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

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. Photographer Peter Beste’s Defenders of the Faith (Sacred Bones) documents the timeless and universal concept of fandom through the elevation of the battle vest.