Early Norwegian black metal scene
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The early Norwegian black metal scene of the 1990s is credited with shaping the modern black metal genre and producing some of the most acclaimed and influential artists in extreme metal.
The scene had a distinct ethos, and its core members referred to themselves as "The Black Circle" or "Black Metal Inner Circle." This group consisted of men who congregated at the record shop Helvete ("Hell") in Oslo. In interviews, they expressed anti-Christian and misanthropic views, presenting themselves as a cult-like group of militant Satanists intent on spreading terror, hatred, and evil. They adopted pseudonyms and appeared in photographs adorned with "corpse paint" and wielding medieval weaponry. The scene was exclusive, creating boundaries around itself and incorporating only those it deemed "true" or committed.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Musical integrity was paramount, and artists sought to maintain black metal's underground status.
In August 1993, several of its members were arrested, and in May 1994, they were convicted of arson, murder, assault, and possession of explosives, most notably Varg Vikernes for the murder of Euronymous. Most showed no remorse for their actions at the time. Some Norwegian media referred to them as "Satanic terrorists," and one Norwegian TV channel interviewed a woman who claimed that Satanists had sacrificed her child and killed her dog.<ref name=grude>Template:Cite video</ref> The early Norwegian black metal scene has since been the subject of numerous books and documentaries.
Ideology
The Norwegian black metal scene was vehemently opposed to Christianity and organized religion as a whole. In interviews during the early 1990s, Euronymous and other members of the scene portrayed themselves as militant misanthropic devil worshippersTemplate:SfnTemplate:Better source needed who sought to spread hatred, sorrow, and evil. They criticized the Church of Satan for being too "humane."Template:Sfn The theistic Satanism they advocated was an inversion of Christianity.Template:Sfn Euronymous was the key figure behind this ideology.Template:Sfn<ref name=olson27 />Template:Better source needed He professed to support totalitarianism and to oppose compassion, peace, happiness, and fun.<ref name=killyourself>Lahdenpera, Esa. "Northern Black Metal Legends". In: Kill Yourself, no. 2, August 1993. Retrieved 30 January 2013.</ref> When asked why such statements were made to the press, Ihsahn of Emperor stated, "I think that was very much to create fear among people."Template:Sfn He added that the scene "wanted to be in opposition to society" and "tried to concentrate more on just being 'evil' than having a real Satanic philosophy."Template:Sfn Vikernes claimed that the reason they professed to advocate "evil" was to provoke.Template:Sfn
According to the book Lords of Chaos, many who knew Euronymous claim that "the extreme Satanic image he projected was, in fact, just that – a projection which bore little resemblance to his real personality."Template:Sfn Those making this assertion include Necrobutcher,<ref>Patterson, Dayal. Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult. Feral House, 2013. p.155</ref> Kjetil Manheim,<ref name=purefucking /> Vikernes,<ref name=untilthelight /> and BlackthornTemplate:Sfn (the latter two were convicted for his murder). Faust stated that with Euronymous, "there was a lot of smoke but not so much fire."<ref name=guardian /> Mortiis, however, asserted that Euronymous "was such a devil worshipper you wouldn't believe it,"<ref>Christe, Ian. Sound of the Beast: the Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. New York: Harper Collins, 2004.</ref> while Metalion, who had known Euronymous since 1985Template:Sfn and considered him his best friend,Template:Sfn remarked that Euronymous "was always telling what he thought... worshipping death and being extreme."Template:Sfn Regarding other members of the scene, Samuel Fridh suggests that there is no evidence to support their early claims of being devil worshippers,<ref>Fridh, Samuel. Satan: The Perfect Man: A Symbol and Gender Analysis of Satanism in Black Metal. University of Gothenburg, 2010. p. 7.</ref> and Leif A. Lier, who led the police investigation following Euronymous's death, stated that he and his team had not encountered a single Satanist.<ref name=grude /> Faust remarked that "for some people it [Satanism] was bloody serious, but to a lot of them it was all a big hype."Template:Sfn
