Tag Archives: book reviews

(book) Greg Prato – ‘Survival Of The Fittest: Heavy Metal In The 1990’s’

This almost six hundred pages behemoth was a pleasure to read at most times, although there are couple of to me boring themes in there through couple of chapters. As the title says, the book revolves around alleged death of metal due to grunge explosion early in the nineties, which was not true at all and it is explained in this book why that’s not true and I totally agree with that. There is an interesting divide of parts in this book, like a live show of some sorts, parts being: Load In, Soundcheck, Opener, Headliner, Encore, After Party and Load Out. Something that every musician knows about if he toured and played live gigs. Foreword is written by none other than Rex Brown, bass player of legendary Pantera. The concept of chapters is that metal, let’s call them celebrities namely for example Phil Anselmo, Joe Elliot, Devin Townsend, Dez Fafara, Dani Filth, Kirk Windstein, John Christ and many others talk about nu metal, industrial metal, vocalists leaving legendary bands and returning back, their own albums and how they were conceived in idea and recording and there are lots of anecdotes in this book, like in great documentary movie which is what makes me love this book. But, there are also couple of too long chapters like on prog metal or nu metal that are not my personal tastes so it was quite boring for me to read them, but I did it. So, this is good book full of information and anecdotes especially for us who grew up with these bands and albums in the nineties.

3,5/5

(book) Django Wexler – ‘The Price Of Valour’ (The Shadow Campaigns #3)

I discovered Django Wexler totally by surprise, while looking on Goodreads something similar to Joe Abercrombie, who is one of my favorite let’s say newer fantasy writers. Django Wexler released this five book serial called The Shadow Campaigns and this is third opus in that series. This is complicated fantasy with many characters involving only humans, so there are no dwarves, no elves, no dragons, monsters and similar themes. I learned to love that approach when I read Martin’s Songs of Ice and Fire which are ninety percent human based fantasy.

Well, The Price Of Valour deals with war. After the events in first two books which I must not write in detail not to spoil potential reading to you, war broke out in Kingdom of Vordanai. Winter Ihernglass is now first woman Colonel in Vordanai army leading the battalion formed of ex prostitutes, thieves and abused orphaned women who fight valiantly in Army of the East commanded by General Janus Bet Vhalnich. Meanwhile, evile Penitent Damned, who are like dark magic commandos installed a coup in Vordan so the army must come back to save the queen Raesinia and not to let kingdom fall into darkness, at the same time fighting with enemies surrounding them. This is in short told story of this third part of the series and I enjoyed every second of this 500plus pages behemoth. I am now going to part four and will let you know what I think. Of all three read until now, this one is the best.

4/5

(book) Darker Masques Anthology

I found this anthology when I was an avid reader of anything Graham Masterson wrote, being one of my favorite horror authors. So, I got to read this one, and check out his short story, also Dan Simmons being my favorite I wanted to read his share of this anthology, together with Ray Bradbury and couple of other names that I know and a bunch of horror authors didn’t have a honor to read yet. But, this 500 plus pages monster is not what I thought it would be. Besides three above mentioned authors rest of the stories are not on the level. On the contrary, most are under. As is with any anthology, some stories are better, some not, but this one lacks great stories. Based mostly in body horror, sexual related horror stories and also psychological serial killers, this anthology is for those who still do not know what they want with their horror. Give me Lovecraft related horror stories and novels every day. This one is to avoid. Better spend time reading something better. I will soon tell you what if you read this webzine.

2/5