METALION: The Slayer Mag Diaries, by Jon “Metalion” Kristiansen
ISBN 978-0-9796163-4-1
Deluxe 744pp hardcover w/ 720pp b/w pages (over 600 reproductions from every issue of Slayer Mag), 100+ rare historical images, plus 8pp color insert from Slayer Mag Archives, plus 16pp color gallery of portraits by Jon Kristiansen
Dimensions: 8.5″ x 11″ x 2″; 5.5 lbs (2.5kg)
Forewords by Ian Christe, Tomas Lindberg, Chris Reifert, Fenriz, Stephen O’Malley, Erik Danielsson, and Tara G. Warrior
Bazillion Points is currently reprinting METALION with worldwide supplies expected in late Spring 2012. In the meantime, we will continue to ship our remaining first edition stock via direct orders from this site while supplies last. Thank you!
Orders ship immediately with bonus woven Arne Babb patch.
Top 15 Books of 2011, Guitar World
The Best Music Books of 2011, NPR
The Most Metal Books of 2011, Revolver
Top Books of the Year 2011, Record Collector
Book of the Month, February 2012, Rock Hard (Germany)
The Best Metal Book of 2011—Possibly Ever, MSN.com
“The best metal book of 2011, possibly ever…Bazillion Points is known for putting out top-quality books, but they’ve outdone themselves here.”—MSN.com
“In among Kristiansen’s stunning portraits (and humorous “Arne Babb” cartoons), the exhaustive text practically forms the unholy black and death metal bible.”—NPR
“Metalion and his Slayer Mag are responsible for me (and a lot of other Swedes) getting into the death metal underground… I clearly remember how proud I was when Grotesque got a mention in the classic mag—this meant more to me than anything else at the time!”—Tomas Lindberg, Grotesque/At the Gates/Disfear
“For countless metalheads, the zine Slayer was a lifeline to a global scene. Founder Jon Kristiansen was deep into the scene in Norway, and is, to this day, one of the best primary sources for facts and stories about Mayhem, Varg, and what really happened back in the day.”—The Onion AV Club
“Not only a chronicle of death and black metal at their births but also a personal coming-of-age story”—Chicago Reader
“The legendary Slayer zine gets its long overdue anthology”—Decibel
“The extreme metal fanzine…[744] pages of rabid frankness…”—The New York Times
“Presiding over the birth of extreme metal from its Scandinavian heartland, the first issue of the legendary Slayer fanzine was cranked out in 1985 and over the years shifted its coverage to provide an insider view of Swedish death metal and Norwegian black metal through their formative and most controversial years.”—Terrorizer
“If you have even a passing fancy for thrash, death, and especially early black metal, this is a mandatory read.”—Montreal Mirror
“It’s best savored slowly, absorbing two decades of metal history and learning something new in every issue…this collection will be primary material for those exploring the history of metal.”—About.com [5/5 star review]
“Metalion is essential reading for anyone interested in pieces of wood with six strings played by men with long hair.”–Vice Literary
“Best idea since sliced bread.”—Fenriz
The greatest heavy metal story ever told—the complete tale of a life lived for metal. Part anthology, part memoir, and years in the making, METALION includes over 600 reproduction pages from every issue of Slayer Mag—Slayer 1 through Slayer XX, plus the precursor Live Wire zine—spanning from the early 1980s through 2010. In addition, author Jon Kristiansen recounts his life’s story, from alienated outsider to central figure in Norwegian black metal to metal party beast to world-weary metal survivor. The book also features over 100 rare photographs, including two color sections and a portrait gallery of photographs taken by Kristiansen himself.
For twenty-five years, Norway’s Slayer Mag published the gospel of black metal and death metal, combining eye-ripping graphics, brutally honest writing, and relentless offbeat humor. With this anthology/memoir, editor Jon “Metalion” Kristiansen unfolds the extreme highs and lows of a life lived for heavy metal. Founded in 1985 in Sarpsborg, Norway, Slayer Mag quickly rose to prominence by championing countless unsigned death metal pioneers. The pages of Slayer Mag exploded along with the extreme metal underground, and as black metal rose to prominence in Norway in the 1990s, Slayer Mag remained the final word on the moods and motivations of those dark times.