In retrospect, Metalion reflected, "In the past, people just wrote about Satan, but now people meant it. I believe it was serious—maybe not all the Satanism, but definitely the approach to the music and the lifestyle. It was certainly more destructive than metal had been in the past."<ref>Kristiansen, p. 222.</ref> Tenebris from the Misanthropic Luciferian Order, a Swedish Satanic order, noted that the Norwegian scene "meant a lot as long as it lasted. Back then, in 1991, things mainly concerned black metal and ideological Satanism (not so much practical Satanism, but anyway...)... It grew quickly to become a sort of black metal army... and kind of stood and fell with Euronymous and his shop. Therefore, it vanished with his death in '93... Sadly enough, many people involved at the time betrayed their ideals and lost their interest when things fell apart. Like it was nothing more than a hype of temporary nature."<ref>"MLO. Misantropiska Lucifer Orden". In Jon Kristiansen, Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries. Bazillion Points Books 2011, p. 551.</ref>
Regarding the term "black metal," Euronymous stated that it applies to any heavy metal band that identifies as theistic Satanists and writes Satanic lyrics.<ref name=killyourself /> Such notions were echoed by other members of the scene, including Faust.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> At the time, bands with a style akin to Norwegian black metal but lacking Satanic lyrics tended to use alternative terms to describe their music.<ref name=halupczok>Halupczok, Marc. "Waldschrate & Met-Trinker". In: Metal Hammer. March 2010. p. 30.</ref><ref name=enslavedfrost>Enslaved: Frost. Osmose Productions 1994.</ref><ref name=nordicmetal>Various artists: Nordic Metal – A Tribute to Euronymous. Necropolis Records 1995.</ref>
Some bands within the scene were intrigued by pre-Christian Norway and its traditions, and there was an undercurrent of romantic nationalism present. Additionally, some scene members engaged with Nazi imagery, primarily as a means of provocation.Template:SfnTemplate:Better source needed In a private letter written in the early 1990s, Euronymous asserted that "almost all" Norwegian black metal bands at the time were "more or less Nazis."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He expressed an interest in totalitarian communist states, claiming he wished to see people "rot under communist dictatorship."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Origins
During the 1980s, black metal was a loose collective of a few heavy metal bands that shared Satanic lyrics; however, most of the "first wave" bands employed Satanism primarily for shock value.Template:Sfn
Mayhem's debut EP Deathcrush (1987) was one of the most influential releases from the first wave of black metal, largely founding the early Norwegian black metal scene.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The band drew on the influence of the first wave of black metal such as Hellhammer, Venom and Bathory, the punk of Amebix, GBH, Discharge and the Misfits,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as well as more experimental groups like Tangerine Dream and Pink Floyd.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the book Lords of Chaos, Mayhem were credited as the band who combined the influence of the disparate styles of black metal's first wave and created the style that is understood as black metal today.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1988, the band hired vocalist Per "Dead" Ohlin of the Swedish band Morbid.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Dead wore corpse paint, black and white makeup to achieve a ghastly appearance. According to Mayhem bassist Necrobutcher, "it wasn't anything to do with the way Kiss and Alice Cooper used makeup. Dead actually wanted to look like a corpse. He didn't do it to look cool."<ref name=guardian/> This would go on to become a hallmark of the Norwegian black metal scene.<ref name=murdermusicvideo>Template:Cite video</ref> Dead would also bury his stage clothes and dig them up to wear on concert nights.<ref name=purefucking/><ref name=onceuponatime/>
Other first wave Norwegian black metal bands included Old Funeral (formed in 1988),<ref name="allmusic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Stigma Diabolicum (formed in 1989 and later changed their name to Thorns)<ref name="a5">Thorns: Stigma Diabolicum (A5 Leatherbook version), Kyrck Productions 2007.</ref> and Mortem (formed in 1989).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayhem guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth and Snorre "Blackthorn" Ruch of Thorns developed a style of riffing where guitarists played full chords utilising all the strings of the guitar instead of relying on power chords, which typically use only two or three strings, which would become a key element of the subsequent waves of black metal.<ref name=guardian>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=decibel>Template:Cite book</ref>
Dead's suicide
