I wanted to get my paws on this one for a long time. Thanks to Rockmark Zagreb, I ordered my copy and got it, read it in less than a week. This book written by long time journalists Ika Johannesson and Jon Jefferson Klingberg came as something of a surprise for me. I thought that this will be another history of metal scene, from its start to nowadays, but boy was I surprised. This book consists of chapters which are stories for themselves about some of the most known or infamous members of the Swedish metal scene. I will mention the opener, story of Nifelheim twins, then story of Entombed and its divide in two bands, of course dark and impressive late Jon Nodtveidt of Dissection’s story. What would be story about Swedish metal without Dead of Morbid and Mayhem who ended his life in 1991 and is an icon of black metal scene. One of the absolute highlights for me was also story of Niklas Kvarforth and his Shining, his disappearance, the infamous gig with new singer Ghoul hehe, misantrophy and hatred. The book ends with story of melodic metal from more known bands like Hammerfall and Sabaton to less known underground power metal. Last chapter is Watain, band which I respect very much and who keep the flame of black metal burning bright. I recommend this book to all metalheads out there but also the ones who love extreme music and interesting stories.
