CHOOSING DEATH - the improbable history of death metal & grindcore
Where most kids start listen to maiden and priest and after that got upgraded to metallica, slayer, death, napalm death. I've got my upgrade from Elvis to Carcass on a holiday in 1988. Damn did (and still do) I like those first two records of Carcass. the sound the songs the vocals it was a killer one I liked it instantly. Short after that my best mate introduced me to Repulsion, Napalm Death's Scum, the Hardcore Holocaust compilation albums so I was way into the grindcore around that time. Lot's of the music I thought was grind was later to be find out fast hardcore (i didn't knew better haha).
So this book had to be interesting for me! I borrow it from a mate and read it in 3 nights. This book is great if you where into the grindcore and death thing around that time. If you're not than still it's nice to read, but don't believe all you read. It's a bit focussed on the network guided by record labels and a few magazines most from the UK, Florida / Tampa and Sweden area.
Anyway the first part of the book goes about the mid eighties till early nineties where from fast harcore a development toke place to faster and darker music... grindcore that is.
It's great to read about the bands that only wanted to go faster and faster and where pushing the limits again after getting a new audio tape from a band far away. Heresy, Napalm Death, Intense Degree, E.N.T., Repulsion, Siege and all the others are mentioned. it's great to read.
A bit of a bummer is that the inspiration for these band are not mentioned that well. They only talk about Discharge a couple of times. An inspiration for all these UK fast bands must have been among others Larm and only once they've been mentioned in an E.N.T. chapter. Anyway no harm done!
The less entertaining bit comes for me when death metal is taking over. I never liked death metal that much and so it's also not that interesting for me to read. Fun part is that when they start talking about the death metal, record companies and their problems start being mentioned also. Good to see that fast and real extreme music can stay out of that. They quit, change style or the best stay diy.
Liked the book a lot.. now gonna search for that black metal one and the american hardcore one.
Best line, Scot Carlson about finding drummer Dave Grave for repulsion:
"And he had recently made headlines in the local newspapers for getting arrested for grave-robbing, and I thought, 'perfect', that's our man."
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