UK-based publishing house Cult Never Dies marked the 10th anniversary of Dayal Patterson’s Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult – The Restored, Expanded & Definitive Edition with a November revised edition – Such was the demand for the new book that it exceeded expectations and all of the 2023 delivery from the factory was pre-sold.
Cult Never Dies will be receiving the rest of the published books in early 2024 and is available for pre-order for delivery in January or February (more information to be confirmed via Cult Never Dies channels).
For those looking for a copy of the book more urgently, it is currently available from Van Records, Darkness Shall Rise, Napalm Records, Black City Records, Consouling, Katakomben, Vrijheid Records (China), as well as the likes of Amazon and Waterstones.
A limited number of the Decibel version is now also available to order via Cult Never Dies.
With the original version of the book no longer available in print, the new Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult edition will be welcomed by many on the scene for it’s generally viewed as the most acclaimed book on the history of black metal, and the only one endorsed by those involved in creating the genre.
“You don’t have to read between the lines anymore ‘cause it’s all there, straight from the source,” said Dimmu Borgir’s Silenoz.
“A valuable educational piece of dark writing,” said Rotting Christ’s Sakis Tolis.
“This is a very insightful work: Without doubt the ultimate book on the subject, a testimony of black metal and a good introduction for neophytes,” Samael’s Vorph declared.
“A brilliantly written book – mandatory if you have any interest in the genre, or want to explore a new world,” Hvall of the bands Windir and Vreid said.
The book will be approximately 340,000 words long this time round, including 130,000 words of new content, 25 new chapters and 48 extended and updated chapters. This will include over 150 exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the genre, including: Venom, Mercyful Fate, Bathory, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Blasphemy, Darkthrone, Behemoth, Rotting Christ, Mayhem and many more.
Patterson has also included over 70 brand new or previously unpublished interviews with the likes of Necromantia, Arcturus, Immortal, Agalloch, Destruction, Mystifier, and Winterfylleth.
Evolution of the Cult also features hugely improved cover art and layout by long time Cult Never Dies artist David Thiérrée (Behemoth, Gorgoroth, Mortiis), and includes almost 600 photos, many previously unseen, including an 80-page colour/gloss section.
Longtime music journalist and author Dayal Patterson remarked: “I cannot express how good it feels now that Cult Never Dies finally owns the rights to this book and are able to release it – Along with Decibel in the US – in this massively improved form. The limitations placed on the original in terms of word count meant that so many chapters and parts I originally envisioned simply couldn’t be included or were not even worth completing due to a lack of space.
“What turned into a fairly straightforward restoration job led to about a year of 14-hour days, not only overhauling the existing chapters and layout (something we had always been unhappy with) of the book, but doing a huge number of new interviews and working with a wealth of new bands and artists. Finally, there are proper chapters celebrating bands such as Vinterland, Satyricon, Immortal, Arcturus, Mystifier and Profanatica, as well as greater explorations of black metal in Brazil, the US, the UK, Sweden, Greece, and, of course, Norway.”
The pre-order price of £35 remains but will increase after January/February. Pre-orders are available now by clicking here for the UK and here here for the EU. North American orders can be placed via Decibel Books.
