Black Metal - Ideology

Ideology

Bands that were part of the 'first wave' had 'Satanic' imagery and lyrics, although most of them were not Satanists. However, for the early 'second wave' bands in Norway, Satanism as an ideology defined black metal. Another part of the scene adopted Paganism, "often coupled with nationalism", although the early Pagan bands did not call themselves 'black metal'. Bands associating themselves with black metal are generally opposed to Christianity and the other major religions. Arguably, this is the only shared belief among those calling their music black metal. Artists who oppose Christianity tend to promote atheism, antitheism, paganism or Satanism. Many artists also write lyrics that appear to be nihilistic and misanthropic, although it is debatable whether this represents their mindset.

An article in the Chronicles of Chaos webzine noted that "An overriding feature of almost all black metal is the fascination with the past". Regarding this, Aaron Weaver from Wolves in the Throne Room said in an interview: "I think that black metal is an artistic movement that is critiquing modernity on a fundamental level, saying that the modern world view is missing something". As part of this, some black metal artists have written about or focused on the ancient pre-Christian cultures of their homelands. The documentarist Sam Dunn noted of the Norwegian scene that "unlike any other heavy metal scene, the culture and the place is incorporated into the music and imagery". In a Norwegian documentary, Fenriz stated that "black metal is individualism above all", and artists tend to be supportive of individualism, although followers of Euronymous tended towards support of anti-individualism. According to Benjamin Hedge Olson's master thesis, "Black Metal is characterized by a conflict between radical individualism and group identity and by an attempt to accept both polarities simultaneously".

Benjamin Hedge Olson writes that some artists hold a belief similar to transcendentalists. This belief typically means that someone is trying to leave the physical form of his or her body, and in doing so, find higher knowledge or a better understanding of the world. Usually, this means that the individual has received information from a higher being. These black metallers "try to reconcile notions of self and other by dissolving their singular identity with the divine" by "transcending the physical self, and making contact with the divine". They are dissatisfied with "a contemporary world that they feel is devoid of spiritual and cultural significance", want to rise above it and challenge "this secularism with religious fanaticism". Olson defines black metal concerts as "musical rituals designed to achieve both scenic solidarity and mystical transcendence" and considers the "cknowledgment that the performers, through ritual performance, have transcended their mundane, physical forms and taken on a spiritual persona associated with the deity" as a typical step of black metal concerts he attended.

Some prominent musicians within the scene hold that black metal does not need to represent any particular ideology. For example, Jan Axel Blomberg (Hellhammer) said in an interview with Metal Library that "In my opinion, black metal today is just music". Likewise, Sigurd Wongraven has said that black metal "doesn't necessarily have to be all Satanic, as long as it's dark". Eric Horner commented: "Though many bands base it on Satanic belief, I disagree that it is the only way to be 'black metal'. Black metal to me is pure emotion and individuality with a real vibe to it". However, an article in Metalion's Slayer fanzine attacked musicians that "care more about their guitars than the actual essence onto which the whole concept was and is based upon", and insisted that "the music itself doesn't come as the first priority".