Product Description

Extreme metal - one step beyond heavy metal - can appear bizarre or terrifying to the uninitiated. Extreme metal musicians have developed an often impenetrable sound that teeters on the edge of screaming, incomprehensible noise. Extreme metal circulates on the edge of mainstream culture within the confines of an obscure 'scene', in which members explore dangerous themes such as death, war and the occult, sometimes embracing violence, neo-fascism and Satanism. In the first book-length study of extreme metal, Keith Kahn-Harris draws on first-hand research to explore the global extreme metal scene. He shows how the scene is a space in which members creatively explore destructive themes, but also a space in which members experience the everyday pleasures of community and friendship. Including interviews with band members and fans, from countries ranging from the UK and US to Israel and Sweden, "Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge" demonstrates the power and subtlety of an often surprising and misunderstood musical form.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95667 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
'This fasinating book ... provides real insights into the margins of our culture.' Times Higher Education Supplement 'Sharp, engaging, and staggeringly comprehensive. 'Extreme Metal' is a must-read for metal fans and anyone interested in the study of popular music and subcultural politics in a globalizing age.' Sam Dunn, Co-Director, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey 'Although its a thorough work of sociological research, looking at how scenes work differently in different countries, as well as what unites them, delving into the close-knit interactions and often isolationist perspecitives that accommodate each other so uniquely and much more, anyone involved in the metal scene can regonise their own relationship with extreme metal in the book, as well as understand the bigger picture.' Neuro/Vision Extra: Extreme Metal 'Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge offers a comprehensive and long overdue documentation of the extreme metal scene and its bizarre and terrifying facets. ... Anyone desiring to read further on post-subcultural thinking and the loaded issue of scene participation within late modernity, or, indeed, anybody with a passing curiosity about the 'fear-laden' culture that is extreme metal, will find much of interest within this book.' Popular Music, Vol. 27/2, 2008

About the Author
Dr. Keith Kahn-Harris is an independent scholar, an associate lecturer at the Open University, an associate at the Centre for Urban and Community Research, Goldsmiths College and a founder of the Centre for New Jewish Thought. His website is www.kahn-harris.org.

Customer Reviews

For EggHeadBangers Everywhere.
Firstly I would like to apologise for the horrendous title for this review. It's late and Im knackered. Poor excuse.

I read this book as soon as I found out about it (and I'd persuaded my local library to buy a copy - bringing TRVE EVIL to the unsuspecting herd). As the above review stresses, this is an academic text rather then a scene overview/biography. It's an expansion of the author's Sociology PHD thesis. Most people (two of the three of you) have probably stopped reading by now.

It's certainly not an easy read but it's not utterly inpenetrable either. Some of the terminology is obtuse and esoteric, I did a an English degree so fortunately am reasonably familiar with some of it. However I would say there aren't many concessions to readers without an academic back ground. The language can be a litle dry at times too.

Unsurprisingly the text explores the "extreme metal scene" defined here as death, thrash, black and doom including their many sub-divisions; from a Sociological perspective - how "Capitol" (power, influence, status and even enjoyment) is distributed within the scene.

Few dedicated Metallers will find out much about the music or the history of bands they enjoy that they haven't already learned. However I was fascinated by the coverage of tape trading and letter writing, which the net still hasn't yet killed off.

Kahn Harris's take on power in the scene, especially the conflict between its more egalitarian aspects and the inherent racism, sexism and homophobia is interesting, but could have been deeper. Like many other Metaller's I am horrifed by the overt fascism/Nazism within elements of Black Metal in particular, as well as the widespread and casual misogyny and homophoia. Terrorizer, although excellent and full of highly sophisticated writing, doesn't go far enough to oppose this. This book is a vitally important step in the right direction.

A landmark for the status of Metal in the wider world. Recomended.

A Textbook Rather Than Another "Lords of Chaos"
Buyers expecting a book in the same vein as "Lords of Chaos", "Lucifer Rising" or "Choosing Death" will likely be disappointed. Kahn-Harris's book is a textbook, based on a PhD study and is structured like a thesis. It's a sociology book rather than a book about music (hence the 3 star rating).

Having said that, it is an interesting factual analysis of the extreme metal scene, its history, psychology, fandom and codes of ethics, though the style is dry which makes for heavy going at times.

Fascinating exploration into the dark side of pop and underground culture.
This is one of those books that is really difficult to put down due to its eclectic material, ranging from Satanic cinema such as: Haxan and the films of Kenneth Anger, to the exploration of music and it's connection to Satanism/occultism (Black Metal, Death Metal, Classical, Industrial). Unlike Lord's of Chaos, which pays way too much undeserved attention to Burzum/Varg Vikeners/Norway (although he/it does feature briefly in LF), Baddeley makes an effort to bring together different angles of the Satanic prism, from the likes of Paul Ledney (Havohej/Profanatica), Boyd Rice (NON), King Diamond and Vincent Crowley (Acheron) which is a breath of fresh air from the often non-sensical ramblings of the Nordic 'action heros'.
The book also features interviews and articles on high profile 'Satanists' like Anton Lavey and Aleister Crowley, and their influence on popular and/or underground culture. BUY IT NOW!