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The heavy metal genre isn’t inherently satanic. It’s hearty, loud, aggressive and loaded with guitar distortion and commanding vocals. But none of that makes it satanic.
The devil, as they say, is in the details. Or in this case, the subgenres. And, of those, heavy metal has a ton. Black metal is fast and raw, and while not wholly satanic, some black metal bands use occult and anti-religious imagery as an overall thwarting of Christianity.
Satanic metal is where you have your black metal with overt satanic themes and beliefs.
Numerous intriguing and informative books have been written about both. Here are ten that take deep dives to present the music, bands, scenes, and history of these dark metal realms.
By Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind
Feral House
This award-winning 1998 release is widely regarded as a must-read for those interested in the early Norwegian black metal scene. It digs into the church burnings and killings that took place in early ‘90s Norway, tied to black metal musicians. A revised edition was released in 2003, adding 50 pages to the original book, which delves into the outbreaks of crime related to Black Metal in other countries. “Lords of Chaos” was also adapted for a feature film starring Rory Culkin in 2018.
By Dayal Patterson
Feral House
Part of the “Extreme Metal” series, this book — another prime Feral House offering — is an expert-level overview of Black Metal, from its history to its ideologies. It’s a whopper, coming in at 600 pages and featuring over 100 new and historic interviews, it is a testament to the amount of details it holds.
“True Norwegian Black Metal”
By Peter Beste with Johan Kugelberg
Vice Books
This photography book documents the Norwegian Black Metal scene. Its black and white imagery offers a glimpse into the bands and fans in their element, along with essays that discuss the genre’s origin and evolution, as well as the infamy that has become associated with the movement.
‘Lucifer Rising: Sin, Devil Worship & Rock’n’Roll’
By Gavin Baddeley
Plexus Publishing
The history of Satanism is examined in the first part of this book, which is divided into three sections. The second section explores Satanism in the 20th Century, covering notable figures like Aleister Crowley and groups like the Church of Satan. It’s the third section that discusses Scandinavian Black Metal, from notorious events to its entanglements with the religious right. It includes commentary from Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan.
By Marco Campoli
This whopper is a glossary of more than 400 pages of information on the bands that are part of the Norwegian Black Metal scene, including logos, albums, EPs and details about each project. Comments throughout the pages are from people involved in creating these records.
“The Black Metal Murders”
By Bjorn Erik Kristiansson
From the intensities of its sound to its associations with extreme groups, this veteran metal journalist examines those links along with the crimes forever linked to this sub-genre. Find out about Varg Vikernes, the sole member of Burzum who was convicted of several church arsons and of killing Oystein Aarseth of the band Mayhem. Rodrigo Orias, a Black Metal fanatic from Chile, is also a subject of the book. He brutally attacked an Italian priest in front of a church filled with hundreds of people.
Antoine Grand/CreateSpace
‘Real Satanic Black Metal: The True History Of Satanism In Extreme Metal Music’
By Antoine Grand
A comprehensive breakdown of Black Metal albums, examining the “true” history of Satanism in the genre and featuring 35 different albums across 41 chapters. It’s full of bests and worsts, like “Black Metal’s Most Evil Monument,” “The Worst Shit of Black Metal” and “The Most Hateful Black Metal.”
By Ben Gold
Quorthon was at the helm of this early 1980s Swedish band that pioneered the Viking and Black Metal sounds, characterized by grit, speed, and harsh vocals. The book outlines how the band rose to fame, starting with the release of raw demo tapes that earned them a foundation of devoted fans. Though they weren’t self-proclaimed Satanists, they leaned on Satanic imagery to rebel against Christianity.
By Cryptonomous
This book provides a comprehensive examination of a period preceding the emergence of Norwegian Black Metal. It covers the genre’s history and scenes in various countries, providing reviews of a substantial portion of the output from some of the bands, ranging from their music to zines. It is full of interesting and lesser-known facts, such as how an ‘old uncle’ from Belgium was responsible for a significant portion of Black Metal tape trading during the years the book spans.
“Blood, Fire, Death”
‘Blood, Fire, Death: The Swedish Metal Story’
By Ika Johannesson and Jon Jefferson Klingberg
Feral House
This work examines the evolution of Swedish metal, from its inception to its establishment as a hub for this extreme music, and the subsequent development of its ideologies and aesthetics. It takes readers back to the 1970s, examining the individuals and bands that helped create the scene and drive it forward.