Rotten Requiems

by James Oliver (Editor), Lesley A. Camphouse, Lucas Mangum

Guitar strings made of human flesh, onstage antics involving genitals and fishhooks, angel wings painted on concert venue walls with arterial spray, songs that possess listeners and transform them into homicidal maniacs, crowd-surfing corpses, demonic crickets, drug-fueled musical performances played at inhuman speeds, and inverted cross What do these things have in common?

They’re METAL AS FUCK! Duh.

Rotten Requiems brings together a supergroup of eight of the most exciting names in extreme horror and splatterpunk, with each author contributing a story that utilizes graphic, ear-raping, full-bore terror, augmenting a carefully curated symposium of sickness and showcasing just how heavy horror literature can get …

Pure Abandon Press

ROTTEN REQUIEMS
An extreme metal extreme horror anthology

Genres: Horror, Music, Short Stories

178 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2025

About the author

Extreme horror and splatterpunk fiction.

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so HYPED for this one, In August James Oliver came crashing into my list of favorite authors like it was nobody's business with his metal centric horror that I ate right up so an anthology of extreme metal horror assembled by him and the promise of more Twisted Cricket? Inject that shit right into my veins.

My favorite stories were:

Death to False Metal by R. Danley was magnificent, gross, hilarious and most satisfying. This one was the most Metalocalypse coded of the lot in terms of tones and vibes.

Twisted Cricket by R. E. Shambrook, I love these guys, they can do no wrong, I was happy to see them again, I might just need a t-shirt or something.

The Pit by R.J. Powell, short, effective, bleak, no notes.

Death Metal Parking Lot by L. Mangum, I wanted this one to be longer, because I'm greedy and the vibes were weird and immaculate.

[Wren Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey so, if you’ve ever watched Metalocalypse, this collection of short stories is like the parts in that show where they play a show and the crowd just start getting haymakered out of existence.

I did love that this was a culmination of stories surrounding the much harder world of metal music… the stuff that makes Ozzy biting the head off a bat, and GG Allin wanking on stage look like child’s play.

A lot of these stories actually ended up leaning into the supernatural as well, leaning a lot into hellish, demonic, and even shapeshifter territory. We even encounter the most messed up cult summoning of a cosmic entity I’ve ever witnessed, SHEEEEESH.

In short, these stories made me laugh, gasp, and think back to those local shows I used to go to as a teenager that I probably wasn’t supposed to be at. If I had pearls, I may have even clutched them. This is not for the faint of heart y’all.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Metal, gore, and demons?
Yes please.
sign me up.
a must read for fans of hardcore music and violence

[BookSplatterBritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

metal splatterpunk?! these authors did not hold back at all! these stories were gruesome, brutal, disgusting and to be honest entertaining. these stories are not for the weak, I promise they will leave you feeling a certain nasty type of way. I guarantee they will leave you questioning your humility. ROCK ON with caution🤘🏻

[Claudia Rambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crank up some metal, grab a drink, and get ready for pure chaos because these authors don’t hold back and Butcher sets the tone right from the start, and it’s all carnage from there.

They deliver the mayhem, the gore, the WTF moments, and even slip in the occasional band name to keep things entertaining.
We’re talking demons, unalivers, possessions and Cannibal Corpse blasting in the background.

So if you’re into brutal, fast paced stories, with graphic scenes, and most importantly, love metal… this one’s for you.

The music and the writing? A perfect match made in heaven... or should I say Hell.

This review and more here:
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[Becki 🤎 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rotten Requiems: Tales Of Extreme Metal Mayhem 🤘🏼🎸

Oh you know I jumped on this ARC as fast as I could!! So many of my fav authors in one place & summoned by the one & only James Oliver…F YEAH 🤘🏼

And holy 💩 this went In HARD!! No holds barred, absolute chaos…I LOVED IT!! I am not as experienced in extreme metal but I love extreme horror, so as much as every one of these stories had me open mouthed thinking wtf, I also enjoyed every minute of them 🫣😅

Every single one of these authors nailed it!! Not that I had any doubt they would!

