Norwegian Black Metal / Church Burnings

In part one of this wild two-parter episode, we dive into the shadowy world of Norwegian black metal- a music scene that transcended mere sound to become a notorious subculture known for its aggressive music with dark, philosophical, and anti-religious ideologies. This chaotic story begins with the notorious and influential history of Mayhem, the band that laid the foundation for Norway’s black metal scene. The band members comprised of aliases like ‘Euronymous’, ‘Hellhammer’, and ‘Necrobutcher’, ‘Count Grishnackh’, along with others, together became a symbol of extreme ideology, shocking events, and underground rebellion. Most notably, is the tragic and disturbing death of Mayhem’s lead singer Per "Dead" Ohlin, the enigmatic frontman of Mayhem whose life and untimely death left an indelible mark on the Norwegian black metal scene. Dead’s obsession with death, the macabre events leading up to his passing, and the dark aftermath involving band members all contribute to a story that is as haunting as it was influential; forever changing the landscape of extreme music. As Mayhem’s notoriety grew, so did the lines between art and real-life violence, including arson, murder, and chaos. Don your corpse paint and join us as we uncover the myth, the music, and the madness behind Norwegian black metal.