"Louder Than Hell: The Unflinching Oral History of Metal" by Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman will be a comprehensive, informative and entertaining history of metal told by the people who created it. In addition to talking to a broad range of artists, the authors will interview industry professionals, music insiders, journalists, filmmakers, and others to reveal the social and musical history of the genre that has transformed so many lives over the decades.

HarperCollins Publishers will release "Louder Than Hell" in 2011.

For the book, Wiederhorn and Turman will include quotes from over 100 artists from the past and present, ranging from cult heroes to mainstream stars. Members of BLACK SABBATH, TWISTED SISTER, SLAYER, METALLICA, DOKKEN, DEF LEPPARD, PENTAGRAM, JUDAS PRIEST, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, SLIPKNOT will collectively reveal the evolution of metal from the '60s to the present, in all its explosive, ear-bleeding, hedonistic glory. "Louder Than Hell" will also include over 100 rare and never-before-seen photos, flyers and illustrations, which will complement the compelling text

"There have been some excellent books about the history of heavy metal, but never one as in-depth and revealing as 'Louder Than Hell'," says Wiederhorn. "Instead of bombarding readers with our opinions and analysis, we're letting the musicians do the talking."

Turman adds, "I've been a metal and hard rock fan forever, and as a longtime music journalist and also an inveterate reader, I'm so excited to help tell the definitive story of metal."

A web site, www.louderthanhellthebook.com, is in production, as are marketing plans for "Louder Than Hell" promotions (book/concert tours, street teams, signings/readings with book-featured bands, etc.) In short, there will be none more metal.

About the authors: Jon Wiederhorn is a senior writer for Revolver, the former editor of MTV2's HeadbangersBlog.com, and has been on staff at Rolling Stone, MTV News and Guitar magazine. He has also contributed to SPIN, Entertainment Weekly, Stuff, Guitar World, FHM, Inked, Penthouse, RIP, Raw, AOL's Noisecreep.com, Emusic.com and numerous other publications.

Katherine Turman currently produces the syndicated radio show "Nights with Alice Cooper", and was formerly producer of "Rockline". She was the editor of RIP magazine, a columnist for Metal Hammer, Guitar One and Bam, a music producer on "The Sharon Osbourne Show", and has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Revolver, TEEN, Guitar World, SPIN, Amazon.com and other outlets.