Lords of Chaos

Den_M

'The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground'

Just recieved this today from the girlfriend and it's a very interesting read so far.

In case anyone hasn't heard of the book, it documents the origins and rise of black metal and the various controversies that have happened within the scene/genre (church burning, murders, suicides etc)

Has anyone else read this and what did they think?

John

It's a brilliant read, I thought I knew a lot about the Burzum/Mayhem/church burning thing but there was a lot that book added to my knowledge. Great overview of the scene and an interesting look at the music involved. Doesn't fall into the "Kerrang! OMG! SATANISTS!!111" style of writing which is a nice change.

smackbunnybaby

i read it and loved it and learned alot about the black metal scene and albums to listen to.

long time metal fans however will tell you it is only ok and doesnt tell you any thing you shouldnt know already. it really depends on your previous exposure to metal!

John

Well I was already listening to Mayhem and Burzum for years before I read it and I thought it was a lot more in depth than what I had been reading previously in the music press. There wasn't the same exposure on the internet at the time so maybe nowadays people have a bigger picture available to them outside of books.

Den_M

The people that hung around the scene and made up it's clique seem to be a mix of the disturbed, impressionable, intelligent, disillusioned and the downright stupid. The more forceful and resourceful of these seemed to be greatly revered by the rest. There's so many holes and contradictions in the main theories and ideas that you wonder how it got so far. But I guess when a group is convinced that it has a purpose and is making a difference then many things are possible.

Mental Mickey

I read that book a few years back. A bunch of nutters in Scandinavia, there is.

SxE Punk

I love black metal, but I wish those guys would ever just stop taking themselves so seriously. Not to piss on their beliefs, I just mean like, don't advertise it so forcefully and feel you have to conform to the image.

In a way they're similar to the "gangstas" that listen to gangsta rap and think thats how you have to live

Take a page out of George Fisher's book. Music, even the dirtiest most evil ****, shouldn't be taken so seriously.