Jonathan Butcher
Lesley A Camphouse
Ryan Danley
RJ Powell
Oscar Brady
R.E Shambrook
Klaus Kinion
Lucas Mangum

You guys ROCK 🤘🏼 Out on 1st October makesure to get this added to the list BUT CHECK THOSE TRIGGERS it’s a rough ride!! 🤯

[Ashley Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extreme metal in extreme horror? Fuck yes. And mannn, did it not dissapoint.
As with most anthologies, some stories stood out more than others. But overall every single one was very enjoyable and filled to the brim with gore. Blood, guts, body parts. Everywhere you look.

[Andrew Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the show! Are you ready to get brutal? 🤘 Put your hands together for our opening act, "Last Night's Gig" by Jonathan Butcher. A short, and hardcore story about a band, Scrotum Grenade. Known for their extreme, and wild stage shows. Though they have gotten a little tame, over the years. This reminded me of my very first concert, GWAR! Loved it! For our next act, "Lethal Cradle-Making Of A Hit Song" by Lesley A. Camphouse. A brutal story about a band that will do depraved things to add to the sound of their songs, including torture, and murder. The screams of pain and agony used as background to the music. How far will they go to become famous? This was savage! The visuals it left me with were stomach churning. Also, the highlight for me was the use of skin for guitar strings! Hitting the stage, give it up for, "Death To False Metal" by Ryan Danley. We follow ChronicEviscerator, a slam metal band who want to make it big. They end up making a deal with a man in a suit, and they are skyrocketed into the height of popularity. Bigger gigs, venues, shows. But, what will be the price for their new fame? I loved this! There were some really good twists, and turns in this one that made you look at things differently than most demonic, and apocalyptic tales. "The Pit" by RJ Powell, is warming up, and ready to melt your fuckin faces off! In this tale, we follow 3 friends who are attending a Churchgut show out in the middle of a cornfield. There has been a lot of buzz around this particular gig, and they are beyond excited! When they arrive, they notice what looks like a bottomless pit, right below the stage. The darkness in the pit begins to glow, as the band begins to play, but, the concertgoers are in an inexplicable trance, so it goes unnoticed. What is in the pit? What is this trance that has a deep hold over the masses? And, why is the lead singer chanting incantations? This was a wild ride! So much gore, and viscera! This was, also, one of the stories that follows the selling of your soul for fame at any cost. Full of amazingly violent acts. We have a new act tonight, guys! They started from practicing in their rented storage unit, and have come a long way to make it here to perform for you, tonight! Give it up for, "Youth Group" by Oscar Brady! A band of young boys, raised to be religious, are ridiculed for their shared love of metal music. In order to be able to practice with having to hear about it, they rented a storage unit, and, going by the band name, "Tinea Mortis", practice as much as they want. Miffed by their hatred for metal music, one of the boys wonders if they played some for the congregation of their church, if any would actually like it. Under the name, "Youth Group", they are allowed to show what they can do at church. Will they convert any of the religious crowd into metalheads? Will their plan work, or will they be in big, big trouble? So, this was my first Oscar Brady read, and, my god! Where do I start? This was vile! This story has a little of everything that will make your jaw drop. Unrelenting in the final part, and just so wildly gory, and depraved! I loved it! We are gonna take a short break before, "Twisted Cricket" by R.E. Shambrook start their set, guys! This story follows a groupie who has been to many Twisted Cricket shows, having fallen in love with the lead singer. At one of their shows, during her favorite song, they share a moment. After the performance, she is invited backstage, as well as her 3 friends. Backstage, the lead singer shows a lot of interest in her, as she hangs out with him, alone. The desire is undeniable. Could she be this lucky? Are her dreams about to come true? Or, will it be a nightmare? This story was great, but, also, very erotic. Not that there is anything wrong with erotic, it just caught me off guard. There is, still, definitely some gore in this nasty, sexy little story, though. Have to take time to show the groupies some love. Coming up, next, on what is left of the burnt remnants of the stage, "Mucus Plug Forever" by Klaus Kinion! We follow Wolfgang Kraft, number one fan of the band Mucus Plug, who is on trial for every depraved, vile, and disgusting thing you can imagine. The court is trying to blame his love of metal for his heinous acts, and decide to use his case to further their agenda on the ban of metal, claiming it brainwashed people into being members of a death cult. Wolfgang, defending himself, shows no remorse, and doesn't seem to care if he lives or dies. What will his sentence be? Will he get off? And, is he simply a killer, or something more? What is his purpose? This was a wild read! I love this inclusion of the religious battle to ban metal music through judicial means. This is something that is still kind of going on, today, but had started back in the 80's, during the satanic panic. I, also, love the idea of the cult. I didn't want to give away too much. Ladies, and gentlemen! For the first time in 30 years, the enigmatic, Gorestorm! "Death Metal Parking Lot" by Lucas Mangum. We follow 3 friends who are huge fans of the extreme death metal band, Gorestorm, and heard the buzz that they were having their first live show in a very long time. Once they arrive, they are in a crowd of other fans, but the band doesn't seem to be at the venue. Soon, growing restless, the crowd gets pissed, and demands money back, threatens to riot, and some leave. Finally, after a while, the band shows themselves, but, instead of being happy to see the elusive metal band, everyone may regret it! Full of some of the best gore I have read, this was a blast to read! It was a very creative twist on demonic slaughter, and sacrifice. That's the end of our show, tonight! Those of you who are still alive, thanks for coming out! I recommend this to people who love death metal, grindcore, slam metal and extreme horror, and splatterpunk!
5🤘/5🤘