On 8 April 1991, Mayhem vocalist and lyricist Per Yngve Ohlin, known by the stage name "Dead," committed suicide with a shotgun while alone in a house shared by the band.<ref name=onceuponatime /><ref name=purefucking>Template:Cite video</ref> Fellow musicians described Dead as odd, introverted, and depressed. For performances, he made himself look like a corpse and engaged in self-harm while performing.<ref name=guardian /><ref name=thetruemayhem.com>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dead was discovered by Mayhem guitarist Euronymous with his wrists and throat slit and a gunshot wound to his forehead. Before calling the police, Euronymous took a camera and photographed the body after rearranging some items.<ref name="untilthelight">Template:Cite video</ref><ref name=onceuponatime />Template:Sfn One of these photographs was later used as the cover of a bootleg live album: Dawn of the Black Hearts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Euronymous exploited Dead's suicide to enhance Mayhem's "evil" image, claiming that Dead had killed himself because black metal had become "trendy" and commercialized.Template:Sfn He created necklaces purportedly made from fragments of Dead's skull and distributed them to musicians he considered worthy.Template:Sfn<ref name=soundsofdeath>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Metal Hammer writer Enrico Ahlig cited the notoriety of the event as beginning the second wave of black metal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayhem bassist Jørn 'Necrobutcher' Stubberud noted, "people became more aware of the black metal scene after Dead had shot himself [...]; I think it was Dead's suicide that really changed the scene."<ref>Unrestrained magazine #15: Necrobutcher interview Template:Webarchive</ref> The suicide caused a rift between Euronymous and some of his friends, particularly Necrobutcher, who were disgusted by his attitude towards Dead.<ref name=onceuponatime /> Some claimed Euronymous "went into a fantasy world" and "tried to be as extreme as he had talked about."<ref name=onceuponatime />
The months following the event saw the formation of Norwegian black metal bands Arcturus, Burzum, Carpathian Forest, Emperor, Enslaved, Immortal, Mysticum, Satyricon, Hades Almighty and Gorgoroth. Many of the musicians in these acts had previously been members of death metal bands, while other bands such as Darkthrone instead changed their sound from death metal to black metal.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Two other members of the scene would later commit suicide: Erik 'Grim' Brødreskift (of Immortal, Borknagar, Gorgoroth) in 1999<ref>MusicMight: Biography of Immortal Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Espen 'Storm' Andersen (of Strid) in 2001.<ref>Ravn: Strid. In: Slayer, No. 20, Blood Fire Death, 2010, p. 78.</ref>
Helvete and the "Black Circle"
Mayhem guitarist Euronymous was "the central figure involved in the formation of the Norwegian black metal scene,"<ref name=olson27>Template:Cite thesis</ref>Template:Better source needed which he "almost single-handedly founded."Template:Sfn During May–June 1991,Template:Sfn he opened a record shop called Helvete<ref name=euronymousinterview>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (Norwegian for "Hell"). The shop was located at Schweigaards gate 56 in Oslo. Norwegian black metal musicians often gathered at the shop and in its basement. These included members of Mayhem, members of Emperor, Varg "Count Grishnackh" Vikernes of Burzum, and "Blackthorn" of Thorns. Euronymous also established an independent record label called Deathlike Silence Productions, which was based at Helvete. This label released albums by Norwegian bands Mayhem and Burzum, Swedish bands Merciless and Abruptum, and a Japanese band Sigh. Euronymous, Varg,<ref name=untilthelight /> and Emperor guitarist Tomas "Samoth" Haugen<ref name=christe>Template:Cite book</ref> lived in the shop at various times. Emperor drummer Bård "Faust" Eithun also lived and worked there.<ref name=guardian /><ref name=untilthelight /> The shop's walls were painted black and adorned with medieval weapons, posters of bands, and picture discs, while its window featured a polystyrene tombstone.<ref name=guardian />
During its operation, Helvete served as the focal point of the Norwegian black metal scene. Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen, the writer of the fanzine Slayer, stated that the opening of Helvete marked "the creation of the whole Norwegian Black Metal scene."Template:Sfn Daniel Ekeroth noted in 2008:
The individuals who gathered at Helvete have been referred to as the "Black Circle" or "Black Metal Inner Circle," a term allegedly coined by Euronymous.<ref name=untilthelight /> Euronymous portrayed the "Black Circle" as an organized, cult-like group of militant Satanists, with activities funded by his record shop. A 1993 article in Kerrang! described them as "Satanic terrorists."Template:Sfn Faust later remarked that it was "just a name that was invented for the people who hung around the shop... there wasn't anything like members and membership cards and official meetings."Template:Sfn Similarly, in his review of Lucifer Rising, Varg Vikernes claimed, "The so-called 'Black Circle' was something Euronymous made up because he wanted to make people believe there was such a thing, but it was nonsense and never existed. The media, on the other hand, believed it existed for a while, but quickly stopped talking about it when they understood it was a fake rumor."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
