Text written by WikiBrother Lucas David
When discussing rock music, various topics can branch out from the subject, and in many cases, they intersect with society, either using it as an example or creating something that contributes to the study of group life. Black metal , not only as a musical genre, for example, but as a style, its history, and the thoughts of the people involved, can be used as a subject of scientific study when we approach, in fields that enable and present the necessary tools for analysis, the entire world surrounding one of the most extreme and well-known musical genres.
Numerous accounts have already taken this perspective when attempting to explain events such as those that occurred in Norway in the 1990s, where True Norwegian Black Metal , such as the documentaries Until The Light Takes Us and Satan Rides The Media , as well as the book Lords of Chaos . I highlighted these three because they were the objects of study I was able to use to write an article for college, analyzing, as a journalist, the emergence of the style and how the media reacted to events such as murders and church burnings.
For those unfamiliar with the aforementioned products, the documentaries explore the music beyond the album covers and screeching guitars, showing how the media created a satanic scene that often didn't exist, and how this often sensationalized focus ended up influencing people to commit crimes related to the scene. There is also a more artistic approach to the subject, particularly in Until The Light… which tells the story, ideology, and aesthetics of Norwegian black metal, being one of the few to truly shed light on a movement that until then was shrouded in darkness and rumors and obscured by inaccurate and superficial representations. Featuring exclusive interviews with musicians and a wealth of rare footage from the early days of the Inner Circle , the film explores all aspects of the movement. He makes good use of the resources to show the vision of the people who made, live and breathe the art of black metal, showing, at a certain moment, a somewhat bizarre performance by the musician Kjetil “Frost” Haraldstad , who in a space surrounded by candles gives a powerful performance, cutting himself and letting out screams.
In both films, as well as in the book, Varg Vikernes is prominently featured, clearly demonstrating the influence that the Count (as Varg was called at one point in his life) had on the scene, not only in Norway, but also in Germany, Finland, France, and even the United States. His significant influence on certain crimes is notable; some are erroneously linked to black metal, but others are committed by people genuinely connected to the scene, even bands without any released recordings, such as the "band" Necropolis . They used black metal imagery and the teachings of the scene to commit the crimes.
One very important point to highlight is the image of Varg Vikernes. Even though he is used as a source for numerous works, in addition to those cited in this article, he is still a criminal who was convicted of burning churches (even though he maintains his innocence to this day) and the murder of Mayhem , Euronymous . His entire "master" aura and the accusations against him are well-founded, and on several occasions his statements are laden with prejudice and his political extremism is condemned by many, since, in a news article published on Wikimetal The Intercept website had access to a list that identifies "dangerous organizations," a list that includes Varg and his band, Burzum , along with the bands Absurd , Aryan Blood , and Legion of Doom .
Each media outlet created a way of approaching the topic, focusing on the music, the actions, or the sensationalist aspects. Therefore, when analyzing the aforementioned records, we observe and reaffirm how each one is capable of creating an alternative reality according to their point of view.
Understanding how productions have addressed the topic, as well as the perceptions of those involved in the scene, also helps to understand how a movement can cause such a stir and be remembered to this day, seeking to bring it to a wider audience and to those who have never heard anything about True Norwegian Black Metal.
*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.
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