The astonishing combination of archival material includes scores of key historic interviews with the most revered figures in extreme metal, including Mayhem, Emperor, Slayer, Kreator, Nihilist, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Cathedral, Entombed, Morbid, Napalm Death, Metallica, Opeth, Cradle of Filth, Sadistik Execution, Usurper, Nifelheim, Darkthrone, Sodom, Destruction, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Exodus, Dissection, Candlemass, Carcass, Sepultura, Gorgoroth, Death, Watain, Sadus, Satyricon, Enslaved, Pentagram, Jarboe, Immortal, Possessed, Overkill, Ulver, Dark Angel, and countless others.
“From the start, I made Slayer Mag as honestly and as well as I could,” says Kristiansen. “I never knew any other way. I hope that I have produced something that will stand the test of time.”
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“Hellbent for Cooking”:...
[...] I will also post about how brilliant Metalion’s Slayer Mag Diaries is, which I just got in the mail and may now be the coolest thing that I own. http://www.bazillionpoints.com/metalion-the-slayer-mag-diaries/ [...]
[...] Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries by Jon “Metalion” Kristiansen [...]
I miss those days of printed fanzines, tape trading and waiting a month to get that LP with post in those pre-internet yet glorious days! Slayer mag, along with selected others were like the unholy bibles for us. Still, those issues are occupying my book selves with pride! Recently I got the (yet to be legendary as well) final issue of Slayer mag with the Morbid MLP and I should grab a copy of this one as well! A big cheers and thank you to all involved, thanks also to Bazillion for filling out book selves with tons of quality reading treasures!!!
[...] METALION: The Slayer Mag Diaries Από τα άδυτα του death/black metal έρχεται και μια ανθολογία-τούβλο 744 σελίδων. Το Slayer mag πρωτοβγήκε το 1985 και θεωρείται το θρυλικότερο έντυπο του χώρου μιας και συνέδεσε το όνομά του με την έκρηξη του ακραίου underground metal στις σκανιδαβικές χώρες στα τέλη ’80-αρχές ’90. Διαβάστε εδώ ένα άρθρο του Άρη Καραμπεάζη για το Metalion, δημοσιευμένο στο mic.gr. [...]
[...] Death Metal scene. There were these amazing European ones, which I finally found. The main one was Slayer magazine, which I think anyone who’s interested in that type of music knows about. There’s [...]
[...] that pops up here and there. Seems that ever since the late Euronymous of Mayhem and Metalion of Slayer Mag nicknamed me Nicolas Genital Grinder in early 90′s, I am in the mood of a new disguise or [...]
[...] METALION: The Slayer Mag Diaries [...]
[...] in that special context Jon Kristiansen. Since June he has one heavy weight of a killer book out: Metalion, The Slayer Mag Diaries. Yeah, all of them, and including lots of photos too! A must buy, even if you’ve never heard [...]
What a great book! A true valuable piece of metal music history in every way. End of an era….hope Jon makes it big time with his photography!!! Sworn to metal forever!!! Hail!!!!
[...] again celebrate the release of Metalion’s book, I unearthed the last copy of Slayer Zine in my possession, # 7 from 1989. This issue is an almost [...]
[...] on Aug 2, 2011 • 11:29 am No Comments Since getting hold of Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries (Bazillion Points 2011), I’ve hardly been able to put it down. From its earliest days Jon Kristiansen’s Slayer [...]
[...] made me say to myself, unholy shit! these dudes are gnarly! Well, in 1985, a Norwegian guy named Jon “Metalion” Kristiansen gave a face to the underground metal scene that was taking place around him. He started a zine [...]
[...] before I went on my L.A trip I received on the mailbox the most amazing Slayer Mag Diaries which will be reviewed and discussed later in these pages. It is hard to think of a zine [...]
This book is so personal, a great saga to be told in the grim, yet brotherly, world of underground metal. Jon not only got personal with important figures of Death Metal and Black Metal, but he welcomed the reader in with his own personal feelings and thoughts pertaining to the tragic events we all know happened in Norway. You can’t get much more metal than this|m/
[...] zine. I decided to print this, and another one coming later this week, again, in honor of the Bazillion Points Press of the “Slayer Mag Diaries” -out now. Highlights include VERY early interviews with Opeth (even before Timo Ketola masterfully [...]
Thank you very much to Jon Kristiansen, Tara Warrior, Ian Christe and Bazillion Points. I feel so so spoiled to own something as awesome as METALION: The Slayer Mag Diaries. You guys and gal did a wonderful job with this book. I am in debt to you all forever.
