Check out another text written by one of our WikiBrothers:

The most famous occultist in the Heavy Metal scene is certainly Aleister Crowley; Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, and others have used his writings as themes for songs

by Juninho

Before beginning this text, it's important to clarify a few points. All of us who follow Wikimetal can see the power trio's (Daniel Dystiler, Nando Machado, and Rafael Masini) stance regarding the constant search for interesting content, respecting the headbanger and avoiding offensive statements that could generate unproductive controversy or personal discomfort. This is the spirit that will be adopted in the paragraphs below.

I write this because any mere mention of the words occultism and Satanism can stir up strong emotions in many people. Therefore, I reiterate from the outset that the information discussed here has absolutely no pejorative intent or doctrinal bias. As we will see, major and serious Heavy Metal bands frequently address this subject simply because of its mystical and thought-provoking themes. The intention is certainly not to gain more followers for the devil's army.

But what exactly are occultism and Satanism ?

Occultism is not a religion. The set of characteristics that define occultism is essentially related to supernatural phenomena. For occultists, the word "occult" refers to unrevealed or secret knowledge. In a roughly summarized way, the student of occultism seeks to understand the entire universe, based on the postulate of the existence of a single supernatural source from which all religions, both monotheistic and pantheistic, originated. It is because of this close relationship with religions that many mistakenly label occultism as just another one of them.

The practice of alchemy has always been explored by occultists. These individuals, often called magicians, ended up being stereotyped as witches in the Middle Ages. Imagine, in that era of intense Catholic repression, a person incessantly dedicating themselves to reading complex books full of symbols and, on top of that, occasionally poring over hot cauldrons trying to study little-known chemical reactions. It is thanks to this curiosity, very present among occultists, that the development of contemporary science (chemistry, physics, and even modern medicine) is due. When we objectively analyze the historical aspect, occultism ceases to be so sinister, doesn't it?

The most famous occultist in the Rock/Heavy Metal scene is undoubtedly Aleister Crowley. Many use him and his writings as themes for songs: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Iron Maiden, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Bruce Dickinson, Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, Raul Seixas (among others I can't recall at the moment). The relationship between this occultist's work and each artist who uses it as creative inspiration could fill an entire book. I'll cite Jimmy Page as just one example; he studied Crowley's work deeply and even bought his mansion in Scotland.

Unlike occultism, Satanism as practiced today is a religion, but things weren't always that way. Its definitive establishment as a belief occurred mainly in the Middle Ages, but its origins are older, believed to be around 1000 BC, during the structuring period of the Jewish kingdom. Original Satanism was initially a philosophy that preached individual freedom, the pursuit of happiness and human pleasure. It strongly contradicted the dogmas and moral principles of the Hebrew theocratic kingdom, so the term Satanism was used by Abrahamic religions to designate practices considered opposed to those of their god and, therefore, opposed to the state that was being structured. The term Satan in Hebrew means adversary or opponent and expanded among Muslims and Christians, that is, it spread among various cultures.

Satanic philosophical doctrine also went against the control exercised by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages and, obviously, its followers were persecuted and accused of heresy. Now I ask you, what was the main heresy chosen as an accusation by Catholicism at that time? Exactly: devil worship. The effectiveness of the Catholic argument, coupled with the endless persecution promoted by the Church, was certainly decisive in inextricably linking the religious aspect of Satanism to the philosophical aspect. These facts were definitive for the existence of Satanism in the form in which it is practiced today, especially by the followers of its best-known contemporary exponent, Anton Szandor LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan.

References to Satanist philosophy in Heavy Metal are also frequent. The use of demonic imagery, pentagrams, hedonistic themes, black and red colors, etc., are present in virtually all subgenres of Heavy Metal. The figure of the devil in Metal is used as a symbol of transgression, of freedom, just as in the original Satanist philosophy (that of around 1000 BC, when Satanism was not yet a specific religion).

It's very easy to oversimplify things by stating that occultism and Satanism lead to damnation and that any mere reference to these topics can determine an eternity of post-mortem suffering. However, reading, studying, and understanding the entire historical perspective behind topics that stimulate the imagination of any intelligent person is always more difficult.

Fortunately, we Heavy Metal lovers are among those who seek the most difficult paths. As Celso Barbieri said in episodes 29 and 30 of the podcast, "you need to be prepared to listen to Heavy Metal," and this undoubtedly includes study and research. It's impossible to listen to, for example, Revelations or Stairway to Heaven for the first time and understand the full meaning of these songs. But, let's face it, the subsequent effort of seeking information that helps us enjoy our albums even more is well worth it.
Friends: study Heavy Metal!

Interesting fact: next year, anthropologist and Wikibrother Sam Dunn is scheduled to release a new film about the history behind Satan's origins, his current situation, and his influence on Heavy Metal.

Hugs to all.
\,,/
Juninho

*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.

Click here to see other texts by WikiBrother Juninho.