Rating: 
Summary: Moloch's Power Chord Puppets
Review: The only good thing about this lower astral plane charade is that it will allow anyone with a smidgen of spirit, intelligence, and light to see the stupidity of the black metal musicians themselves and how they are unable to see that they are mere Power Chord Puppets for some corporate Moloch wearing a three piece Armani suit, sipping a Martini and listening to lounge music.
Rating: 
Summary: A definitive history of dark influences in metal.
Review: This book is thoroughly researched, and I can see why it has been getting rave reviews from Sociologists, Historians, and Divinity Scholars. The whole story is here with interviews of dozens of key personalities including Euronymous, the Count, Grischnacht's *MOM*, Norwegian Politicians, all the members of Dark Throne, Emperor... the list goes on. The only book I have ever read with more and more thorough interviews was _Crash at Corona_ Stanton Friedman's 600 page account of the infamous saucer crash incident at Roswell, New Mexico. _Lords...._ starts out with a well-conceived history of gothic and satanic influences in music going as far back as pagan medieval music and so inclusive as to consider the dark side of American Delta Blues, ala Robert Johnson, one of the first musicians reputed to have a "pact with the devil." The book then traces evil rock from Coven (of "one Tin Soldier fame") to Sabbath, Venom, Mercyful Fate, and Bathory. No significant dark band is omitted. The book even discusses the rift between black and death metal that was fostered mainly by Mayhem in the late 80's. The rest of the story serves as a thorough account of the atocities in Norway and Sweden and the history of Black Metal throughout the world. I have been waiting for a book like this for a couple of years now. I'm happy to say that it exceeds my original expectations. This is professional journalism at it's best and also serves at the definitive history of extreme Satanic metal.
Rating:
Summary: exploring the most disturbing, yet intriguing, music to date
Review: This book provides a lot of information regarding the black metal scene- someone who has only heard rumors can verify them here; someone who is into the scene can read informative interviews with some of the bigger names, including many people that you rarely find good interviews with. Unfortunately, the authors start strong and in depth but then begin to fade and hasten as the book progresses. While they do a good job of establishing how & why black metal began, they appear to become obsessed with the satanic aspects. They mention only briefly, if at all, some of the better-known bands (Cradle of Filth is a prime example) and begin to focus on the performers who have done extreme things (church burning, murder, etc.), often including no-name bands just because they have been in jail. While these acts are extreme, they are in no way the norm in todays black metal scene- although they were prominent at the beginning. At the end they begin to cross over into different scenes- even icluding sociopaths whose actions were in no way influenced by music- black metal or otherwise. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I do believe it will appeal primarily to those totally into- or totally afraid of- this type of music. I anticipate another book dealing with this topic, however, I am hoping more for a music-oriented overview of this dark, disturbing, yet often mystical genre.
Rating: 
Summary: WOW
Review: THis maybe one of the most fascinating books i have ever read. It was very enlightening and interesting, yet very disturbing how some people let music influence the way they live so drastically. I would reccomend this book to everyone from odinists to fundametalist christians
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