We Sold Our Souls

Product Information

Grady Hendrix is the author of the novels Horrorstör, about a haunted IKEA, and My Best Friend’s Exorcism, which is like Beaches meets The Exorcist, only it’s set in the Eighties. WE SOLD OUR SOULS is the story of a band in turmoil, maybe not a great band, but one that affected people. One that got people through the hard times...one that helped them celebrate the good. But when the lead singer decides that this isn't enough for him, he investigates...other avenues. Will the band survive his efforts and appeals to be something greater? Will they survive at all? You'll have to read this to find out! We Sold Our Souls starts with Kris early in life, as a teenager, confused, and all attitude. She wants to play the riff from Sabbath, and she bleeds herself through the first chords until it sounds right. And for one glorious shiny moment, Sabbath was in her basement. She is hooked. Next, we meet Kris at 47 years old. The end of a career, and her soul, living in her mother’s house working at a Best Western. As a major fan of the blues, how could I not be aware of Robert Johnson's story? Legend says he sold his soul at the crossroads to play the guitar like that. Maybe he wasn't the only one doing the selling?

I give “We Sold Our Souls” by Grady Hendrix a perfect 5/5 because I had so much fun reading this novel while listening to all my favorite bands. Lots of Slayer, Slipknot, Merciful Fate, Amon Amarth, Bathory, Abbath, and many more turned this into quite the reading experience. This felt like a King Diamond conceptual album similar to that of “Abigail” that comes into place as you read to get the entire story. The tension and buildup to the end were so worth it and well, I’ll leave you all with my favorite quote from “We Sold Our Souls” that simply hit my soul… I can't help myself when it comes to this campy author. Leave it to Grady Hendrix to create a horrific story with a former female-guitarist from a washed up 1990's heavy metal band, a satanic rehab center, a sinister conspiracy, and...rogue UPS drivers that pose as the death squad!Kris hasn’t even touched her guitar in over 6 years. On a quest to find out what happened, Kris decides to finally visit all members of the band Dürt Würk. She wants to know why she feels despair and dead inside! Needless to say, I was super excited to read this novel by one of my favorite horror authors. Hendrix has given me several incredible reads as I knew going into “We Sold Our Souls” that it would be another fun thrill ride in horror. Now, before I jump into my review, let me go over some trigger warnings.

As the novel progressed further into "unknown territory", I still felt as though it was the "natural" way this story had to unfold. As far as not allowing Penelope Spheeris to show the documentary at film festivals, please see below the list of festivals where I know that the film was shown (and there may have been more). The 'Heavy Metal Music Culture' is definitely not for me. I like my music quieter, smoother, sweeter, and more relaxing. I will admit, however, to getting caught-up in the lyrics and I loving the rhyming cadence that the narrator rattled off so poetically in this story. Within those lyrics and the story there is definitely food-for-thought! Her meaningful guitar riffs had a power she worked years to cultivate into that perfection. They were not entirely forgotten, but clearly pushed aside for a mundane job she had no passion for.

Tropes in this book include:

This year, we have had two surprising stories of technology monitoring our activity: Samsung televisions that listen to conversations in the room and send them elsewhere for transcription – just in case someone is telling the TV to change the channel – and a Barbie that records your child’s questions and sells them to third parties. Torn Apart by the Mob: Kris's one ally, J.D., commits a Heroic Sacrifice by getting between her and an angry mob that are aiming for her and is ripped apart by them in front of her as she drives to Terry's last gig. Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Every chapter is named after a metal album. Well, except for the one where Kris and Melanie meet, which is named after Dolly Parton's Little Sparrow.

Most importantly, this author puts a lot of thought into the delivery of his stories and the message he leaves with his readers are deep and complex. It's similar to 'Heavy Metal Music' and the messages hidden within the lyrics. I suppose that's the draw to the culture of this music and why readers are so loyal to this author. Sacrificial Lion: Dürt Würk's original drummer, JD, resurfaces and allies with Kris only to be torn to pieces by an angry mob. Terrific… Sharply written… [ My Best Friend’s Exorcism] makes a convincing case for [Hendrix’s] powers as a sharp observer of human behavior.”— The A.V. Club, on My Best Friend’s Exorcism I am one of those readers who does a thorough (and not always fast) read and can usually point out or spot some of the weaknesses in a story. Sometimes I can live with them and I won't mention anything in my review while others I will elaborate on.A fast-paced ride, firmly rooted in the pulp horror tradition…Hendrix’s darkest novel yet will leave readers begging for an encore.”— Booklist, starred review This book has some of the best concept-album ideas I've read and I fell right into it as if I was listening to Mindcrime or The Wall. No sweat. This is both a tribute and a soul-stomping realistic love-note to the downtrodden and the dreams of the fighters. WE SOLD OUR SOULS, by Grady Hendrix, is a psychologically intense novel involving a one-time metal band and the power inherent in their music and lyrics. Years ago, five people formed a band called "Durt Wurk"--a band that was good, and had the potential to be great. Then came the day that their lead singer, Terry Hunt, decided he wanted more . . . Moving along, I completely lost my mind when I realized every chapter was a unique song title from all sorts of metal bands. I literally jumped for joy when I saw there was a REIGN IN BLOOD chapter since Slayer is my all-time favorite metal band. Speaking of which, to see them heavily mentioned in this novel was so awesome. I loved it since it’s so rare I get to read a horror novel that heavily mentions Slayer and many other of my favorite metal bands.