THE CHILDREN OF SATAN: Black Metal as the present day proliferator of Satanic, Pagan and ancient Germanic myths

A Daily Mail (UK) article published on their website on the 15th of January 2014

INTRODUCTION

As recently as 16th January, 2014, this news piece about an obsessive fan killing a Black Metal musician for 'not being Satanic enough' made international headlines. It shocked the international music fraternity and harked back the early days of Black Metal in the 80s, which was characterised by a lot of violence.

Dark lyrics, an extreme subculture and violent imagery are among the hallmarks of Black Metal, which borrows heavily from the darker aspects of Heathen and Germanic in addition to Satanic mythology. Bloodlust, arson and murder characterised the second wave of Black Metal during the 90s, but things had somewhat sobered in the last couple of decades. The news of this murder reminded people how deep 'Satanic' influences still run in some parts of contemporary society, (no) thanks to the Black Metal scene.

This paper attempts to chronicle the influence of Satanic, Pagan, Heathen and Norse mythology on Black Metal music, the symbols associated with it, the evolution of these myths; and finally to understand how some ancient myths continue to influence popular culture and consequently our lives.

BASIC TENETS

Before we move on to exploring the mythological connections of Black Metal, here are a few basic concepts explained, based mostly on Wikipedia.

Black Metal: Black metal is an extreme sub genre of heavy metal music, often having lyrics which deal with the Devil and the supernatural. Often synonymous with Satanic Metal, Black Metal has now incorporated more mythical elements (apart from Satan) into its fold. While some bands continue make pure 'Satanic or anti-Christian' music, some others have lyrics about heathen/pagan/Nordic characters like Odin, Thor, Prometheus, the Vikings, etc. These further derivatives, who often reject Satanism, go by the name of Viking Metal and War Metal.

Common traits of Black Metal music include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw (lo-fi) recording and unconventional song structures.

White/ Unblack or Christian Metal bands borrow from Christian scriptures and imagery for album art 

Interestingly, there are completely oppposite sub genres called Unblack Metal and White/ Christian Metal too. These have the musical style and constructs like that of Black Metal, but are ideologically its diametric opposite, promoting Christianity and Christian imagery. 

Death Metal: Closely linked with Black Metal is Death Metal, which explores themes of violence and often elaborates on the details of extreme acts, including mutilation, dissection, torture, rape, cannibalism, and necrophilia. It sometimes employs Satanic imagery, thus overlapping in places with Black Metal. 

Death metal bands like The Intestinal from Sweden often use gory and violent imagery on their album covers, but Satanic motifs are also seen

Death Metal typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes. 

Other loosely related sub genres include Dark Metal, Doom Metal and Thrash Metal.

Satan: The concept of Satan comes from Abrahamic religions with references found in Jewish, Islamic and Christian texts. His primary traits are deceptive, tempting and evilness.  The word 'Satan' in Hebrew loosely translates to 'accuser' or 'adversary', but the character was developed into a full-blown evil one – the devil – subsequently. He is often identified with Lucifer, the fallen angel, who rebelled against God and became ruler of the netherworld.  

Gustave Dore's illustration of Satan from Milton's Paradise Lost

Satanism: The Satanism is a broad term referring to a group of Western religions comprising diverse ideological and philosophical beliefs. Their shared features include symbolic association with, or admiration for the character of Satan, and Prometheus, which are in their view, liberating figures. While it has been practised by underground groups in one form or another since the early days of Christianity, Satanism as we understand it today, caught on with the establishment of the Church of Satan in 1966 by Anton La Vey. 

Famous metal artiste, Marilyn Manson with Anton La Vey

There are two primary kinds of Satanism – theistic and atheistic. Theistic Satanism aka Traditional Satanism, Spiritual Satanism or Devil Worship believes in a deity of Satan and other magical and ritualistic practices. Atheistic Satanism, as perpetuated by La Vey is more philosophical in nature.  Its teachings are based on individualism, Epicureanism, and an "eye for an eye" morality. Unlike theistic Satanists, LaVeyan Satanists are atheists who regard Satan as a symbol of man's inherent nature. La Veyan Satanism was made popular with the publishing of The Satanic Bible in 1969.

