Extreme fanaticism in (black) metal

[Circlepit]

I don't recall the money issues in Blood Fire Death either.
On a side note is the other book on Swedish Death Metal any good? The one with the cartoon type cover.

[Pentagrimes]

yep

The Finnish one isnt though

[DaveG]

Yep, a quick skim read of that chapter and there doesn't seem to be any mention.  I might have mixed that up with an interview.

[Circlepit]

yep

The Finnish one isnt though

Thanks.

[John Kimble]

On a side note is the other book on Swedish Death Metal any good? The one with the cartoon type cover.

Which one is this out of interest?

[Circlepit]

https://www.easons.com/swedish-death-metal-daniel-ekeroth-9780979616310?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk_Dk4Ya4hAMV6pJQBh3UpAGJEAQYASABEgL9z_D_BwE

This one. I haven't read it as I thought there would be a huge crossover with Blood Fire Death.

[John Kimble]

Ah sound. I haven't read Blood Fire Death so might pick it up. Seems to be cheaper on Amazon.

[Necro Red]

https://www.easons.com/swedish-death-metal-daniel-ekeroth-9780979616310?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk_Dk4Ya4hAMV6pJQBh3UpAGJEAQYASABEgL9z_D_BwE

This one. I haven't read it as I thought there would be a huge crossover with Blood Fire Death.

cool, is that worth the read?

[Circlepit]

The Blood, Fire, Death book is interesting. It feels like it's written by a fan for a fan rather than somebody who is interested the genre.
It focuses more on a few bands rather than a broad stoke.

[KingHostile]

Oh I read it as a reference to the local scene, which would be interesting to hear more about.

It is indeed a direct reference. It broadly tells a story of a larger group of people within which an extreme element germinated. This extreme was idolized to a point. Admired? I think some of these people were destined to be extreme and find a road less travelled regardless of their musical interest. However this extreme was of a darker nature. We are not talking about walking alone in rain forests, we are talking about militarism, politics, religious views, a cult (abbey street for example, there were 2. 3 if you counted that way!).  Today some of these people are a bit regretful, their musical output is still out there and they are still on the periphery of the metal scene via contacts/acquaintances. Some have sought to leave the metal music world behind in an extreme way. Completely blanked don't want to talk about it. They still live reasonably extreme lives. There is a kind of a neo conservatism. I keep thinking Burzum for at least two of them, this shunning almost of modern society. Almost a fear, which I think is what people idolized, the extreme imagery of like a strength if you will to fight the fear of life, society, lack of confidence.

Weirdly I would suggest these people are still quite creative, their creative output just isn't metal anymore. At times not even music. A weird pity I suppose. But similar to the way we find Burzum and the lack of tolerance towards them in todays musical / societal norms I don't think these people if still in a band would be able to function. The woke movement is a particular target during conversation. Any sort of tolerance towards it is a point of pain.

There was of course other stuff going on during the hey day for exmaple Black Magic which I always felt was a Morbid Angel fandom type thing. I'd stick with the music!Then I've seen some strange things so I can' do a Han Solo comment. No ghosts or apparitions I'm afraid (get it) but defo people dressed in black and hooded....like I said weird to me

[Eoin McLove]

Colour me doubly intrigued. There's one person who I think I can recognise from that description.

[KingHostile]

I can't give any specifics. That wouldn't be nice. Like I said some of these people have quite normal lives now. Some of them look back on their actions, embarrassed, they put somethings down to maturity.

Others have moved away from more right wing politics and militarism but would still structure their lives as if it was the logistics of invading a small island 

Some (and I am sure I am not alone in saying this, we all know someone) have ended up in mental homes, some as in patients in hospitals, some have been diagnosed in later life with autism, ocd, etc. Some have gone straight edge.  Others are in jail.

Drink and drugs extremes chucked into the pot! Kinda reads more like a Vietnam vet's list now!

There are some who remain completely disillusioned and still believe their own hype. Others just smoke herb pervasively.

There is a few who although well older than myself haven't changed! still live the same life...an aging With nail and I but with a darker overtone!

[hellfire]

I think I have an idea about one lad you're talking about. Didn't see him in almost 20 years though.

[Mooncat]

I can't give any specifics. That wouldn't be nice. Like I said some of these people have quite normal lives now. Some of them look back on their actions, embarrassed, they put somethings down to maturity.

Others have moved away from more right wing politics and militarism but would still structure their lives as if it was the logistics of invading a small island 

Some (and I am sure I am not alone in saying this, we all know someone) have ended up in mental homes, some as in patients in hospitals, some have been diagnosed in later life with autism, ocd, etc. Some have gone straight edge.  Others are in jail.

Drink and drugs extremes chucked into the pot! Kinda reads more like a Vietnam vet's list now!

There are some who remain completely disillusioned and still believe their own hype. Others just smoke herb pervasively.

There is a few who although well older than myself haven't changed! still live the same life...an aging With nail and I but with a darker overtone!

Withnail and I is my favourite film ever. Slight spoiler ahead for those who haven't seen it: Did you know in the original screenplay that once 'I' leaves, Withnail heads home, drinks wine through the barrel of a shotgun, and then blows his own head off? So Withnail was more black metal than you think!


Speaking of people living more extreme lives, I grew up living right on the Cavehill (the edge of my housing estate backed up right to the edge of the 'wilderness' part of the mountain) and for decades it's been plagued with rumours of devil worshipper activity. One thing that is definitely true is that it's not uncommon for there to be fires up there at night, albeit probably just smicks acting the wank rather than any actual satanism. There was one time in particular in the late 90s though where there was a huge ring of fire on the side of the mountain up near the top, very late at night. My friend and I both thought it would be a good idea to sneak up there and see if we could see any devil worshippers (we knew the area very well having grown up playing in it). Of course we chickened out halfway up, but for that 10 or so minutes walking up a silent mountainside at midnight, through wooded areas when there could have been a satanist stepping out from behind any tree, and all this against the still recent backdrop of all the Norwegian black metal satanism, it was a terrifying experience! We crept up in dread silence, but once our nerve broke we sprinted back the whole way down!

[KingHostile]

Thats a cool story Mooncat!