I don’t even know where to begin! In today’s world, there is not much need for a hardback book.
This book smashes that logic!
(and it could smash faces too…I dropped it on my foot, and screamed almost as loud as Varg on War!)
Pros:
Easily the best chronological scene account from an insider’s point of view EVER! I have been looking on eBay for years to locate every issue of Slayer Magazine possible. Ironically when I think about that…it’s a throwback to my days of tape trading and zine finding. No more looking..no more searching. Here it is.
Well bound, well printed, fantastic layout.
Cons: As someone that only speaks English, it’s a pain in the fucking arse to translate! However, like most works…it will be worth the effort. As a fan of Norwegian Black Metal since the 90′s, I’ve learned some of the language and bought many books on the various dialects spoken in Norway. I’m excited to read all of the interviews in the book…but for consistency’s sake, it would have been nice to have an entire English volume.
Hails:
Metalion This book will be your legacy my friend. The zine needed to be reprinted to put to bed an era that is often replicated, and dastardly imitated.
…
Thanks again!
Thank you! Just to keep things clear for other readers—less than 40 pages of 744 are in Norwegian, only from the very earliest issues, and even selections from those have been translated in the book.
Is it just this heavy version that is out there? Some sites are selling a paperback version and i dont want that and wonder if they just mixed it up?
They just mixed it up —there is no paperback METALION, only hardcover is real.
This book hits the nail on the head Im sure. Too bad Ive been away otherwise Id jump at the opportunity to see the man who put out former band of mine albums in NY and abroad. Its possible the label carries many albums that paved the way for extreme music.
Stay true stay underground
fuckin hell!!! it came today, its so fuckin huge! and really nice made! its worth every cent and it will take me months to get to read everything!
congrats!
I just received it yesterday morning (via 20 Buck Spin’s mail order) and I’ve already read the whole thing cover to cover, having stayed up most of last night, simply unable to stop reading.
Hands down the best book I’ve purchased this year, surpassing “Only Death Is Real” which is an amazing tome. This is well worth every single dollar spent on it. You guys raised the publishing bar so high… thanks for all the hard work, it’s a metal publishing masterpiece.
It also doubles as a handy weapon, you could send someone to the ER just by throwing it at them.
Hi. Is it $74.95 including shipping for overseas orders?
[...] Boken kan ni beställa här. [...]
aaaaaarrrgghhh!!!
74.95$ to send the book overseas?!?!?
Yes, and each book costs nearly that much to ship. We should charge more! For perspective, METALION weighs the same as FIFTEEN heavyweight 180gsm vinyl records. This is a BIG book.
Yes, and each book costs nearly that much to ship. For perspective, METALION weighs the same as FIFTEEN heavyweight 180gsm vinyl records. This is a BIG book.
Great! Thanks for the quick reply. Is there any chance of getting Arne Babb to sign my copy as well?
Hello, any updates to the shipping status?
Yes! We are currently shipping books as quickly as the various shipping outlets can handle them… Many preorders will arrive by the end of this week.
Pre-ordered my copy and cannot wait until I get the book in my hands. This is seriously going to be the absolute best and definitive book about the underground extreme metal scene.
[...] die-hards I highly recommend the recent hardback pressing of the final issue, as well as the “Slayer Mag Diaries” due out in June from Bazillion [...]
Have the U.S. pre-orders started to ship yet? Or is the book not being released until later in the month…anyone know?
Coffinbreath—you should be receiving regular status update emails from us about your pre-order. We are awaiting the arrival of Metalion the man to personally sign all the pre-orders before shipping during the week of 6/22. On the other hand, if you aren’t interested in the author’s autograph, let us know and we’ll ship your box ASAP. Thank you very much!
greetings…Mr. Ian was nice enough to grace us with copies. If you’re here in the NYC area, stop by The powerHouse Arena, 37 Main St in Brooklyn and pick one up. We’re also hosting Jon Kristiansen aka METALION on June 24th from 7-9!
So what’s the shipping date?
For Canada pe-orders..
Hello, the book included the slayer magazine issue XX?
It’s getting closer and closer!
[...] “Metalion – The Slayer Mag Diaries” saldrá a la venta el 6 de Junio, aunque ya se pueden realizar preorders en la web de Bazillion Points Books. [...]
Bob Muldowney/KAM?
Will preorder copies be signed?
Yes!