Ásatrú: Ásatrú is an Icelandic (and equivalently Old Norse) term consisting of two parts. The first is Ása-, genitive of Áss, denoting one of the group of Norse gods called Æsir. The second part, trú, means "faith, word of honour; religious faith, belief". Thus, Ásatrú means the "faith/belief in the Æsir". Ásatrú is variously known as Heathenism, Paganism, Odinism,  Forn Siðr, Wotanism, Theodism, and other names, is the contemporary revival of historical polytheistic Germanic paganism. 

Prometheus:  In Greek mythology, Prometheus (which might mean 'foresight') is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who is credited with the creation of man from clay, and who defies the gods and gives fire to humanity. Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, sentenced the Titan to eternal torment for his transgression. 

A classical painting depicting Prometheus being 'eaten alive' by Zeus' eagle.

The immortal Prometheus was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, which would then grow back to be eaten again the next day. Because Prometheus' gift of fire to mankind enabled progress and civilization, he is known as a champion of mankind.

The punishment of Prometheus as a consequence of the theft is a major theme of his mythology, and is a popular subject of both ancient and modern art. 

Odin/ Wodan/ Wotan: Odin is a major god in Norse mythology, the Allfather of the gods, and the ruler of Asgard. His name could mean 'fury', 'excitation', besides 'mind', or 'poetry'. His role, like that of many of the Norse gods, is complex. Odin is a principal member of the Æsir and is associated with war, battle, victory and death, but also wisdom, Shamanism, magic, poetry, prophecy, and the hunt. Odin has many sons, the most famous of whom is the thunder god Thor.

A modern graphic image of Odin

Thor: In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing and fertility. Thor's hammer and chariot pulled by two goats are important icons, adopted in the artistic tradition.

Thanks to Marvel comics and the recent Hollywood movies featuring Chris Hemsworth as Thor, this old Norse God has come back into the spotlight

Oskorei/ Wild Hunt: Both Odin and Thor, especially Odin, have been associated with the Wild Hunt or Oskorei. The Wild Hunt is an ancient folk myth prevalent across Northern, Western and Central Europe in which a phantasmal, spectral group of huntsmen with the accoutrements of hunting, with horses and hounds in mad pursuit across the skies or along the ground, or just above it. 

The myth of the Wild Hunt is often used to explain the phenomenon of thunderstorms. This illustration of an Oskorei was used as the cover art for Swedish band, Bathory's album - Blood Fire Death

The Vikings: The Vikings were seafaring north Germanic people who raided, traded, explored, and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia, and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th centuries. A romanticised picture of Vikings as noble savages began to take root in the 18th century, and this developed and became widely propagated during the 19th-century Viking revival. The received views of the Vikings as violent brutes or intrepid adventurers owe much to the modern Viking myth that had taken shape by the early 20th century.

New age digital art representing a Viking

BLACK BEGINNINGS – THE FIRST WAVE

The Christian world saw the emergence of a cult of Anti-Christian musicians in the early 1980s, who formed Black Metal bands. The first among these, comprising bands like Venom, Bathory, Hellhammer and Celtic Frost set the Satanic stage for this subculture in the Scandinavian nations. In fact, it was British band, Venom's second album, Black Metal, from which this genre gets its name. Other early bands, which strengthened the Satanic and Pagan associations of Black Metal included the Swedish band, Bathory and  Mercyful Fate. 

Venom band members Mantas, Cronos and Abaddon and the cover of their second album, Black Metal

America too witnessed a rise of bands with dark themes, such as Slayer and The Misfits. However, Satanism was always watered down, and '...never seemed to achieve quite the unadulterated level of blasphemy weilded by the British founders of Black Metal..' say Michael Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderland in their acclaimed book, 'Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of Satanic Metal Underground.' 

Although a Death Metal band, Deicide made ample use of anti-Christian symbols, like the inverted cross, in their cover art and lyrics. This is the cover of their 8th album.