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extreme Horror 🖤🤘🏼Extreme Metal

Rotten Requiems is not just a horror anthology. It’s a violent, unrelenting ride through some of the most brutal, twisted, and graphic corners of the genre. Imagine extreme horror colliding with the raw, unfiltered energy of metal—and you’re close to what this book delivers.

This book brings together eight of the most exciting voices in horror, each contributing a story that amps up the intensity to a level that few dare to go. The stories aren’t just full of gore—they embody the very essence of extremehorror. We’re talking about scenes where guitar strings are made from human flesh, and fans at concerts are transformed into violent killers by the music itself. It's as raw and unnerving as a live metal show where everything is pushed to the absolute limit.
The imagery is brutal and graphic, but it’s also creative and darkly captivating. Each story is like a track on a death metal album—fast, aggressive, and built around themes of possession, madness, and destruction. The horror here is unapologetic, showing the grotesque side of humanity in ways that’ll stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.

The stories pulse with the energy of metal music—intense, fast, and impossible to ignore. Whether it’s drug-fueled performances, demonic creatures, or twisted rituals, every tale in this anthology feels like a chaotic, sensory overload. It’s a heavy reading experience, one that demands your full attention and makes no apologies for its extremities.

[Evillllllyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rotten Requiems has to be the most blood soaked and BRUTAL metal anthology to ever exist. From death metal parking lots filled with sadistic killers to alien masses and evil demons. Every story hit hard with this powerhouse of authors!

[Hunny Vie · Rating 4 out of 5]

☠️ what the h3ll is this?!

I learned a big lesson... don't dive with your head first and in this case, blind-diving a book. I just did that and now I'm left with irreversible traumatic memories. Why didn't you read the TWs? 😂 Yup... I'm that impulsive and just that girl 😚👉🏻👈🏻.

I should probably do a little research on extreme metal, my lack of knowledge and experiences wouldn't do any justice to this story. BUT...this was extreme to the point I'm second guessing myself. Do I love this genre? Is this what I would like to read more? Am I enjoying this?

Honestly, with this extreme metal/horror, I finally found my limit (or not?). Would I be recommending this book? H3ll yeah 🤘🏻 but it came with serious WARNING :

⚠️ This is not for first time readers and a book to "dip your toes" in....
⚠️ All scenes were extremely gore and disturbing.
⚠️ Explicit activities.

