Rock in a Hard Place

a sober chronicling of music in some of the most conservative countries on the planet ... Among such somber subject matter, there are also moments of triumph. * Popmatters * An engaging new book on the heavy metal music scene in the Middle East ... Crowcroft's book crackles with significance. * The National * Crowcroft's book is a detailed narrative of how the metal scene evolved in the 1990s. With extensive interviews Crowcroft narrates the difficult birth pangs of the metal scene in the Middle East. * Socialist Worker * Riveting ... Crowcroft weaves a skilful narrative, drawing on the history of metal's evolutions and controversies to give a wider sense of the world, illustrating just how many regimes and societies are still actively hostile to metal and its fans. * Socialist Review * Rock in a Hard Place takes readers beyond perceptions of the Middle East as an essentially violent and factional entity, instead showing the complex humanity that is shared between people in the region and the world.' * Middle East Journal * Crowcroft's book is a fine contribution to a growing literature on popular culture in the Middle East, providing a valuable, seldom-given glimpse into atheist, antiauthoritarian and anti-religious counter culture. * Contemporary Islam * Rock in A Hard Place is a must read for any musician. Especially those involved in the underground. An inspiring report on the power of music to unite human beings in the face of adversity. * Brad Logan, guitarist for F-Minus and Leftoever Crack * A fascinating insight into the impossibility of repressing everyone no matter how fanatic you may be. It is surprising that more heavy metal rockers do not get stoned to death. * Clive Stafford Smith, international human rights lawyer * Crowcroft's book is a revelation into the torture, oppression and imprisonment metalheads stand up to, just so they can be metal in the Middle East. This book is a must read! * Max Cavalera, frontman for Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy * Black metal, Islam, war zones - and a great shock of humanity. Orlando Crowcroft goes where no other writer has even thought of going before and brings back an improbably remarkable story. * Mick Wall, author of Last of the Giants: The True Story of Guns N' Roses * Going to jail for liking a band like us, that's taking chances... It's shocking to hear that someone had to suffer and risk his life for nothing but a love of music and a passion for freedom of speech. * Silenoz, guitarist for Dimmu Borgir and Insidious Disease *

Orlando Crowcroft is a journalist and life-long heavy metal fan and has interviewed bands throughout the Middle East for Rolling Stone, Atlantic and Esquire. He is the co-author of the Lonely Planet Guide to Israel and the Palestinian Territories (2015) and has reported from a dozen countries including Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In 2014, he reported from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza for The Guardian and The National.

Preface Introduction 1. Saudi Arabia 2. Egypt 3. Iran 4. Israel and Palestine 5. Lebanon Epilogue