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, this is a complete overview of the dark and untamed history of metal.

Presents the evolution of heavy metal music as seen by its top metal bands, including photo spreads with accounts of legendary events and analyses of how this musical genre continues to shape each generation.