Hugh reviewed Choosing Death by John Peel (undifferentiated)
Review of 'Choosing Death' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A really in-depth look at the scenes that founded modern death metal. The focus on particular bands while passing over other bands is a little frustrating (particularly the soft touch Death are given), although I can't imagine remedying this being possible given the scope of the task. The writing style is very accessible and the tone is quite fitting for music journalism generally.
The extensive use of photos of bands etc helps showcase how incredibly young some of the bands were, and also some really shockingly poor hairstyles. That said, some of the effects applied to the photos for variety really don't work and obscure the content.
The book's true strength is the sheer number of pivotal figures that are interviewed, and the incredible level of detail they go into. Possibly a bit too deep a dive for those who aren't already invested in the genres but mandatory reading for …
A really in-depth look at the scenes that founded modern death metal. The focus on particular bands while passing over other bands is a little frustrating (particularly the soft touch Death are given), although I can't imagine remedying this being possible given the scope of the task. The writing style is very accessible and the tone is quite fitting for music journalism generally.
The extensive use of photos of bands etc helps showcase how incredibly young some of the bands were, and also some really shockingly poor hairstyles. That said, some of the effects applied to the photos for variety really don't work and obscure the content.
The book's true strength is the sheer number of pivotal figures that are interviewed, and the incredible level of detail they go into. Possibly a bit too deep a dive for those who aren't already invested in the genres but mandatory reading for even occasional fans.
