Book On Norwegian Black Metal Due In May
Band Photo: Dimmu Borgir (?)
American documentary photographer Peter Beste's book "True Norwegian Black Metal" will be issued on May 15 via Vice Books.
In the last two decades a bizarre and violent musical subculture called black metal has emerged in Norway. It has its roots in a heady blend of splatter movies, heavy metal music, Satanism, Pagan mythology and adolescent angst. In the early-mid 1990s, members of this extremist underground committed murder, burned down medieval wooden churches, and desecrated graveyards. What started as juvenile frenzy came to symbolize the start of a war against Christianity, a return to the worship of the ancient Norse gods, and the complete rejection of mainstream society.
Peter Beste has spent the last eight years working in the milieu of this insulated and secretive community. Beste's access and insight has been absolutely without precedent, resulting in an amazing photographic journey. Beste has earned the respect and trust of this impenetrable, suspicious and often elitist community. With each visit Beste saw more, photographed more and eventually accumulated enough material for this book. "True Norwegian Black Metal" is a visual testimonial to this subculture. Peter Beste and editor Johan Kugelberg have created a unique photographic narrative that explores black metal from a truly visceral perspective.
With extensive contributions from the personal archive of Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen, publisher of the original Norwegian black metal publication Slayer magazine, a unique opportunity is here presented to see original artifacts and ephemera from this secluded rock community, and to read accounts of these events in the words of the people who were actually there at the time.
"True Norwegian Black Metal" offers confrontational live performance photographs of a savage subculture set alongside the stark beauty and natural allure of a landscape often shrouded in darkness.
The book is comprised of:
* 160 pages of photographs of the following bands/individuals: Nocturno Culto and Fenriz of DARKTHRONE; Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, Blasphemer, and Maniac of MAYHEM; Samoth of EMPEROR; Frost of SATYRICON; ENSLAVED; Abbath of IMMORTAL; Gaahl, Infernus, King, and Kvitrafn of GORGOROTH; Nattefrost of CARPATHIAN FOREST; 1349; DIMMU BORGIR; ILDJARN; AURA NOIR; and many more
* Interviews/quotes from Frost (1349), Abbath (IMMORTAL), Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), Gaahl (GORGOROTH)
* Essay by authors and Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen, publisher of the original Norwegian black metal publication Slayer magazine, including 32 pages of original artifacts, photographs, ephemera, and personal accounts by black metal's key figures from Krisiansen's personal archive."
For more information, visit www.peterbeste.com.
Beste has scheduled a photo exhibition beginning May 8 at Steven Kasher Gallery in New York City, with London, Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Los Angeles shows to follow.
Peter Beste on Norway's NRK talking about his black metal pictures:
Source: Blabbermouth
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24 Comments on "Book On Norwegian Black Metal Due In May"
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11. writes:
Good advice Cruor, Black Dog, the best tool you can use to make sure you do not invest in an NSBM band is to go to nsbm.org. Just take a look at the bands they list and just keep it in mind when you hear a band or at the metal shop. I have to do the same thing because I detest Nasism and won't buy nsbm, but LOVE black metal...
Supporter
12. writes:
^That website is not exactly accurate as they have Burzum listed as a NSBM band but they aren't. Just because Varg has racist beliefs doesn't qualify his band to be of a NSBM position when their lyrics have nothing to do with race whatsoever. It also has Graveland listed and while I haven't read their lyrics, heard their music, or know anything about them whatsoever I have heard countless times that they aren't NSBM.
Supporter
13. writes:
Well in my opinion they should be listed if a band member has racist beliefs. I think it more has to do with those who have either proclaimed racist beliefs or have shown support for the NSBM bullshiet. No site is perfect, but the NSBM site is a decent indicator for the types of bands you want to watch out for and it's never a bad idea to check out the bands site and do more reasearch from there aswell.
Former Contributor
14. writes:
For one, cruor I don't think Varg has ever been affiliated with any kind of Nazi organisation or belief, although he obviously believes in racial purity or eugenics and whatnot just not racial hatred.
Secondly for everyone else who didn't read the article properly this is a PHOTOGRAPHY book. Personally I think there are too many books, unofficial crap etc out there on the black metal scene just out for making money.
Now Playing: Exhivious - "Without Your Name"
Senior News Correspondent
15. writes:
Kalis Wrath writes: "No site is perfect"
You dissing MetalUnderground? :p
I can't get into black metal, never liked it and I've tried countless times to get into it but can't. And I'm not the only guy like that. So if these dumbass NSBM bands want me to believe their lies and propaganda they're gonna have to do more than make music alot of people wouldn't give a chance lol.
Supporter
16. writes:
Cynic writes: "For one, cruor I don't think Varg has ever been affiliated with any kind of Nazi organisation or belief, although he obviously believes in racial purity or eugenics and whatnot just not racial hatred."
That is true. I guess I didn't think my post through and realize that their is a difference between racial hate, and racial purity. I'm not condoning it, I'm just agreeing that their is a difference.
Supporter
17. writes:
Well Diamond, you just don't like any religion sang/preached at you so BM is probably not your thing. Also, yes I am teaseing MU. Hahaha! Jusy kidding this site is pretty accurate.
On the subjuect of NSBM, any idiot who knows anything about BM knows that it's not about being raceist. It's about preservation of heritiage. I truely hate NSBM and hope the genre dies a horrible death... (i.e they all go up with the Jihadi dirtheads). To me true black metal is beautiful!
I just woke up and hope that made sence.. Haha!
Senior News Correspondent
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Former Contributor
23. writes:
I always have trouble with the fav BM band question - Emperor, Xasthur, Burzum... so many bands so good in different ways. From what I read I seem to be one of the few Emperor fans who loved their earlier and latter works in equal measure.
Oh and yeah cruor - do feel as weird as I do rooting for a convicted murderer to be released for jail?!
Now Playing: Hammers of Misfortune - "The Waif With Sunken Eyes"
Supporter
24. writes:
Cynic- I'm with you on early and latter day Emperor; I worship everything done by Ihsahn, Samoth, and Trym; which definetly includes Anthems to the Welkin At Dusk, IX Equilibrium, and Promethius: The Discipline of Fire and Demise.
As far as rooting for a convicted murderer being released from prison, according to Varg it was in self-defense but no one will know for sure, but either way it does feel alittle weird. The only care I have of him getting out is whether or not he will make more black metal instead of the ambient stuff he did while in prison.
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1. Public Execution writes:
I probably will order this book on Amazon. I am kind of curious to read this.