Editing Black metal (section)

====Norwegian scene====
{{Main|Early Norwegian black metal scene}}
[[File:Immortal Getaway Rock Festival.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Norwegian band Immortal influenced countless bands in the genre]]

During {{nowrap|1990–1993}}, a number of Norwegian artists began performing and releasing a new kind of black metal music; this included [[Mayhem (band)|Mayhem]], [[Darkthrone]], [[Burzum]], [[Immortal (band)|Immortal]], [[Emperor (Norwegian band)|Emperor]], [[Satyricon (band)|Satyricon]], [[Enslaved (band)|Enslaved]], [[Thorns (band)|Thorns]], and [[Gorgoroth (band)|Gorgoroth]]. They developed the style of their 1980s forebears into a distinct genre. This was partly thanks to a new kind of guitar playing developed by [[Snorre Ruch|Snorre 'Blackthorn' Ruch]] and [[Euronymous|Øystein 'Euronymous' Aarseth]].<ref name=billzebub/><ref name=guardian/> [[Fenriz]] of Darkthrone described it as being "derived from Bathory"<ref name=untilthelight>{{cite video |year=2009 |title=[[Until the Light Takes Us]] |medium=motion picture |publisher=Variance Films}}</ref> and noted that "those kinds of riffs became the new order for a lot of bands in the '90s".<ref name=revolver>Kory Grow: [http://www.revolvermag.com/uncategorized/web-exclusive-interview-darkthrones-fenriz-part-2-his-thoughts-on-transilva.html ''WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DARKTHRONE'S FENRIZ, PART 2! HIS THOUGHTS ON 'TRANSILVANIAN HUNGER' AND HIP''].</ref>

The wearing of [[corpse paint]] became standard, and was a way for many black metal artists to distinguish themselves from other metal bands of the era.<ref name=murdermusic/> The scene also had an ideology and ethos. Artists were bitterly opposed to Christianity and presented themselves as misanthropic Devil worshippers who wanted to spread terror, hatred and evil.{{sfn|Olson|2008|p=27, 33, 41}} They professed to be serious in their views and vowed to act on them. [[Ihsahn]] of Emperor said that they sought to "create fear among people"{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=222}} and "be in opposition to society".{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=218f}} The scene was exclusive and created boundaries around itself, incorporating only those who were "true" and attempting to expel all "[[poseur]]s".{{sfn|Olson|2008|p=30, 42}} Some members of the scene were responsible for a spate of church burnings and murder, which eventually drew attention to it and led to a number of artists being imprisoned.

===== Dead's suicide =====
On 8 April 1991, Mayhem vocalist [[Dead (musician)|Per "Dead" Ohlin]] committed suicide while left alone in a house shared by the band.<ref name=onceuponatime>{{cite video |year=2007 |title=Once Upon a Time in Norway |medium=motion picture |publisher=Another World Entertainment}}</ref><ref name=purefucking>{{cite video |year=2008 |title=Pure Fucking Mayhem |medium=motion picture |publisher=Index Verlag}}</ref> Fellow musicians described Dead as odd, introverted and depressed. Mayhem's drummer, [[Jan Axel Blomberg|Hellhammer]], said that Dead was the first to wear the distinctive corpse paint that became widespread in the scene.<ref name=basik>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetruemayhem.com/interviews/previous/hh-june1998.htm |title=Interview with Hellhammer conducted by Dmitry Basik June 1998 |last=Basik |first=Dmitri |date=June 1998 |work=thetruemayhem.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823184104/http://www.thetruemayhem.com/interviews/previous/hh-june1998.htm |archive-date=23 August 2007 |access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref> He was found with slit wrists and a [[shotgun]] wound to the head. Dead's suicide note began with "Excuse all the blood", and apologized for firing the weapon indoors.<ref name=purefucking/>{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=62}} Before calling the police, Euronymous got a disposable camera and photographed the body,{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=49}} after re-arranging some items. One of these photographs was later used as the cover of a bootleg live album, ''[[Dawn of the Black Hearts]]''.<ref name=basik/>

Euronymous made necklaces with bits of Dead's skull and gave some to musicians he deemed worthy.<ref name=sam/><!--this has been confirmed by others--> Rumors also spread that he had made a stew with bits of his brain.<ref name=murdermusic/><ref name=onceuponatime/> Euronymous used Dead's suicide to foster Mayhem's evil image and claimed Dead had killed himself because extreme metal had become trendy and commercialized.{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=59-60}} Mayhem bassist [[Necrobutcher|Jørn 'Necrobutcher' Stubberud]] noted that "people became more aware of the black metal scene after Dead had shot himself ... I think it was Dead's suicide that really changed the scene".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bromley |first=Adrian "The Energizer" |title=Mayhem: To Hell and Back |journal=Unrestrained |issue=15 |url=http://www.thetruemayhem.com/interviews/previous/necro-unrestrained15.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823101847/http://www.thetruemayhem.com/interviews/previous/necro-unrestrained15.htm |archive-date=23 August 2007 |access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref>

