Defenders of the Faith: The Heavy Metal Photography of Peter Beste

Defenders of the Faith is a collection of heavy metal photography by the artist Peter Beste. These deluxe full color art books are all hardcover and embossed. To celebrate the release we have limited edition battle vest starter packs. The religious ferocity of Heavy Metal fandom is one of the most fervent in the history of subculture. The display of this fervor has been channeled and distilled throughout time into one sacred object: the battle vest. Often referred to as the Kutten (German for monk’s robe), the battle vest serves a multitude of purposes: as a musical CV, a badge of authenticity, a creative practice of identity, and a fashion statement. Defenders of the Faith documents the timeless and universal concept of fandom through the elevation of the battle vests, revering them beyond the sweaty bodies they adorn and the mosh pits they live in, to the status of religious artifact. Photographer Peter Beste has been documenting subcultures for over 20 years. His first book True