According to Stian "Occultus" Johansen, the space that Euronymous rented "was far too big and the rent was too high. That's the reason why it never did well." Only a small part of the building was utilized for the shop itself.Template:Sfn Euronymous closed Helvete in early 1993 when it began to attract the attention of the police and media. The store has since reopened under the name Neseblod Records, in the same location but with significantly less floor space.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> ('Neseblod' is Norwegian for 'nosebleed'.) Many of the original artifacts still remain, and the store also identifies as a "black metal museum."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The site was damaged by fire on 9 April 2024, resulting in the evacuation of nearby residences.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Church arsons and attempts
In 1992, members of the Norwegian black metal scene initiated a wave of arson attacks on Christian churches. By 1996, there had been at least 50 attacks in Norway;<ref name=grude /><ref name=euronymousinterview /> in every case that was solved, those responsible were identified as black metal fans.Template:Sfn Some of the targeted buildings were hundreds of years old and regarded as significant historical landmarks. The first was Norway's Fantoft Stave Church, which was reduced to ashes in June 1992. Authorities believe Varg Vikernes of Burzum was responsible,<ref name=grude /> and the cover of Burzum's EP Aske ("ashes") features a photograph of the destroyed church.<ref name=Fantoft /> On 16 May 1994,<ref name="Count Regrets Nothing">Template:"'Count' Regrets Nothing" Template:Webarchive. Burzum.org</ref> Vikernes was found guilty of burning down the Holmenkollen Chapel, Skjold Church, and Åsane Church.Template:Sfn<ref name=untilthelight /> Additionally, he was convicted of an attempted arson of a fourth church and for the theft and storage of 150 kg of explosives.Template:Sfn Members of the Swedish black metal scene began burning churches as well in 1993.Template:Sfn
To coincide with the release of Mayhem's De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, Vikernes and Euronymous allegedly plotted to bomb the Nidaros Cathedral, which appears on the album cover.<ref name=onceuponatime>Template:Cite video</ref> The musicians Faust,Template:Sfn Samoth,Template:Sfn (both of Emperor), and Jørn Inge Tunsberg (of Hades Almighty)Template:Sfn<ref name="grude" /> were also convicted of church arsons. Those convicted of church burnings expressed no remorse and described their actions as a symbolic "retaliation" against Christianity in Norway.Template:Sfn Mayhem drummer Hellhammer stated he had called for attacks on mosques and Hindu temples, arguing that they were more foreign.Template:Sfn Today, opinions regarding the church burnings vary within the black metal community. Many musicians, singers, and songwriters from the early Norwegian black metal scene, such as Infernus and Gaahl of Gorgoroth, continue to praise the church burnings, with the latter asserting, "there should have been more of them, and there will be more of them."<ref name="sam">Template:Cite video</ref> Conversely, others, such as Necrobutcher and Kjetil Manheim of Mayhem and Abbath of Immortal,<ref name=sam /> view the church burnings as ultimately futile. Manheim claimed that many arsons were "just people trying to gain acceptance" within the black metal scene.<ref name=onceuponatime /> Watain vocalist Erik Danielsson acknowledged respect for the attacks but commented on those responsible: "the only Christianity they defeated was the last piece of Christianity within themselves. Which is a very good beginning, of course."<ref name=blackmetalsatanica>Black Metal Satanica, 2008.</ref>
The following is a partial list of church arsons:
1992
- 23 May: attempted burning of Storetveit Church in Bergen Municipality.Template:Sfn
- 6 June: burning of Fantoft Stave Church in Bergen MunicipalityTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn – Varg Vikernes is strongly suspected as the culprit but was not convicted.Template:Sfn
- 1 August: burning of Revheim Church in Stavanger Municipality.Template:Sfn
- 21 August: burning of Holmenkollen Chapel in Oslo MunicipalityTemplate:Sfn – Varg Vikernes and Faust were convicted for this; Euronymous also participated but was murdered in August 1993.<ref name=untilthelight /><ref name=onceuponatime /><ref>Kristiansen, p. 261.</ref>
- 1 September: burning of Ormøya Church in Oslo Municipality.Template:Sfn
- 13 September: burning of Skjold Church in Vindafjord MunicipalityTemplate:Sfn – Varg Vikernes and Samoth were convicted for this.