Two other members of the early Norwegian scene later committed suicide: Erik 'Grim' Brødreskift (of [[Immortal (band)|Immortal]], [[Borknagar]], [[Gorgoroth]]) in 1999<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/norway/bergen/immortal |title=MusicMight :: Artists :: Immortal |work=rockdetector.com |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910065741/http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/norway/bergen/immortal |archive-date=10 September 2012}}</ref><ref name=immortalmembers>{{cite web |url=http://www.immortal.nu/band/members.html |title=w w w . i m m o r t a l . n u |work=immortal.nu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010820145828/http://www.immortal.nu/band/members.html |archive-date=20 August 2001 |access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref> and Espen 'Storm' Andersen (of [[Strid (band)|Strid]]) in 2001.<ref>Ravn: ''Strid''. In: ''Slayer'', No. 20, ''Blood Fire Death'', 2010, p. 78.</ref>

===== Helvete and Deathlike Silence =====
[[File:Helvete Oslo - black metal graffiti.jpg|thumb|200px|The basement of Helvete, showing graffiti from the early 1990s]]

During May–June 1991,{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=66}} Euronymous of Mayhem opened an independent record shop named "[[Helvete (store)|Helvete]]" ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] for "Hell") at Schweigaards gate 56 in [[Oslo]]. It quickly became the focal point of Norway's emerging black metal scene and a meeting place for many of its musicians; especially the members of Mayhem, Burzum, Emperor and Thorns.<ref name="Satan rir media"/> Jon 'Metalion' Kristiansen, writer of the fanzine ''Slayer'', said that the opening of Helvete was "the creation of the whole Norwegian black metal scene".{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=39}} In its basement, Euronymous founded an [[independent record label]] named [[Deathlike Silence Productions]]. With the rising popularity of his band and others like it, the underground success of Euronymous's label is often credited for encouraging other record labels, who had previously shunned black metal acts, to then reconsider and release their material.

===== Church burnings =====
[[File:Bergen, Fantoft2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The [[Fantoft Stave Church]], [[Building restoration|restored]] in 1997.<ref name=Fantoft>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Norwegian Church Draws Black Metal Fans |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/norwegian-church-draws-black-metal-fans/ |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=5 August 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730084004/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/norwegian-church-draws-black-metal-fans/ |archive-date=30 July 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=13 October 2020}}</ref><!-- Please add a picture of one of the churches burning, if possible --><!-- A photograph of MZ.412's ''Burning the Temple of God'' (not all pressings), Absurd's ''Facta Loquuntur'' (1999 picture LP and maybe other pressings), Lord Belial's ''Purify Sweden'' or of the ''Lords of Chaos'' book cover should do. The destroyed church on Burzum's ''Aske'' is also worth being depicted. -->]]

In 1992, members of the Norwegian black metal scene began a wave of arson attacks on Christian churches. By 1996, there had been at least 50 such attacks in Norway.<ref name="Satan rir media"/> Some of the buildings were hundreds of years old and seen as important historical landmarks. The first to be burnt down was Norway's [[Fantoft Stave Church]]. Police believe [[Varg Vikernes]] of Burzum was responsible.<ref name="Satan rir media"/> The cover of Burzum's EP ''[[Aske (album)|Aske]]'' ("ashes") is a photograph of the destroyed church.<ref name=Fantoft/> In May 1994, Vikernes was found guilty for burning down the [[Holmenkollen Chapel]], [[Skjold Church, Rogaland|Skjold Church]], and [[Old Åsane Church|Åsane Church]].<ref name=untilthelight/>{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=93}} In addition, he was found guilty for an attempted arson of a fourth church, and for the theft and storage of 150&nbsp;kg of explosives.{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=141}} To coincide with the release of Mayhem's ''[[De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas]]'', Vikernes and Euronymous had also allegedly plotted to bomb the [[Nidaros Cathedral]], which appears on the album cover. The musicians [[Faust (musician)|Faust]],{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=94f}} [[Samoth]],{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=141}} (both of Emperor), and [[Jørn Inge Tunsberg]] (of [[Hades Almighty]]){{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=141}}<ref name="Satan rir media"/> were also convicted for church arsons. Members of the Swedish black metal scene started to burn churches as well in 1993.{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=269f}}

Those convicted for church burnings showed no remorse and described their actions as a symbolic "retaliation" against [[Christianity in Norway]].{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=89}} Mayhem drummer Hellhammer said he had called for attacks on [[mosque]]s and [[Hindu temple]]s, on the basis that they were more foreign.{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=105}} Today, opinions on the church burnings differ within the black metal community. Many musicians, singers, and songwriters in the early Norwegian black metal scene, such as [[Infernus]] and [[Gaahl]] of [[Gorgoroth]], continue to praise the church burnings, with the latter saying "there should have been more of them, and there will be more of them".<ref name=sam/> Others, such as [[Necrobutcher]] and [[Kjetil Manheim]] of Mayhem and [[Abbath]] of Immortal,<ref name=sam /> see the church burnings as having been futile. Manheim claimed that many arsons were "just people trying to gain acceptance" within the black metal scene.<ref name=onceuponatime/> [[Watain]] vocalist Erik Danielsson respected the attacks, but said of those responsible: "the only Christianity they defeated was the last piece of Christianity within themselves. Which is a very good beginning, of course".<ref name=blackmetalsatanica>''Black Metal Satanica'', 2008.</ref><!-- Please do not remove these tags -->

