This is the second volume of The Encyclopedia of Swedish Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Like its predecessor, released in 1996, it deals with bands from the far side of fluffiness to the heavy edge of death/black metal, stretching out towards prog, blues and hardcore. ”Volume II” contains close to 1000 bands of which 660 are new entries and the rest are updates of bands from the first book. A chapter with names and discographies of the remaining 700 bands from the first edition is also featured. The information presented for each band includes hometown, members, biography, musical description and a discography including year, format, title, label and catalogue number. All of it topped off with nice photos and record covers. Janne Stark, one of Europe’s top journalists in the field, has again made an astonishing research effort. Here is your ultimate guide to the Swedish hard rock jungle!
It was back in 1983 and I was just a pure rock kid. I sent my very first letter overseas and a few weeks later, I received a cassette from Overdrive’s lead guitarist Janne Stark. I don’t hesitate to say everything with me and hard rock started with that tape sent by Janne. There’s no doubt he helped shrink the distance between one Japanese kid and the rest of the world with rock music. The music from Sweden is still a bit mystifying to us in Japan, even if we feel we all live so close now in this new technology era. Maybe we have something in common deep inside our souls, although nobody can really explain what it is. I personally call Janne ”The Swedish Night Wolf” as he only sleeps three hours a night when he has a project going on that has to do with the music he loves. He has to accomplish other things, too, as a husband, a father of two daughters, a technical engineer and a successful rocker – all at the same time. If a book is written by a dynamo like that, don’t you think it’s worthwhile to read? Mitsuhiro Nishida Mr. Nishida is a music journalist formerly with Japanese hard rock magazine Burrn!
Special exclusive bonus CD inside! The CD features rare or never before issued tracks by 14 bands of various styles. We give you: Europe, Mustasch, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Talisman, Therion, Freak Kitchen, Neon Rose, Motherlode, Damage Done, Lion’s Share, Locomotive Breath, AB/CD, Dan Swanö and The*End. The CD will not be sold separately.