- 3 October: burning of Hauketo Church in Oslo Municipality.Template:Sfn
- 24 December: burning of Åsane Church in Bergen Municipality<ref name=grude /> – Varg Vikernes and Jørn Inge Tunsberg were convicted for this.<ref name=grude />
- 25 December: burning of a Methodist church in Sarpsborg Municipality<ref name=grude /> – a firefighter was killed while fighting this fire.<ref name=grude />
1993
- 7 February: burning of Lundby New Church in Gothenburg, Sweden.Template:Sfn
1994
- 13 March: burning of Sund Church in Sund Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 27 March: burning of Seegård Church in Gjøvik Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 16 May: attempted burning of Gol Stave Church in Gol Municipality, Buskerud.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 17 May: attempted burning of Åmodt Chapel in Buskerud.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 4 June: burning of Frogn Church in Drøbak.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 19 June: attempted burning of Heni Church in Gjerdrum Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 7 July: burning of a church in Jeløy Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 21 July: attempted burning of Odda Church in Odda Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 13 August: attempted burning of Loop Chapel in Meldal Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 10 December: attempted burning of Åkra Church in Karmøy Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 22 December: attempted burning of Askim Church in Askim Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
- 26 December: attempted burning of Klemetsrud Church in Oslo Municipality.<ref name=dnk1994 />
1995
- 13 May: burning of Lord Church in Telemark.<ref name=dnk1995>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 25 May: burning of Såner Church in Vestby Municipality.<ref name=dnk1995 />
- 14 June: burning of Moe Church in Sandefjord Municipality.<ref name=dnk1995 />
- 21 July: attempted burning of a church college in Porsgrunn Municipality.<ref name=dnk1995 />
- 3 September: attempted burning of Vågsbygd Church college in Kristiansand Municipality.<ref name=dnk1995 />
- 3 November: burning of Innset Church in Rennebu Municipality.<ref name=dnk1995 />
Murder of Magne Andreassen
On 21 August 1992, Bård "Faust" Eithun murdered Magne Andreassen, a gay man, in Lillehammer.Template:Sfn According to Faust, while walking home at night, a man made a sexual advance toward him, and Faust agreed to walk with him to the Olympic park.Template:Sfn Once in the woods, Faust stabbed Andreassen 37 times,Template:Sfn then proceeded to kick him in the head repeatedly as he laid on the ground.Template:Sfn
Faust claimed that he felt no remorse at the time.Template:Sfn In the late 1990s, he reflected on the murder, stating, "I was outside, just waiting to get out some aggression. It's not easy to describe why it happened. It was meant to happen, and if it was this man or another man, that's not really important."Template:Sfn Ihsahn, his bandmate in Emperor, remarked that Faust "had been very fascinated by serial killers for a long time, and I guess he wanted to know what it's like to kill a person."Template:Sfn
Initially, the police had no suspects, and Faust remained free for approximately a year.Template:Sfn However, he confided in Euronymous, Vikernes, and a few others about his crime.Template:Sfn The day following the stabbing, he returned to Oslo and allegedly burned down Holmenkollen Chapel with Vikernes and Euronymous. After the murder of Euronymous in August 1993, Faust was arrested and confessed to Andreassen's murder. In 1994, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison but was released in 2003.<ref name=faust-bowar>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bergens Tidende article
In January 1993, an article in one of Norway's largest newspapers, Bergens Tidende (BT), brought the black metal scene into the media spotlight.Template:Sfn Two friends of Vikernes interviewed him and submitted the interview to the newspaper, hoping for publication.Template:Sfn In the anonymous interview, "Count Grishnackh" (Vikernes) claimed to have burned churches and killed a man in Lillehammer.Template:Sfn BT journalist Finn Bjørn Tønder arranged a meeting with "Count Grishnackh." The journalists were summoned to an apartment and were allegedly warned they would be shot if they called the police.Template:Sfn There, Vikernes and his companions told the journalists that they had burned the churches or knew who had done it and warned that the attacks would continue. They claimed to be devil worshippers and stated, "Our intention is to spread fear and evil."
