The Merciless Book of Metal Lists is an irreverent and illustrated compendium of the most random, funny, and challenging information about Heavy Metal from the last 40 years. You want to know which Metal albums “jumped the shark”? Curious to know what non-Metal bands Metalheads love, which album covers feature goats, embarrassing Metal fashion faux pas, and the unfortunate original names Metal bands started with? This is the book. In addition to some highly opinionated lists, this energetically designed volume features quotes, short essays, iconic four-color photography, and contributions from notable metal personalities, including Eddie Trunk, Gary Holt (Exodus), and Scott Ian (Anthrax, S.O.D.), among others.

Praise for The Merciless Book of Metal Lists:

“Authors Howie Abrams and Sacha Jenkins have a fun time in this ‘most opinionated compendium ever written concerning heavy metal.’ The writers are die-hard fans and knowledgeable beyond reproach…the trivia and factoids here will help you hold your own at the next Dokken after-party.” —Newsday.com


Howie Abrams is the former head of In-Effect Records, having worked with the Bad Brains, Scatterbrain, Nuclear Assault, and 24-7 Spyz. He’s held A&R positions at Jive Records, Warner Music, and Roadrunner Records and worked with many of Metal’s finest. Sacha Jenkins is the former music editor for Vibe magazine and the coauthor of ego trip’s Book of Rap Lists and ego trip’s Big Book of Racism. He has worked as a television producer on such shows as The Boondocks and MTV’s The White Rapper Show. Both authors live in New York City.