Black Metal? Norway? Yes Way!
September 5, 2007 5:24 PM Subscribe
Satan Rides the Media is a documentary about the Norwegian black metal scene and the notorious Varg Vikernes, founder of the one-man band, Burzum. In 1993, Vikernes was convicted for a series of church burnings and the murder of Øystein Aarseth a.k.a. Euronymous of the band Mayhem. Varg's crimes inspired both copycat arsons and the book Lords of Chaos, which led one book reviewer to make the claim that neoconservatism is totally black metal. But if that doesn't quench your thirst for demoniac documentaries, you can always check out the grindhouse flick Satanis, Anton Lavey in a kiddie promo clip to sell Satanism, and Geraldo Exploring Satan's Underground (Parts 1 and 2).
Satan dosen't even like metal. He likes Radiohead and the Arcade Fire.
posted by jonmc at 5:29 PM on September 5, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 5:29 PM on September 5, 2007 [2 favorites]
My take on the Scandinavian black metal scene is that it's a perfect example of what happens when you combine limited intelligence with pagan posturing in a mix with seasonal affective disorder.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:30 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:30 PM on September 5, 2007
jonp72: i got my 666th in a thread about Bon Scott, of AC/DC.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:31 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:31 PM on September 5, 2007
Exactly, all the violence and hellfire shit is metaphorical, guys. Have a beer and relax, Bjorn.
posted by jonmc at 5:31 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by jonmc at 5:31 PM on September 5, 2007
Hah! That's great. I wanted to include this youtube post to a documentary about Gogoroth, the "True Norwegian black metal band". I am SO not into black metal, but a friend of mine sent me this a few weeks back. Turns out the lead singer Ghaal still lives in the home he grew up in, without running water or electricity, in the middle of Bumblefuck, Norway. Crazy fuck, worth a watch. I would favorite you jonp72, but I don't roll like that. I'll let someone else do it.
posted by msali at 5:32 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by msali at 5:32 PM on September 5, 2007
(seriously, round the lot of them up, deport them to an island in the Caribbean, strip off all those pathetic Dungeons & Dragons outfits, sit em out on a beach to get some colour into their skin, supply 'em with some rum & spliffs, and they'll be singing sweet reggae tunes within a week)
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:37 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:37 PM on September 5, 2007
UbuRoivas, these are the adult versions of kids who were turned away from stuff like that (I speak as one-loser kids, not insane Satanist murderers), so the chances of that are kind of slim and that's kind of why they got into metal.
posted by jonmc at 5:42 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by jonmc at 5:42 PM on September 5, 2007
...founder of the one-man band...
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:44 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:44 PM on September 5, 2007
it's a perfect example of what happens when you combine limited intelligence with pagan posturing in a mix with seasonal affective disorder.
Because we all risk doing that every day, don't we?
I'd be inclined to agree with the BM bashing, and the Good Lord knows it's produced a lot of ambient wankfests, but it seems to me that De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is such a great record that I can let the whole genre off.
Also. I like to see a man running across a mountain-top miming a guitar solo. I just DO!
posted by howfar at 5:45 PM on September 5, 2007
Because we all risk doing that every day, don't we?
I'd be inclined to agree with the BM bashing, and the Good Lord knows it's produced a lot of ambient wankfests, but it seems to me that De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is such a great record that I can let the whole genre off.
Also. I like to see a man running across a mountain-top miming a guitar solo. I just DO!
posted by howfar at 5:45 PM on September 5, 2007
Lords of Chaos is one of the most entertaining books I've read. In equal parts shocking and hilarious. Actually maybe not equal parts, more like a stiff G&T if the shocking part is the tonic.
posted by ob at 5:46 PM on September 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ob at 5:46 PM on September 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
I meant to add: I look forward to watching this, they're all just so cuddly.
posted by ob at 5:48 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by ob at 5:48 PM on September 5, 2007
Thanks UbuRoivas I've seen that before, but it never ceases to make me titter.
posted by ob at 5:52 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by ob at 5:52 PM on September 5, 2007
(seriously, round the lot of them up, deport them to an island in the Caribbean, strip off all those pathetic Dungeons & Dragons outfits, sit em out on a beach to get some colour into their skin, supply 'em with some rum & spliffs, and they'll be singing sweet reggae tunes within a week)
Isn't that what paganism is all about - getting in tune with your natural surroundings?
posted by Demogorgon at 5:56 PM on September 5, 2007
Isn't that what paganism is all about - getting in tune with your natural surroundings?
posted by Demogorgon at 5:56 PM on September 5, 2007
these are the adult versions of kids who were turned away from stuff like that
You mean like Butters carrying his Professor Chaos persona into adult life after never quite fitting in with the other South Park kids, but compounding it with a serious meth habit because alcohol is too damned expensive where he lives?
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:01 PM on September 5, 2007
You mean like Butters carrying his Professor Chaos persona into adult life after never quite fitting in with the other South Park kids, but compounding it with a serious meth habit because alcohol is too damned expensive where he lives?
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:01 PM on September 5, 2007
I meant to add: I look forward to watching this, they're all just so cuddly.
posted by ob at 8:48 PM on September 5
The guys in UbuRovias's post are ridiculous, by Varg is a problem. He escaped from prison and was later caught in a with guns and explosives. He's adopted some kind of neo-pagan racial identity that has so inspired the worst kinds of people that there are seven tribute albums dedicated to Varg's one man band Burzum, a few by national socialist black metal bands.
