Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult

Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult - The Restored, Expanded & Definitive Version
AuthorDayal Patterson
Cover artistDavid Thiérrée
LanguageEnglish
GenreMusic
PublisherCult Never Dies (UK/EU), Decibel Books (North America)
Publication placeUnited Kingdom, United States
Media typePrint
Pages500 (Cult Never Dies version), 800 (Decibel Books version)
ISBN978-1-915148-66-7
Preceded byBlack Metal: Evolution of the Cult (Feral House) - out of print 

Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult is a book by Dayal Patterson, a British author, music journalist and founder of publishing house, Cult Never Dies. The book was first published in 2013 by Feral House, with a new, updated and expanded version, Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult - The Restored, Expanded & Definitive Version, published in 2023 by Cult Never Dies (and Decibel Books in North America in early 2024).[1][2][3]  

The book details the evolution of the black metal music genre from its roots, going as far back as the first Black Sabbath album, through proto black metal music from bands such as Hellhammer, the turbulent history of Norwegian black metal to black metal in different countries (such as UK, US, Brazil, Greece, Poland) and its evolution until today.[4][5][6]  

The 2023 version has 140,000 words of new content, totalling at 340,000. It features over 160 interviews with bands and protagonists of the black metal scene. While the content of the North American version published by Decibel Books is the same as the one published by Cult Never Dies, it varies slightly in size, layout and number of pages. It features interviews with bands such as Venom, Celtic Frost, Mercyful Fate, Behemoth, Rotting Christ, Sigh, Mayhem, Agalloch, Immortal, Destruction, Arcturus.[7] [8] [9]

  1. ^ "Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult (Extreme Metal)". Goodreads. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  2. ^ "Black Metal: Evolution Of The Cult - The Restored, Extended & Definitive Edition". CULT NEVER DIES. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  3. ^ Halmstad, Bree (2024-01-05). "Book Review: Dayal Patterson's Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult (The Restored Expanded & Definitive Edition)". MetalSucks. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  4. ^ "Black Metal – Evolution Of The Cult Is Beyond Impressive". www.metaltalk.net. 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  5. ^ ""It was more run by idealism rather than good business sense": The…". Kerrang!. 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  6. ^ "The Quietus | Features | Books | Exquisite Corpsepaint: The Strange Rebirth Of British Black Metal". The Quietus. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  7. ^ "Rock Culture #26: Few can discuss a music subgenre like Dayal Patterson". Rocking.gr. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  8. ^ P, J. (2023-12-02). "Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult - The definitive black metal book OUT NOW". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  9. ^ Islander (2023-11-03). ""BLACK METAL: EVOLUTION OF THE CULT" - THE RESTORED, EXPANDED & DEFINITIVE EDITION". NO CLEAN SINGING. Retrieved 2024-03-11.