===== Murder of Euronymous =====
In early 1993, animosity arose between Euronymous and Vikernes.{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=117}} On the night of 10 August 1993, Varg Vikernes (of Burzum) and Snorre 'Blackthorn' Ruch (of Thorns) drove from Bergen to Euronymous's apartment in Oslo. When they arrived a confrontation began and Vikernes stabbed Euronymous to death. His body was found outside the apartment with 23 cut wounds—two to the head, five to the neck, and sixteen to the back.<ref>Steinke, Darcey. "Satan's Cheerleaders". ''[[Spin (magazine)|SPIN]]''. February 1996.</ref>

It has been speculated that the murder was the result of either a power struggle, a financial dispute over Burzum records or an attempt at outdoing a stabbing in Lillehammer the year before by Faust.<ref name=ukcrlz>{{cite web|last=Huey |first=Steve |url=http://music.yahoo.com/ar-257375-bio |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105103704/http://music.yahoo.com/ar-257375-bio |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2013 |title=Mayhem Mayhem Biography on Yahoo! Music |work=yahoo.com |date=10 August 1993 |access-date=24 March 2010 }}</ref> Vikernes denies all of these, claiming that he attacked Euronymous in self-defense. He says that Euronymous had plotted to stun him with an [[electroshock weapon]], tie him up and torture him to death while videotaping the event.<ref name=untilthelight/> He said Euronymous planned to use a meeting about an unsigned contract to ambush him.<ref name=untilthelight/><ref name=burzumstory2>Vikernes, Varg: [http://www.burzum.org/eng/library/a_burzum_story02.shtml ''A Burzum Story: Part II – Euronymous'']. Burzum.org.</ref> Vikernes claims he intended to hand Euronymous the signed contract that night and "tell him to fuck off", but that Euronymous panicked and attacked him first.<ref name=burzumstory2/> He also claims that most of the cuts were from broken glass Euronymous had fallen on during the struggle.<ref name=burzumstory2/> The self-defense story is doubted by Faust,{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=123}} while [[Necrobutcher]] confirmed that Vikernes killed Euronymous in self-defense due to the death threats he received from him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Campion |first=Chris |date=20 February 2005 |title=In the face of death |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/feb/20/popandrock4 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[London]] |access-date=30 December 2018 |quote='Øystein was always sending death threats to people,' says Necro Butcher. 'It was his reaction to everything. But he didn't put so much into it. And then when he met you, he was like, "OK. You're cool!". Then you were best friends. So when eventually he got to be unfriendly with Varg, he threatened him like he did everyone else. Øystein told him, "I'm going to send some people to torture you. Until you die." But Varg Vikernes saw this as a real threat. He probably thought, "better him than me. I'll just go down and do him".'}}</ref>

Vikernes was arrested on 19 August 1993, in Bergen.{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=120}} Many other members of the scene were taken in for questioning around the same time. Some of them confessed to their crimes and implicated others. In May 1994, Vikernes was sentenced to 21 years in prison (Norway's maximum penalty) for the murder of Euronymous, the arson of four churches, and for possession of 150&nbsp;kg of explosives. However, he only confessed to the latter. Two churches were burnt the day he was sentenced, "presumably as a statement of symbolic support".{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=141}} Vikernes smiled when his verdict was read and the picture was widely reprinted in the news media. Blackthorn was sentenced to eight years in prison for being an accomplice to the murder.{{sfn|Moynihan|Søderlind|2003|p=141}} That month saw the release of Mayhem's album ''De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas'', which featured Euronymous on guitar and Vikernes on bass guitar.<ref name=guardian/> Euronymous's family had asked Mayhem's drummer, Hellhammer, to remove the bass tracks recorded by Vikernes, but Hellhammer said: "I thought it was appropriate that the murderer and victim were on the same record. I put word out that I was re-recording the bass parts. But I never did".<ref name=guardian/> In 2003, Vikernes failed to return to Tønsberg prison after being given a short leave. He was re-arrested shortly after while driving a stolen car with various weapons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Berglund |first=Nina |date=27 October 2003 |title=Police Nab 'The Count' After He Fled Jail |newspaper=[[Aftenposten]] |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article655724.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308164838/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article655724.ece |archive-date=8 March 2007 |access-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> Vikernes was released on [[parole]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=Varg Vikernes ute på prøve |url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=557287 |newspaper=[[Verdens Gang]] |location=[[Oslo]], Norway |agency=[[Norsk Telegrambyrå|NTB]] |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=5 September 2012 |language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312054544/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=557287 |url-status=live |archive-date=12 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ute av fengsel |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/05/22/nyheter/black_metal/varg_vikernes/6354526/ |work=dagbladet.no |date=22 May 2009 |access-date=23 May 2009 |language=no}}</ref>