They provided the journalists with details about the arsons that had not yet been released to the press, prompting BT to consult with the police before publication, who confirmed these details.Template:Sfn The article was published on 20 January as the front page of BT, headlined {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("We set the churches on fire"), and included a photo of Vikernes, his face mostly obscured, holding two large knives. However, by the time the article was printed, Vikernes had already been arrested. The police allegedly tracked him down by visiting an address listed on a Burzum flyer,Template:Sfn although Vikernes believes that Tønder betrayed him.<ref name=varg-satanrides>Varg Vikernes's review of Satan Rides the Media. Burzum.org</ref>
According to Vikernes, the anonymous interview was orchestrated by him and Euronymous with the aim of spreading fear, promoting black metal, and attracting more customers to Helvete.<ref name="regrets nothing">Template:"'Count' Regrets Nothing" Template:Webarchive. Burzum.org.</ref> Vikernes remarked on the interview, "I exaggerated a lot and when the journalist left we... had a good laugh, because he didn't seem to understand that I was pulling his leg."<ref name=burzumstory2>Vikernes, Varg: "A Burzum Story: Part II – Euronymous" Template:Webarchive. Burzum.org.</ref> He added that the interview disclosed nothing that could prove his involvement in any crime.Template:Sfn Vikernes claims that, after his arrest, "the journalist edited the interview and... published an insane version of it the following day, without even letting me read through it."<ref name=varg-satanrides /> Some other members of the scene were also arrested and questioned, but all were released due to a lack of evidence.Template:Sfn
Euronymous decided to close Helvete as it began to attract the attention of the police and media.Template:Sfn Vikernes criticized Euronymous for shutting down the shop instead of capitalizing on the publicity, stating, "by doing so he also made all my efforts more or less pointless. I spent six weeks in custody because of that."<ref name="A Burzum Story: Part II – Euronymous">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Norwegian magazine Rock Furore published an interview with Vikernes in February 1993. In it, he commented on the prison system, saying, "It's much too nice here. It's not hell at all. In this country prisoners get a bed, toilet, and shower. It's completely ridiculous. I asked the police to throw me in a real dungeon, and also encouraged them to use violence."Template:Sfn He was released in March due to a lack of evidence.Template:Sfn
Shortly after this incident, the Oslo police dispatched its Church Fire Group to Bergen, establishing a makeshift headquarters in the Hotel Norge. According to Lords of Chaos, citing a police report, Vikernes knocked on their door and "virtually forced his way into the suite." He was "dressed in chain mail, carrying two large knives in his belt, and flanked by two young men who apparently behaved as if they were his bodyguards or henchmen." Vikernes "stated that he was fed up with being harassed by the authorities, and that the police investigation into the Black Metal scene should be stopped." When police informed him that he had no right to issue orders, Vikernes "took one step back and raised his right arm in a Roman salute."Template:Sfn
Murder of Euronymous
Template:Infobox civilian attack
In early 1993, tensions escalated between Euronymous and Vikernes.Template:Sfn On the night of 10 August 1993, Vikernes and Snorre 'Blackthorn' Ruch traveled from Bergen to Euronymous' apartment in Oslo. Upon their arrival, a confrontation ensued, during which Vikernes fatally stabbed Euronymous. His body was discovered outside the apartment, bearing 23 stab wounds—two to the head, five to the neck, and 16 to the back.<ref>Steinke, Darcey. "Satan's Cheerleaders". SPIN</ref>
Speculation surrounding the murder suggests it stemmed from a power struggle, a financial dispute over Burzum records, or an attempt to "outdo" a previous stabbing incident in Lillehammer.<ref name=Yahoo>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Vikernes, however, refutes these claims, asserting he killed Euronymous in self-defense. He contends that Euronymous had devised a plan to incapacitate him with an electroshock weapon, bind him, and torture him to death while filming the event, using a meeting regarding an unsigned contract as a ruse to ambush him.<ref name=untilthelight /><ref name=burzumstory2 /> Vikernes claims he intended to present Euronymous with the signed contract that night and "tell him to fuck off," but that Euronymous panicked and attacked him first.