thePULSEFeaturing Contributions from Kerry King (Slayer), Philip Anselmo (Pantera/Down), Scott Ian (Anthrax) and More!
To pre-order The Merciless Book of Metal Lists, please visit Amazon.com. You can learn more about the book at the official Facebook page or at Abrams Books.
“You want to know about album covers that feature goats on them? What Motorhead icon Lemmy’s warts might tell you if they could speak? The achievements Iron Maiden would never have reached had their original vocalist Paul Dianno remained in the band? Well then, this book is for you.”
The Merciless Book of Metal Lists, written by NYC music scene veterans Howie Abrams and Sacha Jenkins, is set to be released on April 9. Touted as being “the most opinionated compendium ever written concerning Heavy Metal,” The Merciless Book of Metal Lists is comprised of 208 jam-packed pages representing all that is glorious across the world of Heavy Metal.
Presented in the form of dozens of factual, random and often outrageous lists, this book flies the flag for true metalheads, as well as the curious observer. Where others have ventured to simply focus on who is best, The Merciless Book of Metal Lists dares to call many out for being the worst. It points out the triumphs, as well as the miserable failures concerning metal, and recklessly opines on each and every aspect of it, from a diehard fan’s point-of-view.
The requisite collections of the mightiest guitarists, drummers, vocalists etc. are in there, however,TMBML leaves no stone unturned, often blurring the lines separating fact and hilarity. You want to know about album covers that feature goats on them? What Motorhead icon Lemmy’s warts might tell you if they could speak? The achievements Iron Maiden would never have reached had their original vocalist Paul Dianno remained in the band? Well then, this book is for you.
The foreword for The Merciless Book of Metal Lists comes from one of the most respected names in the genre, Slayer guitarist extraordinaire Kerry King, with a candid and passionate afterword from Pantera/Down frontman Philip Anselmo. There are numerous other contributions from band members the likes of Scott Ian (Anthrax), Gary Holt (Exodus), Max Cavalera (Sepultura/Soulfly), Danny Lilker (Nuclear Assault/Brutal Truth), Katon W.DePena (Hirax) and many others. Additionally, several lists have been contributed by industry luminaries such as Jon & Marsha Zazula; the very people responsible for first bringing groups like Metallica, Anthrax and Testament to the world at large, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel, radio personality Eddie Trunk, former Roadrunner Records (current Nuclear Blast) A&R guru Monte Conner and more. Hell, even rapper MC Serch is featured talking about his days weeding through Slayer’s fan mail while working at Def Jam.
There is no music community on earth quite like that of Heavy Metal, and The Merciless Book of Metal Lists is its bible. Metal fans thrive on debating each and every detail about the music and it’s performers, from recording production, to album cover art, to band members’ appearance – no stone is left unturned…EVER. TMBML is designed for the lot who enthusiastically engage in and thrive on such arguments.
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Howie Abrams
Howie is a former…lots of things, including record label A&R rep, music publisher and artist manager. Abrams grew up in his beloved NYC as part of its Metal and Hardcore scenes and has always carried the torch for aggressive music. He was the co-founder of the influential hard music label In-Effect Records, where he signed bands such as Agnostic Front, Nuclear Assault and Sick of it All among others. Later, as the Senior Director of A&R at Roadrunner Records, he inked Vision of Disorder, Madball, Shelter and others, plus, he handled marketing duties for groups such as Sepultura, Type O Negative, Biohazard and more. Howie also worked at Jive Records/Zomba Music, as well as Warner Music.
Sacha Jenkins
Sacha Jenkins loves heavy music. He grew up in New York City, and has produced books about both hip-hop and also graffiti, including ego trip’s The Book of Rap Lists, and Big Book of Racism. He’s produced some television too, and plays guitar in a band called The White Mandingoes along with Darryl Jenifer of the legendary Bad brains.
