Table of Contents -- Introduction -- JUDAS PRIEST: BREAKING THE LAW -- First Words -- Urgency and Social Unrest -- Breaking the Band -- Sign of the Times -- BLACK SABBATH: CHILDREN OF THE SEA -- First Song -- Lyrical Beginning -- Writing in Metaphors -- Heavy Metal Environmentalism -- Intellectualism -- Effecting a Change -- BLACK SABBATH: HEAVEN AND HELL -- Master of Reality -- Writing in Beverly Hills -- Heart of the Message -- Sabbath in Miami -- Moralist Backlash -- AC/DC: HELLS BELLS -- Mother Nature -- Creative Spontaneity -- All Hail Satan -- New Vocal Range -- Timeless Classic -- AC/DC: BACK IN BLACK -- Collaboration from Beyond -- Making the Grade -- Tribute to a Stranger -- Rigorous Singing -- Rite of Passage -- MOTÖRHEAD: ACE OF SPADES -- Spontaneity in the Studio -- Lyricist for Hire -- Never Grow Up -- Signature Song -- OZZY OSBOURNE: CRAZY TRAIN -- All Aboard -- Blizzard of Ozz -- Becoming the Lyricist -- Collaboration Made Inspiration -- Fish, Chips, and Lyrics -- Global Standoff -- OZZY OSBOURNE: SUICIDE SOLUTION -- Sum of All Parts -- Alcoholics Anonymous -- Heavy Metal on Trial -- Buddhist Philosophy -- OZZY OSBOURNE: YOU CAN'T KILL ROCK AND ROLL -- Life Experience -- Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll -- Back to Ridge Farm -- Premonition -- Advice for the Practicing Musician -- JUDAS PRIEST: THE HELLION/ELECTRIC EYE -- Star Wars -- Scrutiny versus Privacy -- The Hellion -- Signature Song -- QUIET RIOT: METAL HEALTH -- Developing an Idea -- Signature Song -- Becoming an Anthem -- Metal Health or Bang Your Head? -- DIO: HOLY DIVER -- Grocery Store to the Shed -- Gods and Monsters -- Swords and Rainbows -- Lasting Appeal -- TWISTED SISTER: YOU CAN'T STOP ROCK 'N' ROLL -- Death by Disco -- Songwriting Machine -- Personal Statement -- Angry Young Man -- Metal Uprising -- SUICIDAL TENDENCIES: INSTITUTIONALIZED -- Clandestine Lyricist.

Mad Requests -- Punk Meets Metal -- Disassociation -- ACCEPT: BALLS TO THE WALL -- Collaborative Songwriting -- Finding the Melody -- No Dragons -- Wall Torn Down -- Global Interpretation -- Human Rights Anthem -- JUDAS PRIEST: EAT ME ALIVE -- Nihilistic Cartoon -- Wild Song -- Coming Under Fire -- Conscious People -- TWISTED SISTER: THE PRICE -- Subjective Interpretation -- The Price of Songwriting -- The Lost Hit -- New Meaning over Time -- MERCYFUL FATE: WELCOME PRINCES OF HELL -- Satanic Philosophy -- Songwriting Process -- Controversy -- Horror Music -- Startling Metallica -- METALLICA: FADE TO BLACK -- Suicide Note -- Student of Metal -- Dynamic Intensity -- Life-Changing Song -- D.R.I.: SHAME -- Effecting Social Change -- Macaroni and Cheese -- Bridging Music Scenes -- Realizing the Effect -- EXODUS: BONDED BY BLOOD -- Blood Meaning -- Writing the Words -- Looking Back -- DIO: ROCK 'N' ROLL CHILDREN -- Words and Music -- Mini-Movie -- Social Conscience -- Emotional Connection -- METALLICA: MASTER OF PUPPETS -- Old-School Stealing -- Lyrical Realism -- Doing the Hetfield -- Lyrical Salvation -- Timeless Blueprint -- SLAYER: JESUS SAVES -- Jesus Advertises -- Music, Then Lyrics -- Reigning Metal -- Provocation -- Acquired Skill -- LIZZY BORDEN: GENERATION ALIENS -- Legions of Outcasts -- Cut and Paste -- No Rest for the Wicked -- Shakespearean Complexity -- Whole Package -- STRYPER: MORE THAN A MAN -- Melody Makes the Song -- Last-Minute Lyrics -- Classic Metal Influences -- Rock and a Hard Place -- Let the Music Do the Talking -- MEGADETH: PEACE SELLS -- Groucho Marx -- Metal Masterpiece -- Vic Rattlehead -- ANTHRAX: EFILNIKUFESIN (N.F.L.) -- Mastering the Craft -- Follow the Riff -- Colloquial Hook -- Abstinence -- Drug Awareness -- ANTHRAX: INDIANS -- Unspoken Approval -- Composition Books and Floppy Disks -- Social Awareness.

