STACY BUCHANAN
Blood of Gods: Metal. Mayhem. Wine.
July 29, 2025
Feral House
Blood of Gods: Metal. Mayhem. Wine. brings together two seemingly opposite worlds—heavy metal and fine wine—in a celebration that’s as intense as it is tongue-in-cheek. What began as a zine exploring the shared obsession with craft, ritual, and intensity has evolved into a full-color, art-packed release from Feral House. Inside, readers will find interviews with metal musicians turned winemakers, irreverent essays that challenge wine snobbery, bold artwork, tasting notes, and creative pairings of wine with metal subgenres—all designed to dismantle pretension with both wit and attitude.
Curated by STACY BUCHANAN, Blood of Gods: Metal. Mayhem. Wine. emphasizes the unexpected harmony between riff-driven music and vine-cultivated artistry. Drawing from past zine content and never-before-seen material, BUCHANAN uses humor, vivid visuals, and insider perspectives to invite metalheads into wine culture on their own terms. Whether you’re sipping a bold red to the sounds of SLAYER or pairing a crisp white with doom-laden dirges, Blood of Gods: Metal. Mayhem. Wine. proves that wine doesn’t just pair with cheese—it pairs with chaos.
Rating: 9.5 / 10 Stars
REVIEW – Blood of Gods: Metal. Mayhem. Wine. is a wild, full-color celebration of two cultural passions that don’t usually share the same table: heavy metal and wine. Author STACY BUCHANAN invites readers into a world where headbangers and sommeliers unite under the banner of bold expression and ritual indulgence. What started as a DIY zine born in rebellion has now evolved into a 224-page hardcover experience that’s just as loud in design as it is in message.
Each page of the book pulses with defiance and creativity. BUCHANAN carefully curates a mix of irreverent essays, thought-provoking interviews, bold visuals, and wine-metal pairing guides that challenge the assumptions of both subcultures. You’ll find conversations with icons like DANI FILTH and MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN, commentary from sommeliers who understand the craft of both fermentation and fandom, and insights from winemakers who don’t mind a little distortion with their decanting. The book swings seamlessly from intellectual to absurd, combining deep respect for artistry with a punk sense of humor.
The visual presentation is nothing short of stunning. Gothic design motifs, vivid color palettes, and metal-inspired typography are interspersed with illustrations by underground legends like JOSH BAYER and ED LUCE. Each spread feels handcrafted for impact—part zine, part sacred text. Whether it’s a sketch of a death metal deity pouring Syrah into a skull goblet or a satirical redesign of wine labels with thrash flair, every image deepens the book’s tone. It doesn’t just want to be admired on your coffee table—it demands to be experienced.
What makes Blood of Gods: Metal. Mayhem. Wine. truly special, though, is its authenticity. This is not a novelty crossover or a niche cash-in—it’s a heartfelt tribute to two often misunderstood worlds. BUCHANAN clearly lives and breathes both metal and wine, and his passion is infectious. Beyond the book, the Blood of Gods community organizes real-life events like the annual MERRYMAKING festival, and proceeds from the original zine go to charitable causes. That spirit of inclusivity and rebellion runs deep through every page.
In the end, Blood of Gods: Metal. Mayhem. Wine. is a manifesto for those who live passionately, drink deeply, and embrace the noise. It’s not meant for mass appeal—and that’s the point. It’s for the unapologetic few who believe SLAYER and Syrah belong in the same breath. Visually compelling, culturally rich, and proudly defiant, this is essential reading for anyone who feels at home in both the mosh pit and the tasting room.
