Featuring over 160 interviews and exploring bands including: VENOM • MERCYFUL FATE • BATHORY • HELLHAMMER • CELTIC FROST • SODOM • DESTRUCTION • SEPULTURA • VULCANO • HOLOCAUSTO • MYSTIFIER • BLASPHEMY • SAMAEL • ROTTING CHRIST • NECROMANTIA • DEVISER • AGATUS • TORMENTOR • MASTER’S HAMMER • VON • MAYHEM • THORNS • DARKTHRONE • B*RZUM • IMMORTAL • EMPEROR • GEHENNA • GORGOROTH • TRELLDOM • BEHERIT • IMPALED NAZARENE • CRADLE OF FILTH • DIMMU BORGIR • LES LEGIONS NOIRE • MARDUK • DISSECTION • VINTERLAND • THE BLACK • WATAIN • SHINING • STRID • FORGOTTEN WOODS • BETHLEHEM • SILENCER • FORGOTTEN TOMB • LIFELOVER • GRAVELAND • INFERNUM • BEHEMOTH • HADES • HELHEIM • ISENGARD/STORM • KAMPFAR • WINDIR • PRIMORDIAL • OCTOBER FALLS • ENSLAVED • SATYRICON • ULVER • MORTEM • ARCTURUS • FLEURETY • IN THE WOODS… • MANES • VED BUENS ENDE • DODHEIMSGARD • SIGH • DEATHSPELL OMEGA • MYSTICUM • ABORYM • BLACKLODGE • BLACK WITCHERY • HECATE ENTHRONED • WINTERFYLLETH • FEN • PROFANATICA • ABSU • AGALLOCH and more and more.

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“So good. Lovely memoirs of those old times and interesting new stuff. Dayal’s done a really great job with this book.”
Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance (Beherit)
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“A brilliantly written book – mandatory if you have any interest in the genre, or want to explore a new world.”
Hvall (Windir / Vreid)
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“A unique, insightful and fun read.”
Blasphemer (Aura Noir, ex-Mayhem)

REVIEWS:

“This ‘definitive edition’ most definitely lives up to its name. I would be hard-pressed to find an alternative that is nearly as well-researched. The care and craft in this publication is apparent from the first chapter through the last and one could literally spend days on end reading this. Without any doubt, it's a must-have for any black metal fan's library.”

METAL INJECTION (10/10 review)

“To call it merely updated is a grand disservice. It’s a supremely detailed body of work, a true labour of love, and an interesting account of an often misunderstood genre.”

RECORD COLLECTOR (5/5 review)

“Fiendishly recommended to anyone, including those who read the original ‘Evolution of the Cult’, because believe me, this is a different beast altogether.”

KOSTAS PANAGIOTOU (Pantheist)

“Expanded interviews, new interviews, this is almost a whole new book. I’m proud to give this a well-deserved score of 5/5.

METAL RULES (5/5 review)

“An absolute must-read… It serves as a reference work, evening entertainment and a vehicle for nostalgia, and its new edition is also visually appealing. Even those who have already read the original publication will still be able to get a lot of new information from the book, with almost twice as many words.  Dayal Patterson has essentially written the (satanic) bible of the black metal scene, in which it should be noted that its author has invested decades of research, work and passion.”

METAL.DE (10/10 review)

“Dayal is one of those people who understands that black metal is more than chords and melodies. This is the best work I have read on black metal. Whether you are a newcomer or … one of those of us that has listened to this music for decades. I feel like this a five-star product.”

RAUTA

“There is stuff that I had no knowledge of prior to reading this book, despite being an avid follower of black metal since Bathory did their massive albums in the 80s. This is by far the best approach to the story and evolution of black metal that you've ever read… the layout is gold for sore eyes. The readability is excellent, and the photos and flyers are well-planned out on each page… If you are into black metal and would like to know more about the evolution of the genre(s), you don't have to look elsewhere. Dayal Patterson's book is, as previously stated, the Bible of black metal.”

IMHOTEP zine

"It’s definitely a must-have for all black metal fans and for anyone seeking a knowledgeable and in-depth understanding of the scene."

FERDINANDO 'HERR MORBID' MARCHISIO (Forgotten Tomb)

“A glorifying compendium, to say the least.”

PROSCRIPTOR (Absu)

“Amazing. It really is a good read. Dayal is such a specific writer, he doesn’t waffle on with lots of pointless information, all the snippets of interviews he includes alongside telling you the story of the band and why they are part of black metal culture, it all flows really nicely.”

THE DEATH DOOM METALHEAD

“I’m not trying to sell the book. I am sure many of our readers will be aware of it and plenty will have pre-ordered. What I will say is that you will not be disappointed. Your arms may however ache, you may need a bigger bookcase and your postman will be huffing, puffing and cursing when he gets it into your eager hands. This is an essential book for lovers of all music and even if I wanted to, there’s nothing negative I can think of to say.”

AVE NOCTUM

“This definitive edition is an epitome of the written past, present and future of black metal. It's a lot to digest, but definitely worth it all, even if you’ve read everything else available book-wise, there's still A LOT more in here. If you’d have to pick one book from this genre, it's this one, without a doubt.”

MIKKO LEHTO (October Falls / Wooden Throne)

“Every line is informative and written professionally — It is really a book that is not easy to stop reading.”

CHAOS ZINE

“It’s a book that is hard to tear yourself away from, such is the level of engagement. There is a strong sense of love, passion and attachment with Dayal on the subject, woven within the whole fabric of the book. The photo gallery midway through brings a welcome break from reading, and there are other black and white images throughout, adding extra interest to an already fascinating work. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s a superb work. I don’t feel my words do it justice, so go buy a copy, read it and find out for yourself, then leave it on your coffee table to impress your visitors.”

METALTALK

“Dayal has made a HELL of a work on the revised edition. This is a legacy for future generations! Cult Never Dies has exceeded itself.”

THE MAGUS (Necromantia, Thou Art Lord, Yoth Iria, The Magus)

“Personally speaking, having a deep respect for Patterson’s work, I found the new, revised edition of ‘Evolution Of The Cult’ vastly superior to the original as a book that illuminates several aspects of the scene, while also sparking the curiosity of the readership to raise questions and decide for themselves how they perceive such a multifaceted idiom.”

ROCKING.GR

“We're simply blown away by the incredible quality and attention to detail. The way it’s all put together (not just our chapter) is awesome.”
HECATE ENTHRONED

 "This book offers the complete history of black metal from Venom to Winterfylleth, is fantastically sorted by country and chronologically and doesn't stop at strange and unfortunate political excesses. So you can rightly say that this is THE book about black metal." 

ROCK HARD GERMANY

“Without a doubt this new edition can be considered as the ‘Bible of black metal’. Supporting this claim are excerpts from interviews in fanzines and magazines, but mostly exclusive with its musicians and shapers. All this framed with information, a large amount of photos that you will hardly find available in cyberspace. I could go into detail, but I dare say it would be tiresome and propagandistic to convince you to read it. I'm sure black metal fans will dig into it, searching its pages for everything they wish they had collected. Essential!”

ROCK HARD GREECE