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114 reviews for:
Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground
Didrik Søderlind, Michael Moynihan
3.47 AVERAGE
114 reviews for:
Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground
Didrik Søderlind, Michael Moynihan
3.47 AVERAGE
Probably the most hyped book I've read in a long time. People have been telling me for years to read this so I finally did. I was pretty disappointed. First off the style is all over the place with different fonts and random interviews, I found it didn't work very well as a narrative. Second, most of the people in this book are not good people but the authors let their hate speeches and lies go uncommented on for the most part. You can only read so many people talk about how they use propaganda in a book before the book becomes propaganda. The main points in this book, the church burning and Satanism really get lost in the shuffle when it comes down to it. It mostly tells the point of view of people in a scene trying to justify who is cooler and why they are important.
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
This book is a veritable goldmine of information on the origins, development and ideology of the second wave of black metal. The first section deals with the musical and thematic predecessors of the scene, running from the birth of the Devil's music in Mississippi Delta blues, through Sabbath and Zeppelin and into the first wave bands like Bathory and Venom. The central section looks at the rise of the key Norwegian second wave bands themselves, focusing on Mayhem and the stories of that band's three central characters: Euronymous, Dead and Count Grishnakh. Grishnakh, or Varg Vikernes, is a particular focus, and much of this section is made up of interviews with the man himself and a detailed exploration of the motives behind his actions and those of his contemporaries. The final section pulls back to look at the scenes in other countries, such as Germany, Sweden and Russia, as well as a more abstract assessment of the ideologies at the root of black metal culture. The book overall is very interview-driven, and its assessments of the interviewees' words are mainly objective; only at a few points do the authors' own views creep through. The book is also not really focused on the music itself, looking more at the psychology of the scene and its members, and given its focus on criminal behaviour and extremist thought is not a book for the faint-hearted. However, it is a definite must-read for anyone interested in black metal's dark past, or in the influence of Satanism and paganism on modern culture more generally.
Un libro que hace mucho tiempo quería leer y no decepcionó. Un completísimo reporte al llamado "metal satánico noruego" y sus personajes clave: Euronymous y Varg Vikernes. Muchísimo material como entrevistas, recortes de prensa, análisis del satanismo y posterior paganismo nórdico que sirvieron para nombrar bandas e inspirar la escena (análisis a la figura de los lobos y los berserkers). Un apartado especial a la controversia por la quema de iglesias y cómo la prensa termina inspirando toda la escena, que en principio era muy pequeña. Y cómo el seudosatanismo en verdad tenía que ver más con Tolkien que con Satanás.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
the stories are wild, but the more i read the more these metalheads sound like weenies. great first half though.
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
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, Murder
Minor: Gore, Suicide, Violence
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.