So, in short: YES, THERE ARE STILL BOOKS AVAILABLE!

Because today the definition of black metal seems to be different for everyone, I have looked at it from the widest possible angle, and most of the time let bands themselves decide whether they are black metal or not. I have taken this objective and academic approach to make the book as versatile and extensive as possible. Whether you agree on the inclusion of some of the bands or not, is totally up to you. I have deliberately ignored my personal feelings about certain bands, and decided to lay them out for you all to evaluate...

The bands in this book are all a step up from being only an idea though, so they have all materialised in one way or another. Some bands have long discographies, while others have only rehearsed or played live once or twice. Theoretic and unborn band will therefore not be included in the encyclopedia.

Trading a copy of the book for a copy of your music is sometimes possible - certainly for Dutch bands. The offered release should at least be an original, and from there on we will negotiate a possible deal...

First of all, I am not a follower of statements such as "black metal is defined by musical elements" (or way worse, its "visual elements"). Black metal can almost sound like anything, if its message is true to the following concept.

Black metal is a Satanic metal genre in essence, with less direct side branches: the negative side of occultism (so Wicca is out of the question too), the adversity towards established positive religions such as Christianity, the Islamic, and Hebrew faiths, etc., and anything that is a direct consequence or derivative of these two.

On a more detailed level...
I think there is no viking black metal, only viking metal; there is no pagan black metal, only pagan metal; there is no christian black metal, only white metal, etc... (Naturally a debate can be launched on e.g. viking metal with a negative occult approach; and I'd say that could be filed under black metal!)
On the subject of nihilistic and misanthropic topics, I am still in debate with myself, since both can spring from the occult, but they can also spring from death, war, or human emotions. Suicidal black metal, however, is almost always spawned from human emotions.
On the subject of politically charged black metal, I am balancing on a razor's edge, since politics are essentially here to do good for a certain population, which would not fit the black metal profile, but politics can also be an instrument of tremendous evil to another group of people, which would force it back into the boundaries, if only marginally. I remain undecided on this particular one.

Favorite bands? I guess that totally depends on my mood of the day!

Worldwide, the scene is largely overcrowded with bands, and that weakens the scene at its core! It's a huge shame, but it's reality...

I will give you a few examples...

Pestilence was one of this country's finest death metal acts. However, Pestilence had no link to black metal at all, when they were around; they could not even be classified as Satanic death metal. The same can be said about Gorefest, whose Mindloss album is high quality work, but nowhere near black metal. When black metal began its rise in -let's say- 1992, this band even expressed its dislike towards the genre. The Gathering might have debuted with an album that is somewhat comparable to early Tiamat, but that won't get you on the list... I can give you a whole list of bands that did not make it in the book in this context, but I won't.

I do consider to add to the update some Satanic death metal bands, like Sinister, Lier In Wait, Thanatos, Nox, and Zi Xul, but time will tell which ones will make it... If you have some serious suggestions, do give them!

Some say there are quotes in there that give people the wrong idea of the band. Nevertheless, all quotes I use are taken from interviews I have done with people from those bands. In hindsight they might not be glad with the answers they had given, but they are what was handed over to me. I just put them in there for everyone to see.