Black Metal: The Music of Satan

Chronicles the history, ideology and aesthetic of Norwegian black metal, a musical subculture infamous as much for a series of murders and church arsons as it is for its unique musical and visual aesthetics. This is the first film to truly shed light on a movement that has heretofore been shrouded by rumor and obscured by inaccurate and shallow depictions. Featuring exclusive interviews with the musicians themselves, Until the Light Takes Us explores every aspect of the controversial movement that has captured the attention of the world.

Murder, rape, satanism and necrophilia is the staple diet of millions of teenagers who listen to the lyrics of extreme heavy metal music. This World investigates the potential links between "death metal" and a series of gruesome crimes around the world. In Italy a group of young death metal fans formed a satanic cult called the Beasts of Satan. At least four gruesome killings resulted. But death metal musicians deny that they have any responsibility for the actions of people who profess to be their fans. With exclusive access to the families, one of the killers and graphic police footage, the film tells the inside story for the first time. We hear from the musicians, the children and the parents from Oslo to California and ask just how far can music go in its ability to shock, and just how damaging might it be?

The main themes of Murder Music are: the musical origins of black metal, from Birmingham, UK hard rock group Black Sabbath to Newcastle extreme metal pioneers Venom; the anti-Christian sentiment of its practitioners; the controversies surrounding the criminal acts (arson and murder) of the early Norwegian scene; and the paradox of a Christian form of black metal, represented by Scandinavian band Frosthardr. The 64-minute documentary eschews much of the tabloid sensationalism that shrouded the genre in the early to mid-'90s, focusing instead on the music itself, an element thus far overlooked by the mainstream media.

Presented by Grimposium and Uneasy Sleeper. Blekkmetal is a documentary about the one-off 2015 festival celebrating the origins of Norwegian black metal. Featuring exclusive interviews and footage of Enslaved, Taake, Aeternus, Gehenna, Helheim, Old Funeral, Kampfar, Hades Almighty and Gaahls Wyrd performing classic and rare songs from their catalog, Blekkmetal features an all-Canadian production team including director David Hall (alumnus of Concordia University), metal studies scholars Vivek Venkatesh (Concordia University) and Jason Wallin (University of Alberta), and mobile media scholar Owen Chapman (Concordia University). Blekkmetal is co-produced by the festival’s organizers Ivar Bjørnson, Jannicke Wiese-Hansen and Kirsti Rosseland.

A documentary about the rise, fall and resurrection of the Black Metal music and culture in the Egyptian cities Alexandria and Caïro. This subculture was related with satanic rituals and blasphemy by the media and the government. For this reason the national security of Egypt organised a real 'witchhunt ' on all the metalfans and musicians. Many youngsters were arrested.

Emergence of a unique underground subculture in the volatile Indian subcontinent. A die hard underground music fan embarks upon a journey across countries, cities and towns of the Indian subcontinent, viz. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, unravelling a gripping tale of diverse and equally discordant but well connected nexus of a volatile and extreme subculture."

An overview of black metal culture in Belgian youth.

A look into the glory days of the Dutch (extreme) Metal scene.

A 5-part documentary produced by VBS/Vice Magazine focusing on some aspects of the life of black metal vocalist Gaahl, known for his work with Gorgoroth.

Blistering live performance by British black metal pioneers Venom captured at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in June of 1984. One of the most legendary shows in the history of metal featuring the classic line-up of Cronos (vocals/bass), Mantas (guitar) and Abaddon (drums). TRACKLIST: 01. Leave Me In Hell 02. Countess Bathory 03. Die Hard 04. 7 Gates Of Hell 05. Buried Alive 06. Don't Burn The Witch 07. In Nomine Satanus 08. Welcome To Hell 09. Warhead 10. Stand Up And Be Counted 11. Blood Lust

In the realm of contemporary music, Adam “Nergal” Darski surely needs no further introduction. Yet the guitarist and singer has even made inroads into general pop culture and shaped social discourse, all the while not moving away an iota from the underground ethos his ongoing career is based on. Rising from his humble beginnings in Cold-war Poland to global fame with his band Behemoth, striving for musical excellence throughout the ignominies of life-threatening illness and dubious legal battles, staying deeply spiritual and focused during even the most casual appearances in mundane limelight, it is safe to say the 1977-born has many faces, the sum of which defies categorization. Satanist or dexterous money spinner? Academically certified historian or shallow media figure? Inspired and inspiring spokesperson of a generation or mere agent provocateur? Make your guesses...