[Philip]

2025 Book #28:
Rotten Requiems: Tales of Extreme Metal Mayhem (2025), edited by James Oliver

Brutally violent, psychopathic, and revolting stories from the grossest, most perverted corner of horror fiction (“extreme horror” or “splatterpunk”). These tales all share the common theme of metal music/culture, a topic in horror writing going back at least to the mid-1980s. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few pretty clear precursors to Rotten Requiems. On the literary side, seasoned horror readers may recall classic ‘80s stories by David J. Schow, John Skipp, and Craig Spector. (Skipp and Spector’s 1988 novel The Scream might be the paradigmatic combination of extreme horror and metal culture.) On the musical side, there’s the gruesome and transgressive lyrical content of death and black metal from the 1980s and ‘90s (and their sometimes equally unsettling album art). And while the idea of a musician “selling their soul to the devil” is a centuries-old meme, there have been several movies that have depicted the convergence of horror and metal specifically, from ‘80s B-movie fare like Trick or Treat (1986) to much more recent examples like Deathgasm (2015) and Studio 666 (2022 – starring one of the least metal bands, the Foo Fighters). All of these influences can be felt in the stories contained in this anthology. But are these extreme-horror tales any good? That depends on what your criteria are. I’ve never been entirely sure how to judge splatterpunk/extreme-horror writing, as it seems categorically different from a lot of what usually gets classified as horror literature. Extreme horror seems to have different criteria for success. To discuss only the most obvious difference: “fear” is almost never the emotion elicited by (nor, I think, intended by) splatterpunk stories. More traditional horror tends to focus on fear, obviously. A ghost story by M. R. James or a Lovecraft mythos tale is scary because so much is left in the dark; suspense and fear are generated by the unknown, the eerie, the sense of an agency exceeding the human but remaining incomprehensible. But I was never scared while reading this book, because nothing is left unknown. The affect that these writers seem to be going for is “disgust.” Literally nothing is off limits here. Every violation of the human body, every sexual taboo, every obscene scenario is depicted in excruciating detail, becoming a kind of bizarre carnival, a theater of abjection and cruelty. And if the criterion for success is how disgusting these stories are, then they absolutely work. As someone steeped in horror movies and books, I have almost no disgust reflex left, yet even my stomach churned at some of the descriptions in these stories. Thus, it’s hard to recommend Rotten Requiems to the average horror or metal fan. This is literature for a specialized audience of gore-hardened freaks, something that mainstream publishers would probably never touch. These stories are also not trying to be sophisticated or “deep” in any way. This doesn’t mean that extreme horror never aspires to depth. One need only point to older extreme-horror writers (think Clive Barker’s early work, or Poppy Z. Brite’s 1996 novel Exquisite Corpse) or writers of so-called “transgressive fiction” (Bataille, J. G. Ballard, Samuel Delany) to find the most grotesque, depraved horrors combined with beautiful prose and thematic complexity. What we have in Rotten Requiems, instead, is extremity as a kind of metal-themed gross-out contest, with each writer conjuring disgust the way a slasher hacks their victims – quickly and bluntly. And as is the case with many a low-budget slasher, the results can be entertaining as hell. I even found myself laughing out loud at just how absurd, goopy, and slapstick some of these stories were. If you already have a really sick sense of humor, then this book might be for you. If you’re looking for a focus on plot, then look elsewhere. At a surface level, Rotten Requiems never has a dull moment. But the stories’ paper-thin plots do get repetitive, often revolving around the well-worn trope of metal driving its listeners/performers mad, inducing demonic possession and psychotic, sexual, violent behavior. Having studied rock/metal reception-history in some depth, I’ve always found it interesting how this trope is embraced by both metal fans and detractors. The detractors (right-wing politicians, evangelical preachers, etc.) think that this shit literally happens at metal shows. The fans (myself included) usually love this trope because it captures something of metal’s sonic intensity and provocativeness at a metaphorical level. It can be a great tool for scaring away the stodgy moralists, for sure. Thankfully, the writers in this anthology are definitely in the fan category. Read at your own risk.

[SeveredTherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one comes out of the gate with what is probably one of the absolute best short stories I have ever read. I am fairly certain that I have never felt such revulsion while simultaneously laughing. So, very well done.

This collection also includes a story from Klaus Kinion, who wrote "Eternal Flower of Your Soul" (which is a phenomenally awesome book), not to mention put together by the man who wrote "Genital Rot." What more could you possibly want from an extreme horror anthology.

Why are you reading this review instead of spending your hard earned money to support these amazing authors?! Go on! Go! Buy the book!

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't for the faint of heart. If you're into extreme horror, splatterpunk, or anything that mixes music with 🩸 soaked chaos, you'll enjoyed this book. it's messy it's
violent and it's definitely memorable.

I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of Rotten Requiems: Tales of extreme metal mayhem this anthology is exactly what the title promises it's loud it's completely unhinged. Each story is absolutely well written. Some of them made me laugh. And others left me staring at the page like "what did I just read".

[Chris Alden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rotten Requiem is pure chaos — a blood-soaked fever dream where riffs and entrails fly in equal measure. It’s like someone took a grindcore album, fed it through a meat grinder, and printed the pages in gore.

Being a lover of both Metal & Splatterpunk/Extreme Horror; this was a match made in hell (because heaven doesn’t fit the vibe 😂😂)

From the first page, it’s clear this isn’t going to be subtle. The prose is filthy, fast, and full of attitude. Every story feels like it’s scored by blast beats and guttural screams. If you’re into Splatterpunk, this hits all the right notes — extreme violence, depraved characters, and zero apologies.

If you can get through the first chapter then you’re in for one hell of a ride.

A fantastic read and thanks again to Lesley Camphouse for sending me this as an ARC.

4⭐️

[Madame Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Rotten Requiems” Where extreme horror and heavy metal meet and have a baby that is being thrown into a blender.

★★★★☆ (4.5 I am once again asking for half stars Goodreads!)

Holy Hell! I mean I knew I was in for a wild ride. But there were moments where I audibly gasped, contorted my face and wish I could rinse my eyes with bleach.

These stories were sick and twisted and each one bloody original! You will need a strong stomach and check all your trigger warnings before you dive in, but if you’re a fan of both genres (Extreme Horror/Splatterpunk & Heavy Metal) you will not be disappointed!

Now go forth, be bloody awesome and get your hands on this novel, if you dare🤘🏻.

[Bigbookgeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when books pay passionate homage to a common theme, era, or passion, and this is just such a collection! Hardcore metal lovers will love this! People like me who enjoy the music but aren’t heavily infatuated with it will also get a lot out of the stories. These authors do not hold back. These are extreme and splatterpunk extraordinaire. Gross, intense, funny, this collection has it all!

[María Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

all the stories brought to you are completely and utterly disgusting, and we love them for that 😱
A compilation of metal gore and splatter 🫟
An anthology full of extreme metal horror indeed!

As always check your TW & CW cause there's a lot of everything!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this from Lesley A Camphouse

[Bianca Damhuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

There some stories that where really gruesome . But also some that weren’t. Overal a great read. I think some people would be shocked (in a good way) by the stories.

[William Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me just say, most of the stories here I enjoyed or found at least interesting. The problem with this book lies in a certain monotony in the theme. There are really interesting segments but blended together, there is a chug-chug-chug repetition to people dying at live shows in horrific ways.

Last Night’s Gig, Jonathan Butcher- this is the opening piece of the anthology and absolutely bonkers. My jaw literally dropped. It was just.. absurd. Fishhooks in a pee hole.