<ref name=burzumstory2 /> Faust has expressed skepticism regarding the self-defense narrative,Template:Sfn while Necrobutcher believes Vikernes killed Euronymous due to the death threats he had received from him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Necrobutcher later claimed that he had also intended to murder Euronymous himself due to his tasteless exploitation of Dead's suicide.<ref name="hos">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Vikernes was apprehended on 19 August 1993, and many other individuals within the scene were questioned around the same time.Template:Sfn Some confessed to their crimes and implicated others. In May 1994, Vikernes was sentenced to 21 years in prison (Norway's maximum penalty) for the murder of Euronymous, the arson of four churches, and possession of 150 kg of explosives.Template:Cn Two churches were set ablaze on the day he was sentenced, "presumably as a statement of symbolic support."Template:Sfn Blackthorn received an eight-year prison sentence for his role as an accomplice in the murder.Template:Sfn That month saw the release of the Mayhem album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, featuring Euronymous on guitar and Vikernes on bass guitar.<ref name=guardian /> Euronymous's family had requested that Mayhem's drummer, Hellhammer, remove the bass tracks recorded by Vikernes, but Hellhammer stated, "I thought it was appropriate that the murderer and victim were on the same record."<ref name=guardian /> Vikernes was released from prison in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Conflict with other music scenes
A strong rivalry existed between the Norwegian black metal and Swedish death metal scenes. Fenriz and Tchort noted that Norwegian black metal musicians had become "fed up with the whole death metal scene"<ref name=billzebub>Template:Cite video</ref> and that "death metal was very uncool in Oslo" at that time.<ref name=onceuponatime /> On multiple occasions, Euronymous sent death threats to some of the more 'mainstream' death metal bands in Europe.<ref name=onceuponatime /> Allegedly, a group of Norwegian black metal fans even plotted to kidnap and murder certain Swedish death metal musicians.<ref name=onceuponatime />
Rivalry also emerged between Norwegian and Finnish black metal bands. Impaled Nazarene printed "No orders from Norway accepted" and "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}" (Death to the arseholes of Norway!) on early pressings of their first album, while innuendos and snarky comments were exchanged in fanzines. Beherit's vocalist, Nuclear Holocausto, utilized the rivalry to execute a series of telephone pranks on Mika Luttinen (of Impaled Nazarene), during which he would call him in the dead of night and play nursery rhymes at high speed on a cassette recorder. At that time, Luttinen claimed that the messages were threats from Norwegian black metallers.<ref>The End of a Legend? Isten smokes Holocaust Vengeance out of BEHERIT. In: Isten, no. 6, 1995, pp. 44f.</ref> The Finnish band Black Crucifixion criticized the Norwegian band Darkthrone as "trendies" because Darkthrone had originally been a death metal band before transitioning to black metal.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
List of music releases
The following is a partial list of notable black metal recordings and releases by the aforementioned bands released during 1987–1993. Releases in bold are albums, while the rest are demos and extended plays.
| Date | Band | Title | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1987 | Mayhem | Deathcrush | recorded in February/March 1987 at Creative Studios and released in August 1987 | |
| December 1989 | Stigma Diabolicum | Luna De Nocturnus | ||
| March 1990 | Stigma Diabolicum | Lacus De Luna | ||
| April 1990 | Mayhem | Freezing Moon and Carnage | these songs feature Dead as vocalist and appeared on the 1991 Projections of a Stained Mind compilation | |
| November 1990 | Mayhem | Live in Leipzig | recorded live on 26 November 1990 but not released officially until July 1993 | |
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| March 1991 | Arcturus | My Angel | recorded in March 1991 at Studio S and released in July 1991 | |
| April 1991 | Thou Shalt Suffer | Open the Mysteries of Your Creation | recorded in April 1991 at Notodden Lydstudio and released in July 1991 | |
| June 1991 | Thorns | Grymyrk | recorded on 3 June 1991 | |
| July 1991 | Enthrone | Black Winds | ||
| July 1991 | Burzum | Burzum Demo I | ||
| August 1991 | Darkthrone | A Blaze in the Northern Sky | recorded in August 1991<ref>Darkthrone – A Blaze in the Northern Sky CD cover Template:Webarchive</ref> at Creative Studios but not released until February 1992<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> | |
| October 1991 | Immortal | Immortal | ||
