30th Nov 2009 8:00pm
Sallis Benney Theatre
Intrigued by the dark, bloody notoriety of Norwegian Black Metal and its severe, atmospheric sound, filmmakers Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell journeyed to Norway to interview a handful of renowned figures of the movement – Varg “Count Grishnackh” Vikernes (of the band Burzum), Gylve “Fenriz” Nagell (of Darkthrone) and Jan Axel “Hellhammer” Blomberg, among others. In an effort to escape the commodification of death metal, the creators of black metal were cultivating a brutal, ugly, raw sound that possessed a truth for them they hoped could not be commercialised. However, it soon became associated with the arson of some of Norway’s oldest churches, grave desecration, satanic rituals and shocking violence. In 1993, Varg Vikernes was convicted for church-burning and the murder of his band mate, Øystein Aarseth. The media frenzy and the grizzly speculations inspired escalating waves of violence from other young men around the country – with the Norwegian black metal movement rapidly becoming associated with Satanism, nationalism and Neo-nazis. Now the subject of many artists and photographers, including Harmony Korine, this is a fascinating exploration into the people and ideas behind the anti-social compositions, and violent behaviour.
Tickets available on 0871 704 2056
More information available from www.cine-city.co.uk
