty disappointed by this book. First of all,there are a bunch of omissions(Where's Grave Digger?). Secondly,there are way too many bands in here that just don't belong in a book about heavy metal(Bryan Adams,Prodigy,Loverboy,Prism). He also considers many bands "hard rock" when they are actually metal bands. I think this book could have been better if it was written by a serious metal fan rather than a music generalist like Martin Strong. However,the track listings are very useful for trivia purposes,and the illustrations(caricatures of different bands)are great fun. Try Headbangers:The Worldwide Megabook Of Heavy Metal Bands for a much better book of this kind.
Rating:
Summary: Exhaustively researched gem
Review: I've heard it said that people are upset with some of Martin Strong's album ratings, but I think that is missing the point by a long shot. This isn't a book to be bought for it's reviews. It's to be bought and savored for it's unbelievable wealth of discographical (?) information. I've logged countless hours on the toilet with a Highlighter running through the bands and rediscovering songs that I had long forgotten. The Rebel MC's books hold down a place of honor in my music library, right next to Joel Whitburn's Billboard books. Both of labours of love that I can identify with. (And the fact that you can STEAL this one for $1.99 just KILLS me! DO IT!)
Rating:
Summary: Exhaustively researched gem
Review: I've heard it said that people are upset with some of Martin Strong's album ratings, but I think that is missing the point by a long shot. This isn't a book to be bought for it's reviews. It's to be bought and savored for it's unbelievable wealth of discographical (?) information. I've logged countless hours on the toilet with a Highlighter running through the bands and rediscovering songs that I had long forgotten. The Rebel MC's books hold down a place of honor in my music library, right next to Joel Whitburn's Billboard books. Both of labours of love that I can identify with. (And the fact that you can STEAL this one for $1.99 just KILLS me! DO IT!)
Rating:
Summary: Forgive the faults and just enjoy
Review: It's easy to find faults with this kind of work, but you have to admire Martin Strong's exhaustive works. You may disagree with his selections and ratings, but that's part of the experience. Besides, agreeing with people is very dullThere are no other reference books that can match these, the full tracklistings being one of the main strengths. You can spend hours leafing through aimlessly, always finding something new and absorbing Can't praise this one highly enough
Rating: 
Summary: Could've Been Way, WAY Better
Review: This book contains some good info, like the actual names of many musicians, bands' lineup changes, and other things that are lacking in Martin Popoff's book. However, as the above review mentions, there are TONS of bands not mentioned, too many bands that are in NO WAY metal (Prodigy??? What the hell are they doing in here?), an essay style that makes poor attempts at humor at the sacrifice of info and history (this IS a discography, right?), and a serious slant towards bands that he curiously likes (see Prodigy - he gives one of their albums a VERY rare "9" while giving Metallica's Ride the Lightning an "8" - YEAH RIGHT). In fact, most of the bands and albums he lists hover around the 5-6 out of ten. Which begs the question, if he likes Prodigy and Smashing Pumpkins so much, and gives mediocre ratings on most metal albums, whe did he put the word METAL in the title? This guy does not seem to be much of a metal fan; they need to retitle this book THE NOT-SO-GREAT, MOSTLY HARD ROCK MUSINGS AND DISCOGRAPHY.
Rating:
Summary: Could've Been Way, WAY Better
Review: This book contains some good info, like the actual names of many musicians, bands' lineup changes, and other things that are lacking in Martin Popoff's book. However, as the above review mentions, there are TONS of bands not mentioned, too many bands that are in NO WAY metal (Prodigy??? What the hell are they doing in here?), an essay style that makes poor attempts at humor at the sacrifice of info and history (this IS a discography, right?), and a serious slant towards bands that he curiously likes (see Prodigy - he gives one of their albums a VERY rare "9" while giving Metallica's Ride the Lightning an "8" - YEAH RIGHT). In fact, most of the bands and albums he lists hover around the 5-6 out of ten. Which begs the question, if he likes Prodigy and Smashing Pumpkins so much, and gives mediocre ratings on most metal albums, whe did he put the word METAL in the title? This guy does not seem to be much of a metal fan; they need to retitle this book THE NOT-SO-GREAT, MOSTLY HARD ROCK MUSINGS AND DISCOGRAPHY.
Rating:
Summary: KILLER!
Review: WOW, there is a lot of information here. I've been a Metal DJ for 10 years, and this book is really helpful as to 'who played with who and for how long and when they left said band'. Some of the names are spelled wrong and some of the band members are listed as playing instruments they didn't play, but overall this is a nice companion reference book .
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