Epeolatry Book Review: Metallurgy by Stephanie Ellis
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Title: Metallurgy: Of Love and Death and Metal
Author: Stephanie Ellis
Genre: Poetry
Release Date: June 16th, 2022
Synopsis:Metallurgy is an homage to the world of heavy metal and its related genres.
In these pages are 100 dark found poems created from the lyrics of bands as varied as Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Korn, Behemoth and many more.
Although all poems are completely original works, the sources have been fully acknowledged and it is hoped that after reading the poems, the reader will then go on to listen to the artists who inspired them.
The cover says, “a collection of found poetry of love and death and metal.” I knew this collection was for me when I read that. Metal and poetry are two sides of the same hammered coin and if you recognize and appreciate those similarities, this collection is for you, too. Metallurgy includes an introduction by Cindy O’Quinn, nice artwork, source songs listed after each poem, and a wonderful set of indexes to allow a search by both poem title and source.
In case you didn’t know, the poems being found means that the words constructing each poem came from the listed source lyrics, but in a different order or structure, thus creating a totally new work. This type of poetry was completely new to me when I began reading, but I found this concept to be refreshing and engaging. Source music ranges from metal bands popular today, such as one of my new favorites, The Hu, to metal bands I know my parents listened to when they were young, like Slayer. Because there is such variety within the book, I am confident in saying Metallurgy does as intended. Readers will be entertained and provoked into wondrous thought.
This isn’t the kind of book that you would skip introductions for, though. I very much urge you to read them and while doing so reflect on your own relationship with music throughout your life because some of those memories will probably be creeping up on you as you begin to read. The very first poem uses one of my favorite songs, Reptile by Nine Inch Nails, as one of its two sources, creating a game for me, as the reader, to see how many poems include my favorite songs as sources and how many use sources I am not as familiar with. In that vein, I would also urge you to read Metallurgy with your headphones handy.
My favorite poem in this collection is Old Moon, but I can’t tell you why because it just sticks out the most to me, so I don’t know. Metal is much the same way. It needs no reason. So, would I suggest this title to a friend? Simply, yes. In more detail, also yes, but with the caveat that you should enjoy both metal and poetry and have a strong lean toward horror and darker reading materials.
/5
Available from Amazon.
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Rhiannon Mills is an Appalachian writer, blogger, and reviewer. She enjoys horror, science fiction, mysteries, and all manner of books between. Occasionally, she’s even known to pick up a non-fiction title or two. You can find her at the Rhiannon Writes On blog or on Facebook.
