In the process of moving our office, we have uncovered a number of limited edition copies of @peterbeste ‘s Defenders of the Faith book complete with a faux leather bound slipcase, a 7” featuring unreleased music from blackened thrashers Aura Noir and old-school heavy metallers Black Magic, a Defenders of the Faith patch, a two sided poster, and includes a forward by Biff Byford of Saxon. This book was limited to 400 copies at release in 2019, and only sold direct through us, Sacred Bones. So now is your time to grab a copy! The religious ferocity of Heavy Metal fandom is one of the most fervent in the history of subculture. The display of this fervor has been channeled and distilled throughout time into one sacred object: the battle vest. Often referred to as the Kutten (German for monk’s robe), the battle vest serves a multitude of purposes: as a musical CV, a badge of authenticity, a creative practice of identity, and a fashion statement. Defenders of the Faith documents the timeless and universal concept of fandom through the elevation of the battle vest, revering them beyond the sweaty bodies they adorn and the mosh pits they live in, to the status of religious artifact. Photographer Peter Beste has been documenting subcultures for over 20 years. His first book True Norwegian Black Metal (Vice Books) was a portrayal of the extreme end of the genre and the stunning photos contained within translated far beyond the niche fans of the music. His critically acclaimed follow up book Houston Rap showed his breadth as a photographer and Juxtapoz called it “An astonishing and important insight into a great American cultural narrative.” Defenders of the Faith is Beste’s fourth book.