Earth Island Books continues to amaze with great book releases with roots in punk rock and hardcore scene. This time, it is a collection of essays by Ray Stuart, guy who grew up in punk rock scene writing fanzines, reading, traveling and this book is a train of thoughts. Ray is actually describing situation in UK in last couple of years from his personal point of view, his stand about UK’s main themes like education, religion, Boris Johnson, Brexit, NHS, Covid lockdown and death of Queen Elizabeth and new King Charles and so on. I know, essays sometimes are boring to read but this collection is so personal, so great to read just like I am reading a fanzine with personal and political features in it. I learned a lot about the author through these essays and the book itself. So, it is time for you to check this one out and read for yourself some food for thoughts. Good one indeed.
Wow! This is all I can say after I finished this 500+ pages monstrosity by Daniel Lake with a foreword by legendary Tom G.Warrior of Celtic Frost and Hellhammer fame. I always somehow held European black metal in higher worth and regard than American black metal scene, but now I understand how wrong I was. Leaning more into punk rock and hardcore back ground than its European counterparts, American bands and projects have managed to create their own identity and large quantity of originality not trying to sound like third grade clones of Darkthrone and Burzum, rather evolving and thus becoming hated by some black metal purists circles, but also becoming original in their diy and free spirit. This book covers it all in shape of articles and rich interviews, from old school masters Judas Iscariot, Absu, Von, across Inquisition, Deafheaven, Panopticon, Krieg, Leviathan, Xasthur and many, many others. This book is a worthy document of a scene and its worth cannot be grasped in one reading, so I am definitely going to have to read it once or twice more soon. Great book!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 