We Sold Our Souls
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle | Audiobook
By Grady Hendrix
Publisher: Quirk Books
Paperback Release date: June 25, 2019

Kris Pulaski has a dead end life, but once upon a time she felt alive crunching chords with her yellowing calloused hands in front of anyone who would listen. But that was a long time ago, before her singer sold them out and rocketed to fame, leaving the rest of the band, Dürt Würk, in the dust.

Years later, in her dead end Best Western, after mopping up piss, she was heading home and was hit with a horrible surprise. Said singer was about to embark on his farewell tour, and with it brought up all the rage and anguish that long ago betrayal had created.

More below on the paperback edition of We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix.

Hey all you leather-jacket wearing, denim-jean ripping, pit-circle moshing, long-hair whipping, tattoo-covered mother effers”¦..it’s Christmas time! And you know what that means, it’s time to show those mangy metalheads in your life some appreciation by buying them gifts and stuff.

Now I know you probably don’t know nothing about no gift giving, which is why I’m here. That’s right, your good old metal mama is going to recommend some great gifts that you can give your metalhead friends without even having to get up from the computer. Okay, ready? Here goes…

… the 2018 Metalhead’s Holiday Gift Guide…

We Sold Our Souls
Hardcover | Kindle
By Grady Hendrix
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release date: September 18, 2018

The myth of musicians selling their souls to the devil in exchange for success goes back to 18th century violinist Niccolò Paganini, a rock star in his own time. But of all the musical genres, this Faustian pact has become most associated with heavy metal, the modern-day “devil music.” It’s one thing to choose to sell your soul to gain fame and fortune, but what if someone bargained your soul away for their own benefit without your knowledge, leaving you broke and in despair? That’s what happens to rising star Kris Pulaski in Grady Hendrix‘s We Sold Our Souls.

In the 1990s, guitarist Kris Pulaski and her band Durt Wurk were seemingly on the verge of a major breakthrough. They had released several well-received albums and had toured the world, where they opened for the likes of Slayer and repeatedly won over live audiences. But then one night, Durt Wurk’s lead singer, Terry Hunt, deceived and betrayed his bandmates, tricking them into signing a contract that led to his – and only his – eventual stardom and their downfall.

For a limited time, the filmmakers of short movie Black Metal have made it available for viewing online for free – until January 27. So, while you have the chance, grease up your face with death paint, throw up the horns, and check it out for yourself here at the bottom of this post.

While the metal community will undoubtedly be drawn to the short film, the emotional content of the snapshot into the life of a Black Metal vocalist (Jonny Mars) following an event causing turmoil is sure to resonate with viewers who are not really fans of metal. The content that the filmmakers zone in on revolves around controversies that critics of metal obsess over, and that is the influence of the genre on young people.

During an episode of Incroyable Talent, France’s answer to U.S. reality talent shows like American Idol and America’s Got Talent, one of the contestants, metal vocalist Rachel La Voix D’Homme, shocked the audience and judges with her growling cover of Swiss industrial metal band Sybreed’s song “Emma 0.”

The beautiful D’Homme took the stage in a tight black mini dress and high heels with her long dark tresses stylishly pulled back in a headband and sweetly answered the judges’ questions. Then the crunching sounds of “Emma 0” began and the beautiful Talent hopeful belted out her best guttural screams in perfect time.

You can watch the video of D’Homme performance here below, and also listen to Sybreed’s original version, which D’Homme definitely gruffed up a bit (yes, the original is actually more melodic).

Now, I’m not fluent in French, so I don’t know how D’Homme described her song selection or what the judges said to her afterward, but in the video it’s clear that the hosts, judges, and audience members, who held their hands over their faces in disbelief and out-right laughed, did not see this coming. So, I’m guessing that beautiful ladies belting out industrial metal songs on French national television is not common. While there were some people in the audience rocking out with her and she did receive polite applause at the end, I’m confused as to the general shocked reaction to D’Homme’s performance.