"Passionately presenting heavy metal as an electrified vessel for age-old mythic storytelling, this lively tome will fire up metal fans."
Written by novelist Andy Boot, who cut his metal teeth as a Kerrang! music journalist, Metal Mythology does what it declares on its tin, and more. Dissecting the multi-faceted mythology of metal, and sharing detail on iconic heavy weights of the genre, the book is based on Boot’s belief that heavy metal is the post-industrial incarnation of ancient storytelling traditions, which makes it instantly intriguing.
The introduction sees Boot set out his stall in bombastic style: “Before the distortion pedals, before the leather jackets, before the iconography of skulls, swords, runes, demons and angels, there were stories. Old stories. Stories that entire cultures once believed were the architecture of the world.
Myths that helped people understand why the sun rose, why the crops failed, why the sea swallowed ships”. Arguing that metal emerged because young people were “reaching for new identities” as a result of Western culture being in a “strange transition: religion was loosening its grip, post-war optimism was collapsing, industry was grinding to a halt”, the book does a deep dive into four of metal’s mythological lenses (mythology itself, history, the occult, and fantastic fiction), with additional detail on Wicca, the folk revival, Thelema, ritual magic, English folk horror, science fiction, fairy tales, and paganism.
Then follows coverage of major players in the metal arena (Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Metallica, Skyclad, Ghost and Sleep Token) before an aptly rousing finale: “Metal is a sanctuary, a rebellion, a ritual, a labyrinth, a story. If the old gods fall silent, metal invents new ones”.
Written in a pacey, talkative style, Metal Mythology is at once informative, passionate and entertaining. A must-read for hardcore heavy metal fans, it’s also fascinating for music and myth buffs more broadly.
Metal Mythology is a deliciously-dark deep dive into the Heavy Metal music genre and the history of the folklore which inspired its music.
| Primary Genre | Gift Books |
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Metal Mythology is a deliciously-dark deep dive into the Heavy Metal music genre and the history of the folklore which inspired its music. The book begins with the story of Heavy Metal's early years in the 1970s, explaining how it became popular with bands from working class British backgrounds like Birmingham's Black Sabbath (with late Ozzy Osbourne) and East End lads Iron Maiden.
Metal Mythology features in the following genres: Gift Books, History, Music
Hardback. £15.29, down from the £16.99 cover price. In Stock.
Metal Mythology was written by Andy Boot and published by Mirror Books
Metal Mythology has 288 pages
£15.29, reduced from £16.99. In Stock.
