Welcome, all ye who dare enter Sound of the Beast, the first definitive and highly illustrated look at the madness and mayhem of heavy metal. From its cataclysmic beginning with Black Sabbath more than thirty years ago to the hyperactive 'nu metal' bands, through to the new chart-top sensation The Darkness, heavy metal has become the dominant musical force around the globe. Yet despite selling more than a quarter-billion albums and breaking into new markets wherever it can be heard, metal has never been given a complete overview of its dark, powerful, and untamed history - until now. With hair bristling and fangs bared, Sound of the Beast is the must-read story of heavy metal for die-hard fans, fresh converts, and musical thrill seekers alike. Hear the call of the wild as this dark, elusive, and ear-splitting form of music finally gets its justice, and leaves everyone in its wake banging their heads and flipping the devil sign.