| October 1991 | Thou Shalt Suffer | Into the Woods of Belial | recorded in October 1991 at Notodden Lydstudio | |
| November 1991 | Burzum | Burzum Demo II | ||
| December 1991 | Enslaved | Nema | recorded on 6–7 December 1991 at Slakten Lydstudio | |
| 1991 | Malfeitor | Malfeitor | ||
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| January 1992 | Burzum | Burzum | recorded in January 1992 at Grieghallen Studio and released in March 1992 | |
| February 1992 | Ildjarn | Unknown Truths | ||
| April 1992 | Beelzebub | Apotheosis | recorded on 4–5 April 1992 at SIFA Lydstudio | |
| April 1992 | Burzum | Det som engang var | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| April 1992 | Immortal | Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism | recorded in April 1992 at Grieghallen Studio and released in July 1992 | |
| May 1992 | Emperor | Wrath of the Tyrant | recorded on 8–11 May 1992 | |
| June 1992 | Satyricon | All Evil | recorded on 21–22 June 1992 | |
| June 1992 | Enslaved | Yggdrasill | recorded on 28–29 June 1992 at Micro Music | |
| June 1992 | Darkthrone | Under a Funeral Moon | recorded in June 1992 at Creative Studios but not released until June 1993 | |
| August 1992 | Burzum | Aske | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| September 1992 | Carpathian Forest | Bloodlust & Perversion | recorded in September 1992 at Star Studio | |
| September 1992 | Burzum | Hvis lyset tar oss | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| September 1992 – sometime in 1993 | Mayhem | De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas | recorded in September 1992 (Vocals in 1993) at Grieghallen Studio but not released until May 1994<ref>Mayhem: De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Deathlike Silence Productions 1994.</ref> | |
| October 1992 | Enslaved | Hordanes Land | recorded in September–October 1992 at Lydloftet and released in May 1993 | |
| December 1992 | Fimbulwinter | Rehearsal Demo | recorded in October–December 1992, re-released as a full-length album, Servants of Sorcery, in 1994 | |
| December 1992 | Emperor | Emperor As the Shadows Rise |
recorded together in December 1992<ref>Emperor – Emperor vinyl cover at Discogs.com</ref><ref>Emperor – As the Shadows Rise vinyl cover at Discogs.com</ref> but released separately in May 1993 and August 1994 respectively | |
| December 1992 | Sabazios | Wintermass | recorded in December 1992 at Rolf's Cellar and released in January 1993 | |
| 1992 | Thorns | Trøndertun | ||
| 1992 | Malfeitor | Pandemonium | ||
| 1992 | Incarnator | Nordic Holocaust | ||
| 1992 | Ice Wind | The Call of the Ice Wind | ||
| 1992 | Massemord | Efest | recorded in fall 1992 and released on 1 June 1993 | |
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| January 1993 | Ildjarn | Ildjarn | ||
| January 1993 | Storm | Wintermoon | recorded in January 1993 | |
| February 1993 | In the Woods ... | Rehearsal / Demo 02.93 | recorded in February 1993 and released in March 1993 | |
| March 1993 | Burzum | Filosofem | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| March 1993 | Necrohell | Necrohell | recorded in March 1993 | |
| April 1993 | Darkthrone | Transilvanian Hunger | recorded in April 1993 at Creative Studios | |
| April 1993 | Burzum | Dauði baldrs | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| May 1993 | Nehemah | Wages of Sin | recorded in May 1993 | |
| June 1993 | Darkthrone | Under a Funeral Moon | recorded in June 1992 but not released until June 1993 | |
| July 1993 | Darkthrone | Goatlord | recorded in 1993 but not released until 1996 | |
| 1993 | Massemord | Doomsday | ||
| 1993 | Enslaved | Hordanes Land | ||
| 1993 | Fimbulwinter | Rehearsal Demo |
Documentaries and films
- Det svarte alvor (1994), aired on Norwegian TV by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).
- Satan rir Media (English: Satan Rides the Media) (1999).
- Norsk Black Metal (2003), aired on Norwegian TV by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).
- Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005) touches on black metal in the early 1990s and includes an extensive 25-minute feature on the DVD release.
- Black Metal: A Documentary (2006), produced by Bill Zebub.
- Murder Music: A History of Black Metal (2007).
- Once Upon a Time in Norway (2007).
- Pure Fucking Mayhem (2008).
- Black Metal: The Norwegian Legacy (2008), produced by Bill Zebub.
- Until the Light Takes Us (2009).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Black Metal: The Music of Satan (2010), produced by Bill Zebub.
- Lords of Chaos (2018), directed by Jonas Åkerlund.
- Helvete – historien om norsk black metal (2020).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See also
References
Bibliography
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