Bands like Deicide, who flamboyantly adopted the upside down cross and resorted to bloody theatrics on stage were exceptions. Death and Thrash Metal with half-baked Satanic ideas, which were popular in the late 80s, began to lose their appeal and the audience wanted something darker and edgier, making way for the second wave.

DARKER TIDINGS – THE SECOND WAVE

Black Metal, at least in its Norwegian “second wave,” is commonly described as Satanic, largely due to the influence of the mass media, which portrayed the genre as such. In fact, much of media fodder was provided by a Norwegian band called Mayhem, established by Øystein 'Euronymous' Aarseth in 1984, along with  Jørn 'Necrobutcher' Stubberud and Kjetil Manheim. They were later joined by Varg 'Count Grishnackh' Vikernes and  Per Yngve Ohlin, whose stage name was 'Dead'. Apart from their dark music and ideology, the band drew a lot of controversy with respect to arson, murder and a suicide.

In 1991, band member 'Dead' committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in what seemed like an act of self-fulfilling prophecy. Dead had a history of self harm and often cut himself during live performances. Band member Euronymous allegedly clicked a picture of the scene of Dead's suicide and used the image as an album cover to further Mayhem's cause.

Mayhem album 'Dawn of the Black Hearts' featured an image of Dead's corpse

In January 1992 Burzum’s Varg Vikernes gave an interview where he claimed responsibility for a number of church burnings, which led to a moral panic and a media frenzy focused on stories about “Satanism in Norway.” This escalated a year later with Vikernes’s murder of Euronymous, and the convictions of several individuals involved in Black Metal for a number of the church burnings that had occurred in Norway in the early 1990s. The Norwegian documentary film Satan rir media (Satan Rides the Media) clearly shows how the Satanism-label was applied by the media, how dubious “cult experts” validated this, and how the number of arsons drastically increased in the process—from approximately one per year in the early 1990s to fifty arsons altogether between 1992 and 1996.

The band Mayhem with Euronymous (L) and Dead (R)

Satanism became an identity marker in Black Metal, largely due to the media-created Satanism providing a “script” for Norwegian “second wave” Black Metal musicians and fans.

Mayhem gave the underground music scene much more than their music. The tradition of  black leather outfits, metal spikes, corpse paint can be credited to Euronymous, and Black Metal bands across the world today are seen dressed in similar outfits, using similar Satanic symbols.

The band Immortal performs on stage wearing typical gear and corpse paint

POPULAR SIGNS AND SYMBOLS IN BLACK METAL

        

INVERTED CROSS	Used widely as an anti-Christian symbol in the Black Metal community, it is in fact, quite Christian in its origin. The inverted cross is the sign of St. Peter, who deemed himself too unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ, and hence chose an inverted one. However, in the metal music context, an inversion of the primary symbol of Christianity is meant to signify an opposite path.
THE PENTAGRAM	A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha or pentangle or a star pentagon) is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. In medieval Christian tradition, the pentagram could represent the five wounds of Jesus. In the Renaissance it came to be associated with magic and occultism. The inverted pentagram, as used by English black magician, Aleister Crowley and Anton La Vey, founder of the Satanic Church, came to be associated with Satanism. It is a popular with Black Metal bands and modern day Wiccan cults.
BAPHOMET / DEVIL'S HORNS	Baphomet - from the from medieval Latin Baphometh - is a term originally used to describe an idol or other deity, which the Knights Templar were accused of worshiping, and subsequently incorporated into disparate occult and mystical traditions. Baphomet is often synonymous with Satan/Lucifer, and hence the raised fingers could either mean Satan's horns or Baphomet's. Modern day Black Metal fans use the hand sign as a customary salute.
SKULLS	For anyone even remotely aware of the heavy metal culture, the skull will be a familiar sign. Representing death and destruction, the skull is a favourite element of artists designing extreme metal album covers.
TRIQUETRA	The Triquetra is an originally Christian symbol, which often signifies the Trinity. However, Pagans consider the symbol sacred too and it might signify three divine elements. However, some have interpreted it as a hidden symbol for the number of the Devil – 666, and hence one comes across the Triquetra in the context of Black Metal.
SIGN OF ANARCHY	Anarchism has a long-standing relationship with the arts, particularly music. As a symbol of opposition to any form of authority, all extreme music embraces anarchy. Punk rock is most associated with the sign, although some death and black metal bands employ it occasionally.