This guy is a very negative inspiration to very many disturbed and troubled people. He's a nutball, fo sure, but so are many other famous idolized dead people.
posted by Pastabagel at 6:05 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by ob at 8:48 PM on September 5
The guys in UbuRovias's post are ridiculous, by Varg is a problem. He escaped from prison and was later caught in a with guns and explosives. He's adopted some kind of neo-pagan racial identity that has so inspired the worst kinds of people that there are seven tribute albums dedicated to Varg's one man band Burzum, a few by national socialist black metal bands.
This guy is a very negative inspiration to very many disturbed and troubled people. He's a nutball, fo sure, but so are many other famous idolized dead people.
posted by Pastabagel at 6:05 PM on September 5, 2007
It's more comparable to gangster rap, where arguments over who's "real" often escalate into demonstrations of violence as rappers strain to prove their street credibility. Substitute evil for street cred and there you have it.
The unfortunate fact is that Don't Break the Oath and Under the Sign of the Black Mark are both far creepier records, with or without brain fragments spattered on their covers.
posted by The Straightener at 6:10 PM on September 5, 2007
The unfortunate fact is that Don't Break the Oath and Under the Sign of the Black Mark are both far creepier records, with or without brain fragments spattered on their covers.
posted by The Straightener at 6:10 PM on September 5, 2007
Pastabagel. I don't buy it. Yeah, he's an immature, racist (or faux racist, depending on who you listen to), murderous piece of shit. An "inspiration"? "Disturbed and troubled" people can always find inspiration. We might as well crease our brows about the existence of the Bible, Sgt. Pepper, Ulysses, Rambo or In Cold Blood. Or none of them. For sure, screw Christian Vikernes, but let's not get our bleeding heart knickers in a knot pretending that he is a "problem".
posted by howfar at 6:16 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by howfar at 6:16 PM on September 5, 2007
Yeah I was especially referring to Varg when I said that they were cuddly. Obviously I wasn't being totally serious...
posted by ob at 6:29 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by ob at 6:29 PM on September 5, 2007
the gorgoroth doc is pretty cool so far. thanks for the link msali. its way more interesting than the mini black metal documentary that was made with the 'headbangers journey'.
posted by fuzzypantalones at 6:40 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by fuzzypantalones at 6:40 PM on September 5, 2007
Vikernes is one of those guys that in spite of his stupid "ideology" and Satanist posturing managed to produce some musical gems, Filosofem being one of them. Dunkelheit is one of my favourite songs ever. RaHoWa's "Ode to a Dying People" is another guilty pleasure (George Burdi of RaHoWa has quit racism now and remade the song as a tribute to "the human race"). Sometimes it really IS the case that musicians should probably keep their opinions to themselves and concentrate on making music. Kind of like the Dixie Chicks in reverse or something.
posted by L.P. Hatecraft at 8:52 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by L.P. Hatecraft at 8:52 PM on September 5, 2007
This makes me glad I've always stuck to a little Swedish Death Metal instead when I need that sort of thing. Death metal, despite the name, seems to contain much less actual death than black metal.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 9:53 PM on September 5, 2007
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 9:53 PM on September 5, 2007
It must be terribly difficult to shock your parents in Norway.
*watches Gorgoroth doc*
I didn't know there were Scandinavian hillbillies. That's kinda comforting. The up-with-whitey satanic bullshit, less so.
Haven't satanists figured out yet that directly engaging the enemy simply mobilizes their forces against you? The way to take them down is not to engage them publicly, but to seduce them, privately.
(TOCTim: I agree. At least some of them have a sense of humor).
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:03 PM on September 5, 2007
*watches Gorgoroth doc*
I didn't know there were Scandinavian hillbillies. That's kinda comforting. The up-with-whitey satanic bullshit, less so.
Haven't satanists figured out yet that directly engaging the enemy simply mobilizes their forces against you? The way to take them down is not to engage them publicly, but to seduce them, privately.
(TOCTim: I agree. At least some of them have a sense of humor).
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:03 PM on September 5, 2007
Varg has a website website...well his polish white power friends do.
I find the jailhouse cultural mytho-poetics charming somehow. But I have a soft spot of crank views on pre-history.
posted by geos at 5:58 AM on September 6, 2007
As i watched the documentary i was shocked. It's the first time i see Virkernes and Aarseth without make-up and they look like skinny nerds.
Back in the day when i was reading about them in the metal press, seeing badly lit picture of them in make-up they seemed like huge terrifying dudes.
posted by SageLeVoid at 9:53 AM on September 6, 2007
Back in the day when i was reading about them in the metal press, seeing badly lit picture of them in make-up they seemed like huge terrifying dudes.
posted by SageLeVoid at 9:53 AM on September 6, 2007
Exactly, all the violence and hellfire shit is metaphorical, guys.
Sure, in the same way that all the peace and heaven shit in gospel is metaphorical. Which is to say: yes, in a way, but not really.
posted by vorfeed at 11:42 AM on September 6, 2007
Sure, in the same way that all the peace and heaven shit in gospel is metaphorical. Which is to say: yes, in a way, but not really.
posted by vorfeed at 11:42 AM on September 6, 2007
It's a trick to just count all the Tolkien inspired names.
posted by taursir at 10:17 PM on September 6, 2007
posted by taursir at 10:17 PM on September 6, 2007
I think I just took 666
posted by Lusy P Hur at 2:06 PM on September 8, 2007
posted by Lusy P Hur at 2:06 PM on September 8, 2007
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posted by jonp72 at 5:25 PM on September 5, 2007 [1 favorite]