The subject matter is fascinating but the book is unfocused. The story begins with a brief, interesting history of Satanism and heathenism in heavy metal music, but about a third of the way through, the writers mostly abandon the musical stuff and shift to a discussion on white nationalist ideology. Then the book concludes with just a list of gristly crimes committed by metal fans.

I would have preferred more coverage of the music itself. How did Mayhem finish their album after Euronymous was murdered? Who sang on the record after Dead killed himself? What kind of music did Varg make in prison? Lords of Chaos can feel incomplete, and you will want to spend some time on Wikipedia for a fuller understanding of black metal and the intersecting crimes.