Synopses & Reviews
Revered former Metal Maniacs editor Jeff Wagner analyzes the heady side of metal in this exhaustive narrative history of a relentlessly ambitious musical subculture. Beginning with the hugely influential mid-1970s efforts of Rush and King Crimson, Wagner unfurls a huge tapestry of sounds and styles, including Queensryche, Fates Warning, and Dream Theater; extreme prog pioneers Voivod and Celtic Frost; Norways post-black metal avant garde acts Ulver and Arcturus; and the 1990s global movement that spawned Ayreon, Pain of Salvation, and others.
Fighting a tide of tradition and conservatism, progressive metal has proven to be one of the most viable, malleable forms in all of modern music; here its preeminent scholar tells the tale.
Review
Mean Deviation zeroes in on heavy metals more cerebral, challenging, and even geeky side.”Ghetto Blaster
Fans of prog metal would be wise to learn more about Mean Deviation
”Guitar World
A focused, well-organized narrative from the combined musical output of over 40 years and scores of bands from across the globe
excess comes with the territory.”Library Journal
Jeff goes deep into this much maligned music form and presents it with fervor”Vice
An extremely fluent read
sits high on the list of canonical metal texts”PopMatters
An expertly researched love letter to the largely misunderstood and often maligned progressive metal scene”AOL Noisecreep, Holiday Gift List
An impressive historical work”Chromatique [9/10 review]
What a massive undertaking
knowledge, passion, skills, and class
this book should be required reading for any metal follower.”Blistering.com [9.5/10 review]
Mean Deviation is an amazing compendium of everything weird in the world of metala book as grand and unlikely as the music it documents.”Hellbound.ca
The book looks and feels fabulous. Thank you, Jeff Wagner, for this massive information highway for all things progressive metal.”Paul Masvidal, Cynic/Death
The book is awesome. I read it in two days.”Glenn Harveston, ProgPower USA
Looks cool! Im looking forward to digging in.”Jim Matheos, Fates Warning
This goes beyond being well-informed
kudos for great work!”Vorph, Samael
We now have a definitive book on the relationship between metal and progressive music.”Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree
Another winner from the folks at Bazillion Points!”Sea of Tranquility [4.5/5 stars]
An invaluable compendium”Nuthousepunks.com
Mean Deviation is a comprehensive history of the genre that fans will enjoy, and future music scholars will use as an essential reference guide.”Aboutcom
Jeff Wagner nailed it
another triumph for Bazillion Points”Metal Rules.com, 4.5/5 review
With great passion and attention to detail
a colorful read
an impressive achievement”Joel McIver, Record Collector
Breathtaking
pick it up and get lost in another dimension”Terrorizer