Scan barcode
Reviews
Señores del caos. El sangriento auge del metal satánico. by Didrik Søderlind, Michael Moynihan
laedyred's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Presents the crazy world of Black metal in Norway during its rise. Very entertaining, includes many interviews and photos.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Murder, Death, and Antisemitism
Minor: Violence, Gore, and Suicide
deadhighwaybooks's review against another edition
1.0
Disgusting
I will start by saying I am an atheist and a metalhead. I don't believe in God or Satan whatsoever, so I had an open mind in the beginning. Let it be known that I do love my metal music, but I will chose carefully which black metal acts I support moving forward.
This book disturbed me on such a deep level. I thought I was going to be reading about the history of Black Metal, and it sort of was...but it turned into a racist, neo Nazi anthem and i'm almost embarrassed to say I've read this. What's worse is that the author seems to almost defend these views and concerns himself with proving how the media demonized heavy metal fans and musicians...these same musicians that commit unspeakable acts of murder...yet the author sets out to prove they're being persecuted by the media.
The beginning was what I expected. It touched down on the roots of death metal and springs into how black metal came to be and even touched down on the church burnings and Norwegian black metal history as it was. As if that wasn't depressing enough, we learn about murders committed by musicians in the genre. Interesting, I'll admit that. Depressing, but interesting. But as we start to learn more about the founders of Norwegian black metal, we start to hear about paganism and how closely tied it is with neo Nazism and rolls on about political b.s. up until the end.
Honestly, unless you want a history lesson on the biggest pieces of shit in black metal, do not waste your money. I'm kind of mad that I did and after powering through this book my heart hurts, a lot. There are some mentally deranged and sick people in this world and this book proves it. Metal or not.
My heart hurts. A lot.
I will start by saying I am an atheist and a metalhead. I don't believe in God or Satan whatsoever, so I had an open mind in the beginning. Let it be known that I do love my metal music, but I will chose carefully which black metal acts I support moving forward.
This book disturbed me on such a deep level. I thought I was going to be reading about the history of Black Metal, and it sort of was...but it turned into a racist, neo Nazi anthem and i'm almost embarrassed to say I've read this. What's worse is that the author seems to almost defend these views and concerns himself with proving how the media demonized heavy metal fans and musicians...these same musicians that commit unspeakable acts of murder...yet the author sets out to prove they're being persecuted by the media.
The beginning was what I expected. It touched down on the roots of death metal and springs into how black metal came to be and even touched down on the church burnings and Norwegian black metal history as it was. As if that wasn't depressing enough, we learn about murders committed by musicians in the genre. Interesting, I'll admit that. Depressing, but interesting. But as we start to learn more about the founders of Norwegian black metal, we start to hear about paganism and how closely tied it is with neo Nazism and rolls on about political b.s. up until the end.
Honestly, unless you want a history lesson on the biggest pieces of shit in black metal, do not waste your money. I'm kind of mad that I did and after powering through this book my heart hurts, a lot. There are some mentally deranged and sick people in this world and this book proves it. Metal or not.
My heart hurts. A lot.
drmarti's review against another edition
2.0
DNF - gave up about halfway through. Wish this had been more of a true music history of the whole movement and less just a recap of the story of Mayhem, which I already knew. Also felt like it gave too much uncritical airtime to Varg Vikernes and others discussing past crimes without remorse. The book also needs some editing/reorganization; there is a lot of repetition.
tessannredhead's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.5
noide127's review against another edition
3.0
The amount of source material in this book is incredible, besides it is mostly well woven (except for some parts that just seem there to include material that the overall narrative was set to left behind) and manages to create a good narrative.
On the down parts, I have to say that sometimes the writing can be just plain cheesy, sounding like a dad trying to sound cool, or the voice over of one of those alien documentaries.
On the down parts, I have to say that sometimes the writing can be just plain cheesy, sounding like a dad trying to sound cool, or the voice over of one of those alien documentaries.
thefiercepanda's review against another edition
2.0
Really drags in places and read purely with a grain of salt due to the tabloid-like style the book was presented. On another note, I admit I like his music but Varg Vikernes needs to not speak. Ever.
zakcebulski's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know, the more I think about this book, the less and less I enjoy it. I feel like when you think about books, they should get better the more thought you put into them. This doesn't. I guess I went into this with higher hopes than I should have had, and it did not live up to them.
Ohhhhhh well. Was it worth a read? Probably not. Did I learn anything from it? A little bit, sure, which is why I didn't give it a one out of five. Do I recommend it? No.
Ohhhhhh well. Was it worth a read? Probably not. Did I learn anything from it? A little bit, sure, which is why I didn't give it a one out of five. Do I recommend it? No.
ash71896's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.0
Just doesn't feel like it has an overarching narrative.
allzen_nochill's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
1.5
Yeahhhhhhhhhh the author gives a LOT of leniency to actual NAZIS and MURDERERS. I read the first edition so maybe the updated edition addresses that, but idk, dude seems more interested in hearing Varg's ideas rather than analyzing why the scene is what it is. To me it seems like toxic masculinity taken WAY too far. I'm still on the hunt for a thoughtful analysis of Black Metal, I guess, the story of Mayhem has always fascinated me and I wanted this to be way better than it actually was.