We’re definitely not alone creating a corpus of para-historical research and evaluation of death metal mythology. We’ve been in touch recently with the editors of a very interesting book to be published soon, apparently exhibiting similar tendencies to our own ongoing, arduous work of digging death metal relics and evidence from shadow-haunted attics, cellars and sealed archives.
Former ‘zine editors Alan Moses (Buttface ‘zine) and Brian Pattison (Chainsaw Abortions ‘zine) are nearing completion on a book unlike any other. Instead of the standard “history of” book, “Glorious Times” will showcase rare (many never before seen) pictures from the death metal scene (1984-1991) and instead of narration by an outside author, the stories contained in the book will come from the bands and ‘zine editors of the period. Who could be better at telling the inside stories of what really happened than those that were there and lived it.
The photos will come largely from the personal collections of Alan and Brian with other photos coming from the personal collections of such people as Kam Lee, Henry Veggian, Laurent Ramadier, and other stalwarts of the era. These pictures won’t be the standard lineup shots you’ve seen in magazines and fanzines over and over, instead these will be rare live pictures and candid images of bands in studio, hanging out and rehearsing, the types of images few people outside of the bands themselves have ever seen.
The stories will come largely from the bands themselves. We’ve got Kam Lee (Death/Massacre) telling about the forming of Death and their first gig, Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) telling about the Buffalo scene that spawned Cannibal Corpse, King Fowley (Deceased) telling of a road trip from Hell, all 3 original members of Nuclear Death telling personal tales, Chris Reifert (Death/Autopsy) recanting a tale on the recording of the legendary “Scream Bloody Gore” album, Vincent Crowley (Acheron) orating a tale involving fellow band Immolation… and many more personal stories never before told to or read by the fans.
Together these pictures and stories tell of an era gone by, the Glorious Times of the early death metal scene. You can go and pick up a history of book and read an authors interpretation of research he might have done, or you can pick this up and read what happened from the bands themselves, without filters, without someone else’s interpretation and all the while you can see images that have never been seen before. Send an email with “book updates” in the subject field to glorioustimesdeathbook@gmail.com for updates and insider info on this very limited, soon to be legendary book.
For more information go to: http://www.myspace.com/glorioustimesdeathbook
While it is common to remember death metal by its biggest commercial successes around ’93, I can’t help but agree with these authors that the era they have chosen to represent through their material is the one most vital, formative and interesting for death metal, as afterwards a collection of superficial, random sonic trends took over the more holistic immersion in death metal as serious business.
While waiting for this book and also a massive expansion to our virtual exhibits (including new exclusive interviews of course), spend your time by listening through each one of Austin Metal Music Examiner’s top death metal albums of all time.
Filed under: Death Metal News — Tags: Death Metal, Death Metal Culture, History, Visual Arts — Devamitra @ October 22, 2009 12:59 — Comments (1)
Cheers to the editors of a picture monument that brings the best of these legendary bands. A must for any fan of extreme metal! Their other projects are worth checking out as well. The DIY ‘Day of Death’ recording is by far one of the best treats you can find for free. Total Support!
Comment by Lonegoat — September 20, 2010 @ 17:09