This beautiful book of over 270 pages contains some of the most telling and memorable photos you've ever seen of '80s-era San Francisco thrash bands like Metallica, Exodus and Slayer. The images here were shot by two metalheads themselves, fans of the music they were photographing, unaware that the long-haired musicians on the stages in front of them would one day turn into true guitar heroes.

There are dozens of shots of Metallica, Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth and other bands in their infancy--young musicians with trim waistlines, full heads of hair, and a frenzied energy. Included are a series of black-and-white band shots with Dave Mustaine when he was in Metallica; numerous live shots of the groups during the club days; and assorted candid shots backstage and on the street. Additionally, Robb Flynn, Gary Holt, Alex Skolnick and Ron Quintana contribute essays.

Murder in the Front Row is a valuable reference for any hardcore rocker interested in the visual origins of now-huge bands like Metallica and Slayer. The paper is high-quality, the color is high resolution, and you'll be high with delight from turning the pages.