The great thing about books like The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists is that they are completely subjective. One hundred different metal fans or experts would have 100 completely different lists, which leaves things open to discussion, debate and argument. McIver has written a dozen metal books, writes for several different publications and did exhaustive research putting together his list. His descriptions of each of the 100 best guitarists are well-written, combining basic biographical information with insight on their playing style.

Read the complete The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists Book Review

(book cover courtesy Jawbone Press)

The concert was filmed in October of 2006 in Bochum, Germany during the touring cycle for 2005's This Godless Endeavor. There are 20 songs, with a handful from their most recent CD. The rest span Nevermore's career, going back to their 1995 self-titled debut.

The audio quality on The Year Of The Voyager is excellent. The DVD was mixed by superproducer Andy Sneap, so it's no surprise the sound is top notch. The video is good as well. There are numerous angles of the whole band, individual members and the crowd. You get to see plenty of closeups of guitarist Jeff Loomis's fingers as he shreds his way through the concert.

Read the complete Nevermore - The Year Of The Voyager DVD Review

(DVD cover courtesy Century Media)

Self-help books are hugely popular. Everybody has advice on how to improve your love life, your financial life, your spiritual life and every other aspect of your life. It's about time somebody wrote a book using the wisdom of heavy metal song lyrics, and Time Flies When You're In A Coma: The Wisdom Of The Metal Gods is that book.

It was written by musician/producer/songwriter Mike Daly, former member of the band Whiskeytown. He collected excellent band photos and paired them with a quote from a metal or hard rock song. The book is divided into sections such as "Meditations," "Zen Questions," "Daily Affirmations" and "Words Of Wisdom."

Read the complete Time Flies When You're In A Coma: The Wisdom Of The Metal Gods Book Review

(book cover courtesy Plume)

In looking at last year's list, a record 7 out of 10 of the Most Anticipated Metal CDs Of 2008 were actually released. 2009 looks to be another stellar year for heavy metal, with some of the biggest artists in the genre set to release new material. This isn't meant to be a comprehensive list of 2009 releases, just a brief overview of some of the most anticipated CDs. For a more complete release schedule, check out my frequently updated list of Heavy Metal CD Release Dates.

Most Anticipated Heavy Metal CDs Of 2009