Absolutely fascinating history of heavy metal. In Sound Of The Beast, author Ian Christie mentions many bands, spends time examining how various metal subgenres formed, and spends way too much space writing about Metallica. Nonetheless, this well-written and enthusiastic book is a very useful metal primer. I learned many cool details, such as the fact that Wendy O. Williams and Motörhead teamed up on a cover of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man." I spent most of my time reading Sound Of The Beast with my headphones on listening to the bands as Christie was discussing them. This made reading-time extra fun and awesome. \m/ \m/