Guitarist Metal Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD/PAINMUSEUM) is currently preparing the release of This River Shall Burn - an introspective, dark, tormented, but often beautiful collection of lyrics and ideas set into an eBook format.

‘Return To The Arms Of My Bleeding Garden’, ‘The Poison Embraces’, ‘I Am The Earth’ and ‘Stale Water’s Up My Neck’ are some of the eBook’s included titles.

This River Shall Burn will be available this summer through Apple iBookstore (for iPad), Amazon (for Kindle), Barnes & Noble (for Nook) and Reader Store (for SonyReader).

Asked about the title, Mike commented, “This River Shall Burn refers to a journey from one place to another. You look back after you have come to the other side and say, you know this was enough; the river I just crossed is going up in a wall of flames because I am never going back there again. You lock your fists and you move forward. Just like the war tactic when you burn the bridge behind you so you are left with options when you face the enemy – you win or you die.”

Mike further commented on the book’s origins, “This book has started to take shape sometime in 1996. It had other working names. I worked on it and then left it alone for a few years. Recently, I was inspired to read through it and live with the ideas for a few weeks. I wanted to see if it still resonates. And, the ideas were very still very good, I thought, and so I worked on it looking to complete it and you know, somewhat finally close that chapter. I took the stuff that did not blow me away out and added some new ideas in.

“This is not a typical un-used song lyric collection. Nothing in this book rhymes, but the words rather flow naturally in their own rhythm.

“It was not easy to live through it all, once again, but being at the other side now – I am proud that I have spent the time completing it.

“Time moves on and we become different people. Sometimes the future in front of us only allows us to enter when we let go.

“This project has been a pure labor of love for me. I consider it a success just to have it completed and available. I hope that some brave hearts out there will also enjoy it as well.”

Mike has previously written two metal guitar instructional books - Ridiculous Riffs For The Terrifying Guitarist and Monster Coordination – Guitar Boot Camp. He currently writes Metal For Life column for Guitar World Magazine.