Understand Black Metal...

Probably the best doc on Norwegian Black Metal. It won't give the whole story, nothing will. I've been learning about black metal on and off since I was thirteen, and still regularly learn new info. it's not a topic you learn about overnight. Nobody knows everything about it, not even the people who were there most likely.

I absolutely love Varg's music but goddamn his brain damage is unbearable. He's like a crying child begging to suck on mother's titty and Fenriz has all the temperament of a teenage woman. These are the two protagonists so the film definitely did a good job making this movement look cringe and despicable. Luckily, it does go beyond that though and does a beautiful job exploring commodification, legacy, male loneliness and even friendship. Both Varg and Fenriz are at similar states today but neither will listen to their hearts. Harmony Korine's one-minute cameo, which I had no idea was coming, was oddly the crux of the film in a way. He came in as a fan of both the music and the movement's extemeties and tap dances in the Helvete gallery wearing corpse paint and the most ridiculous wig. It's like the ultimate mockery of the genre becoming a trend, just to piss Fenriz off (and presumably Varg too) and then leave back to America. Haha loved it.

It's weird how a genre of music, that is rather mainstream now, was brought to the light (pardon the pun) by these very strange and batshit crazy loners. I've always been interested in Black Metal. I'm a metalhead and find some of the music rather good. On the other hand, the thing I find repulsive about the genre is not the music and themes themselves...it's the total arrogance and intolerance of many of the guys that play this music...and, of course, what they did. I find the metal community as a whole rather open and inclusive. Be what you want, believe in what you want, and like what you want. Metal unites us. The total opposite of what these guys were in the early nineties, and what many still are. Just look at Vikernes...a total intolerant bastard with no remorse for anything he did. How can an obviously smart guy turn out like that? Until the Light Takes Us is a rather narrow documentary on the subject. Few interview subjects, and few actual insights. It's not bad, just not all that informed. Try Black Metal Satanica, True Norwegian Black Metal, and Once Upon a Time in Norway. None of which gives you the whole picture, but together with Until the Light Takes Us gives a good picture of the early Black Metal scene...