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Violence and Force: The Age of Speed Metal
All the harder, faster and more progressive styles of metal were basically created by the emphatic and fanatic support of dedicated headbangers, who promoted bands such as Metallica and Slayer through zines, tape trading, flyer circulation and college radio stations long before the major labels or the common rock fan thought that the "music" of these bands is anything but noise. While the zines didn't possess much in the way of in-depth analyses or interviews of the core bands, the astute ears of the metal maniacs were always one step ahead and beyond the trends of the time, especially in contrast to the hyped hard rock of the year we already have forgotten about.
Dreaming with the Dead: The Age of Death Metal
It took about six years for Death Metal to reach mainstream ears and by then it had generated a virus of cult following that had spread its tentacles to even the remotest corners of the civilized world. Denizens of death corresponded by mail, formed more new bands than ever before because of easier availability of technology and less importance placed on materialistic goals such as achieving high sales of records. The perpetrators were mostly youngsters interested in mysterious concepts, symbolism and having a good time while trying to discover more sensible ways to relate to Universe than the banalities of modern society and the compromises and hypocrisy of adults.
Diabolic Unity: The Age of Black Metal
The dark majesties of the North engaged in verbal and physical warfare which ignited in zines but gradually engulfed the attention of everyone even a bit interested in metal and others' too. Heathenism, Romanticism and many much more filthier ideas gained themselves a breeding ground unparalleled in the century's other artistic movements and the authenticity and credibility of the personalities, obscured by layers of face paint and mythological pseudonyms, was as important as the quality of the music. The zines integrated black metal fans across the world into a complex of ideological terrorists right before Internet and publicization brought about the downfall of the movement.
