Sweden is a remote country in the freezing northern Europe, with less than nine million inhabitants and a reputation for Volvos, hockey players,... read full description
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Jan 12, 2009
Ken
rated it: 
When explaining my love of Swedish death metal to non-fans, I always fall back on one main point that suddenly piques their curiosity. Death Metal is to Sweden what hardcore punk was to American music in the 1980s. Entombed and At the Gates were as important in Sweden as Black Flag and Minor Threat were on American soil. And while purists can debate the relative importance of all the aforementioned bands, the simple fact is the DIY ethic that defined 1980s American punk — with its small enclaves
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Jul 30, 2009
Nate
rated it: 
only read a bit of this and skimmed through the rest, but its safe to say the rating is justified. a very in depth account of swedish death metal from 87 - 92, detailing from the scene's beginnings as a loose network of maniac tape traders, to a full fledged popularity boom in the early 90s, so the black metal movement from norway eventually overshadowing what the swedes were doing. focuses pretty heavily on many of the early players, including tons of narratives and antecdotes from the people i
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Feb 09, 2011
Michael
rated it:
For a hardcore metal head such as myself this book was a rare savage find. As I read over it I realized that I am not the metal head I thought I was, or atleast as educated in the realms of Death Metal. This book uses alot of hear say information, but also has a ton of information that is researchable; so it is not a total loss in the realms of being a good research book for the Black and Death Metal scene. This book is high point for the culture and movement that is Black and Death Metal. Cultu
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Apr 07, 2009
Pranjal
rated it:
Finally, Swedish metal gets its props! Norway usually gets all the credit for metal, while Sweden is dismissed as full of crappy Gothenburg-sound bands like In Flames. But what has Norwegian metal really done since Darkthrone, Mayhem, et al? And how can anyone write off a scene that produced bands like Bathory, Candlemass, Anti Cimex, Entombed, Nihilist, At the Gates, Unleashed, Disfear...?
His own translation from the original Swedish text, Ekeroth's insider perspective is both infor More...
His own translation from the original Swedish text, Ekeroth's insider perspective is both infor More...
Aug 26, 2011
Mattias
rated it: 
I havent been a huge fan of the Swedish Death metal scene besides Entombed which I love. But I have to say that the book has gotten me very interested and have since I read the book I have bought the 3 disc collection which accompanies the book.
The book is a good read with a lot of passion and great insights into the scene wich was just miles away from me but I hadnt a clue. However I think the book suffers from all the details, you dont have to name every band that has played ever. It gets in More...
The book is a good read with a lot of passion and great insights into the scene wich was just miles away from me but I hadnt a clue. However I think the book suffers from all the details, you dont have to name every band that has played ever. It gets in More...
Dec 11, 2011
Terence
rated it:
The info here is great, sometime half way through it gets a bit tired. Essentially listing demo after release, and how good or bad it is to the author's opinion - most of the time he is correct - but like most of the mid-1990s it shows the tedium of unoriginality that was most death metal. Its best up until Entombed's "Left Hand Path" and a few other albums then stagnates until Black Metal give it a run for its money; all hail Dissection and Abruptum.
Jun 13, 2009
Dave
rated it:
This book was pretty cool, although it's a little too "oral history" for my tastes. At times, it also read more like a list of releases, like "Band A released Demo #1, which was great, but then they released Demo #2 and Demo #3, which weren't as good. Then Band B released Demo #2, which was awesome," etc.
BUT - as a reference, especially with the insane reviews-type section in the back, this book is awfully handy.
BUT - as a reference, especially with the insane reviews-type section in the back, this book is awfully handy.
Apr 10, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
An informative look at the birth, rise, and fall (well, not really- still rocking it!) of the musical genre that changed my life. If you're a heavy metal fan, check it out.
Jun 02, 2009
An enormous tome of stark black-and-white. Physically, the book befits its subject: it's too heavy for all but the thickest fingers to page.
Sep 01, 2009
This should have been 100-150pp. longer--and I wish Ekeroth would have let me proof it for him: lots of type-o's!
Oct 24, 2008
AaronLW
rated it:
It's just a list of facts; bands, musicians, cities, albums, dates, and very little context. It's an Allmusic Guide in narrative form. 3 stars for the research and dedication.
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