Lethal Cradle- Making of a hit song, Lesley A Camphouse- my second read by this author and I was really interested by this one as a concept. Think of Lords Of Chaos, that movie about the beginnings of the band Mayhem where they basically are having a completion to see who can be the most edgy. The difference is, they torture people for their hit song. Really cool concept and a great take on going viral.

Death to False Metal, Ryan Danley- a well dressed man named Legba approaches a Slam band. Turns out he’s the devil. Uh oh. Bad things happen. There’s a Pick of Destiny element to it that makes the story oddly hilarious

The PIT RJ POWell- a story about a band called Churchgut literally doing a show in a pit that forms in the middle of a cornfield. It’s a really cool description of mass crowd hysteria aka Woodstock 99.

Youth group, Oscar Brady- what the hell was even this.

Twisted Cricket, R.E. Shamrock - not what I expected, but it was nice seeing something with a unique narrator. It’s more erotic themed ( at first) then the others

Mucus Plug Forever, Klaus Kinion- is a trial of a mass murder, rapist, cannibal, etc. Totally unbelievable but not entertaining . The apex of the book. Words can’t explain

Death metal parking lot- I think a homage to the film with a similar name. By the point I’ve arrived at this story, the collection has gotten a bit monotonous, even though the skill of the authors is apparent.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minor Spoilers

You need to purchase this now if you're a headbanger, particularly if you fancy the grindcore or death metal genres. Each tale is a shredder: GWAR-like stage massacres, band members recording asylum patients to boost their fame, some slammers who sell their souls to god?, teens who turn up the volume and shake things up a bit for a reluctant group of church goers, a concert with children of the corn vibes, a courtroom bloodbath that involves needles and...a mucus plug sex cult, a backstage groupie who gets more than she bargains for when she meets her idol, and to wrap it all up, if you're a fan of the Strangers series, some doomed concergoers who must fight for their lives.

I hope I didn't miss anything. Oh yeah, there's also some bonus content. Be on the lookout for a playlist if you're looking for some recommendations, or want to revisit some classic tunes. And the host, James Oliver, moves things along in a polite and well-mannered way.

Writing extreme literature takes talent, but writing a flawless heavy metal anthology is practically unheard of. This will become a cult classic for the underground circuit like "The Light at the End" or "We Sold Our Souls."

[Dubs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Rotten Requiems
Genre: Extreme Horror
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gore level: 💀💀💀💀💀

First, I want to thank Lesley Camphouse for this ARC. You are the best!

OMG, how do I start this? This anthology is fun, disgusting, a total atrocity, and I loved every single word. 

James summoned a group of demons and put together a hellish book full of metal and gore, and I'm so glad about this because I'm a metalhead, so this is 100% the content that fuels my soul (don't tell my therapist, please).

Thanks to this anthology, I met new authors whose work I can't wait to read more of. I could go into extreme detail about each one of the stories, but you need to grab this book and go there, read it, and enjoy it from start to finish.

The only thing I'm going to say is this is brutal, this is extreme, this is dark. AND THIS IS FREAKING METAL! Proceed with caution.

Long live metal! 🤘

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ARC that I got from the queen herself Lesley A. Camphouse

This book was the most hardcore, demon filled fest I have ever read in my FUCKING life. I felt every story deep in my fucking soul it was soo metal soo extreme and it was such a fucking BLOODBATH haha little joke there.
The stories wrapped my dark soul from the moment I started reading, I felt like I was part of the crowds. And let me tell you if I could fucking SCREAM AT GOD I FUCKING WOULD.
Anyways please read this book because if amazing and hardcore and is like watching metalocalypse or Mr plickles episodes but in word form. I will never forget this read. And thanks to this book I have discovered some more amazing authors that write books in the genre that I LOVE!!!!

[Charles Belvideer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly three stars is rounding up. The last four stories in this collection are fantastic. A fun gory slip into terror. The first four? Udder trash. No plot not really going anywhere and just created to be gory and demented. Read or skip it. Either way the world keeps going and so will you.

[Oscar Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome, except for that weird Oscar Brady story. Skip that one, read the rest!