Myth and Magic in Heavy Metal MusicMyth pervades heavy metal. With visual elements drawn from medieval and horror cinema, the genre's themes of chaos, dissidence and alienation transmit an image of Promethean rebellion against the conventional. In dialogue with the modern world, heavy metal draws imaginatively on myth and folklore to construct an aesthetic and worldview embraced by a vast global audience. The author explores the music of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica and many others from a mythological and literary perspective. |
Contents
Preface | |
Introduction | |
Houses of the Holy Myth and the Esoteric Tradition | |
Dark Symbolism | |
3 Power Noise and Rebellion | |
4 Mythical Roots | |
The Legacy of Gothic Romanticism | |
Mythology and the Ancient Mariner | |
Norse Myth and the Gods of Valhalla | |
Journeys to the Underworld | |
9 Madness Magic and Virtuosity | |
Selected Discography | |
Chapter Notes | |
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Common terms and phrases
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