A review by typotech
Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground by Didrik Søderlind, Michael Moynihan

3.0

The book is an interesting read on the history of Black Metal and initially does a fine job of exploring the early ties of speed/thrash/heavy metal on the genre. The backstory of those involved is equally exciting to read the establishment of the scene and those notable members in Norwegian Black Metal.
Eventually though it seems to come to a cross road of Satanic and Nationalist/Racist ideologies and goes spinning off the road. While there is certainly a intersection and members of the community which espouse these beliefs, it seems to become the primary focus of the book for a log stretch and also follows Varg Virkenes (an early member of the Black Circle) well beyond his influence over Black Metal and into his later beliefs of heathen and nazi philosophies. The focal point seems to shift and never quite get back on track.
Later in the book, there seems to be much emphasis on crimes committed by other fans of the music and a finger pointed towards it as a catalyst to these crimes and a future of inspired world overthrowing chaos it may cause.

Still overall an interesting read for what it was.