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lkkirk75's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
emmanoble's review
4.0
the stories are wild, but the more i read the more these metalheads sound like weenies. great first half though.
laedyred's review
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: Death, Racism, Antisemitism, and Murder
Minor: Gore, Suicide, and Violence
deadhighwaybooks's review
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
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.
noide127's review
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.