Musical Legacy -- DOKKEN: KISS OF DEATH -- Uncle Butch -- AIDS Awareness -- The Lost Instrumental -- Broken-Hearted Love Song -- Better Band Living -- MEGADETH: IN MY DARKEST HOUR -- Collaboration -- Lineup -- Emotional Connection -- LITA FORD: CLOSE MY EYES FOREVER -- Two Singers, One Song -- Romantic Tragedy -- Collaborative Process -- Signature Success -- Celluloid Fantasy -- New Millennium -- LIVING COLOUR: CULT OF PERSONALITY -- Pop Culture -- Musical Epiphany -- Message to the Grass Roots -- Commercial Success -- Ominous Appeal -- Lasting Popularity -- QUEENSRŸCHE: OPERATION: MINDCRIME -- Rush of Ideas -- Musical Storyboard -- Onstage Fun -- Subjective Listening -- Long Time Coming -- QUEENSRŸCHE: REVOLUTION CALLING -- Political Agenda -- Explaining the Mindcrime -- The Committee -- Anarchy in the 'Ryche -- Extended Shelf Life -- NUCLEAR ASSAULT: BRAINWASHED -- Architecture of the Song -- Musical Framework -- Affecting an Audience -- Think for Yourself -- SLAYER: MANDATORY SUICIDE -- Naturally Compatible -- Lyrical Awakening -- Murder Song -- Political Statement -- The Cycle of History -- JANE'S ADDICTION: JANE SAYS -- Melancholy Addiction -- Uninhibited Creativity -- Jane Doesn't Rhyme -- Alternative Lifestyle -- Measure of Success -- HELLOWEEN: I WANT OUT -- Open Letter of Dissent -- Spontaneous Creative Method -- Conjuring the Chorus -- Keeper of the Keys -- Universal Sentiment -- METALLICA: ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL -- Complete Package -- Broken Justice -- Longer Songs -- Interpreting the Meaning -- Influence of a Lifetime -- DANZIG: MOTHER -- Spontaneous Creativity -- Special Song -- Censoring Anti-Censorship -- Twice Denied by MTV -- Free Speech Advocacy -- OZZY OSBOURNE: MIRACLE MAN -- Truth in Advertising -- Manipulated by the Devil -- Return to the Land of Ozz -- Familiar Routine -- Religious Hypocrisy -- SKID ROW: 18 AND LIFE.

Lyrical Storytellers -- King of the Opening Lines -- Making Their Mark -- Music Video -- Strength to Survive -- W.A.S.P.: THE HEADLESS CHILDREN -- Hitting the Fan -- Inspired Dreams -- Please God, Help Us -- Foundation for a Career -- Moving Forward -- KING'S X: OVER MY HEAD -- Musical Cornerstone -- Get Stoned, Take a Walk -- Christian Dogma -- Backlash -- If It Were Up to Me... -- Moonwalk -- Musical Revival -- TESTAMENT: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH -- Changing Direction -- Social Consciousness -- Creative Process -- Expectations -- OVERKILL: THE YEARS OF DECAY -- Collaborative Effort -- Longer Songs -- Writer by Nature -- Long and Winding Road -- PANTERA: CEMETERY GATES -- Catharsis in Songwriting -- The Creative Process -- Pessimistic Singer -- Hindsight -- PANTERA: COWBOYS FROM HELL -- Secrets of Songwriting -- Respecting the Riff -- Good Guys Wear Black -- Lyrical Development -- MEGADETH: HOLY WARS...THE PUNISHMENT DUE -- Anarchy for Antrim -- Nottingham Rock City -- The Punisher -- Dangerous Lyrics -- Faith and Conflict -- Modern Significance -- INDEX -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X-Z.