MaximumMetal.com has been an online source of comprehensive music reviews, in-depth interviews and exclusive original columns for over 10 years. After nearly 1,000 written reviews, senior editor ERIC COMPTON has launched a new alphabetical book series, "DENIM & LETTERS." This first installment, "PIECES OF A," is a mammoth collection featuring all of Compton's thorough online reviews plus additional reviews written exclusively for the book. Included are detailed commentaries from the bands represented here, from hard rock acts like ACCEPT and AMERICAN DOG to extremists like ABYSMAL DAWN and THE ARCANE ORDER. Eric Compton has meticulously gathered over 130 reviews and over 30 interviews spanning a 15 year period from 1999-2014. This 31,000 word volume is loaded with bands describing their body of work over multiple sub-genres of heavy metal music. Praise for Eric Compton: "Eric's been a faithful and engaging brother in metal, steering us right and smartly now through his celebrated Maximum Metal wordsmithing for going on fully one half the life of the internet...actually slightly longer. His massive alphabetical undertaking will no doubt prove a vital addition to metal scholarship, given its skilled scope across many genres of metal, and certain unique stylistic touches, such as the inclusion of band quotes within many of his adept reviews." - Martin Popoff, author of 47 books on heavy metal "Having run Maximum Metal for over ten years, I could pick Eric's reviews out from any of the multitude of other writers. His book series, "Denim & Letters," is more than just a collection of words. It's a process to get involved in Eric's feelings toward a musical art that has been around for over forty years. His excitement towards music touches you the same way the music touched him; the same way the energy of a vital song latches onto your brain stem and powers the thumps of your heart. More than a gateway into another dimension, he is another dimension -- a dimension where you shrink down and ride the grooves of vinyl and expand in and out of digital 1's and 0's with him. His distinct love for hard music has been unfaltering over the years I've known him and I fully expect he'll be writing about the latest metal releases well into his gray years. I don't think he knows how to fry an egg properly, but he can damn sure write about metal." - Frank Hill, MaximumMetal.com owner "This guy knows how to write Eric has kicked so much ass supporting and reviewing metal music for eons. Trustworthy penmanship and an honest, from the heart, delivery. 100% proper " - King Fowley (Deceased/October 31) "This is Eric's beginning of his labor of love, his music books. He loves doing it, so I bet we will love reading it " - Lenny Haze (Y&T/Ian Gillan/Ronnie Montrose) "It's always a pleasure reading Eric's reviews because he gets behind the music with facts that proves that he spends hours in research and his description of the music is always perfect." - Mikael Dahl (Crystal Eyes)