Other common symbols and themes include the Werewolf, the moon, the colour black, fire, blood, virgins, dark priests, forests, crows, etc. 

WRIT IN BLACK

Apart from symbols, Black Metal carries forth the myths of Satan, and other Pagan characters through its explicit, blasphemous and sometimes downright disturbing lyrics. There are ample Christian and anti-Christian references, like Sabbath, Exodus, Day of Judgment, the pact with the Devil, sacrifices, Black Masses, etc. Such extreme lyrics sway teenagers, who are the largest consumers of such music. There have also been instances of suicides influenced by such music and ensuing lawsuits. However, dark myths continue to be fostered through the Black Metal underground culture. Here are some instances: 

• Gorgoroth – Satan-Prometheus 

See the hordes ascend

Crushing the face of god

See the horns rise

The eternal reign of Satan

• Solar Deity – Through the hallway of Narak

Satan… bless my soul

Father… we are yours

There is one god

Dark lord, you’re the one!

Indian black metal band, Solar Deity

• Nunslaughter – Satanic

Lucifer's grip upon the throat

Of the catholic priest

Asphyxiate eviscerate

The holy are deceased

• Mayhem- Pagan Fears

Pagan fears

The past is alive

The past is alive

Woeful people with pale faces

Staring obsessed at the moon

Some memories will never go away

And will forever be here

• Burzum – Lost Wisdom

Other planes lie beyond the reach

of normal sense and common roads

But they are no less real

than what we see or touch or feel

Denied by the blind church

'cause these are not the words of God

• Bathory – Sacrifice

Present at ungodly births

In holy paradise

I spread eternal dark on earth

And raped the mother of Christ

• Bathory – Shores in flames

Thor of thunder way up high

Swing your Hammer that cracks the sky

Send the wind to fill our sails and take us home

Guide your sons, us, home

CONCLUSION

Religion and the arts have always been carriers of myth. Since music as an art form has a wider appeal than most others, myth in music has been common across nations and genres. Whether one sings hymns in praise of God, chants praises of natural beauty, or rages against convention, myths are always useful in conveying an idea more powerfully. 

In the realm of Black Metal too, Satanic and Pagan myths are used mostly for artistic purposes than as ideology. Very few Black Metal artists admit to following Satanism in their everyday lives. Their dark costumes and stage ‘rituals’ are more for shock and entertainment value than anything else. There are crazed fans and extreme instances like the murder of the Thai Black Metal artiste are few and far between. 

Black Metal ‘arrived’ in India around the year 2000, but very little has happened since then. There are not more than five bands that play serious Black Metal. These bands are wholly inspired by their Western counterparts and their music is inspired by the same set of myths and ideas. Avid heavy metal follower and blogger, Devdutt Nawalkar succinctly sums up the Indian Black Metal scene, “There aren't any bands that make studied use of Satanic literature and symbols to the best of my knowledge. I can only think of Solar Deity from Bombay who claim to be influenced by Anton Lavey's cult of personality (the Satanic Bible is nothing but a trussed up self empowerment course), and Witchgoat from Bangalore who use various hackneyed cliches like inverted crosses, Baphomets and pentagrams as an ironical tool to make fun of black metal. Metal fans in India will regularly use flippant salutations like "Hail Satan" but it's little more than juvenile delinquency acted out to appeal to the outsider within. Indian Vedic literature has a formidable canon on atheism that deals with very pertinent questions of existence itself; we don't need to "Indianize" what is essentially a Judeo-Christian concept.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This assignment was part of my PG Diploma Course in Comparative Mythology, at the Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai, for the academic year 2013-14, Sem. 2, Paper II. Images have been sourced from the Internet and none belong to me.