Sound of the beast the complete headbanging history of heavy metal is a 2004 book by ian christe documenting the history of heavy metal music and its origins the book argues that heavy metal began with black sabbath in 1970 then traces the emergence of proto heavy metal bands including budgie and captain beyond he continues through the 1970s with hard rock bands such as van halen . Yet there has never been a comprehensive book on the history of heavy metal until now featuring interviews with members of the biggest bands in the genre sound of the beast gives an overview of the past 30 plus years of heavy metal delving into the personalities of those who created it. Start by marking sound of the beast the complete headbanging history of heavy metal as want to read for aficionados of hard rock and heavy metal sound of the beast could easily serve as the definitive guide for this genre of headbanging leather pentagrams and screaming vocals christe puts together a factual in . Sound of the beast the complete headbanging history of heavy metal item preview remove circle sound of the beast the complete headbanging history of heavy metal by christe ian 1970 publication date 2003 topics heavy metal music history and criticism rock groups. The definitive history of the first 30 years of heavy metal containing over 100 interviews