Journalist / author Martin Popoff has released his new book, Aces High: The Top 250 Heavy Metal Songs Of The ‘80s.

As the back cover sez… Aces High: The Top 250 Heavy Metal Songs Of The ‘80s is the heavier, hairier follow-up to Riff Raff: The Top 250 Heavy Metal Songs Of The ‘70s and yes, things have intensified. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal kicks the decade off and then after that there’s the thrash of the big four and beyond duking it out with… hair metal! But not only that, some of your favourite ‘70s legends have something  to say, although a studied comparison with the ‘70s book will reveal that many have simply disappeared from metal consciousness.

The results of our ranking—250 songs, each with analysis and author quote and presented in reverse order---are derived from a massive worldwide poll asking heavy metal fans to pick their favourites and send in a list of either ten or 25 ranked or unranked. A bunch of quantitative analysis was applied and here we have it, the cream of the crop perfect for a 20-CD box set and/or Spotify playlist.

Look also for rare photography of your favourite bands in action, as well as dozens of 45 picture sleeves that take you back to what many call heavy metal’s first real decade, and less contentiously, the golden age of heavy metal. A few geeked-out appendices complete our expansive trip, arranged from #250 on the march toward the #1 heavy metal song of the ‘80s as picked by you.

Celebrating Priest, Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax and even pretty strong showings by the likes of Manowar, Mercyful Fate, Ratt and Queensrcyhe… who’s got the #1 greatest metal anthem of the ‘80s? Who rules the Top 40? The Top 100? Who snuck onto the lower rungs? In short, which ‘80s anthems have you the headbanging masses designated as classics? In that light, Aces High: The Top 250 Heavy Metal Songs of the ‘80s is sure to create as much controversy as Riff Raff did, but to reiterate, we’re just presenting the results and then writing about them and letting the rock stars explain themselves. The ranking itself reflects the will of the people—let the clips fall where they may!

Prices including shipping:

US orders: $35.00 US funds
Int’l orders (all books go air): $40.00 US funds
Canadian orders: $37.00 Cdn. funds

PayPal address is martinp@inforamp.net.

Popoff continues: "Book will be signed to you from me, so let me know if it is a present for someone else or you don’t want it signed. Ask me if you’d prefer a PayPal invoice (please indicate what COUNTRY you are in).

"You can also direct payment (personal check in US funds, cash, or INTERNATIONAL money order) to:

Martin Popoff,
P.O. Box 65208
358 Danforth Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M4K 2Z2

"Sweet postage savings to be had for multiple orders (or two of pretty much anything - long story, ask me!), for US and Canadian orders. Email me at martinp@inforamp.net with any further questions, and see martinpopoff.com for descriptions, cover art and ordering info for my other 45 or so books that I have available for autographing and shipping.

"Note: this press release constitutes all about the book that will be at my site, but it’s not there for another 10 days. But they are indeed in my office and shipping NOW."

(Martin Popoff photo by Glenn Rodger)