Rating: 
Summary: A thorough and articulate history of Satanic Metal.
Review: Lords of Chaos traces Satanic Metal from its dark roots in jazz and blues, through it's rather comical incarnations with bands such as KISS and Black Sabbath, on to the bloody and deadly serious Black Metal of Norway. The book is very well thought-out, and does not merely report on the bands, but the real people involved in them; their thoughts, their frustrations, their goals and their dreams. Lords of Chaos also deals briefly with the elements of facism and Odinism in the black metal "scene," and some of the effects of Satanic music in America. I highly recommend Lords of Chaos to metal fans, Satanists, Odinists, janitors, housewives, and security guards, (just to name a few.) It's enlightening, entertaining, and moves deftly from the ghastly to the esoteric and back; kids, you just won't get this on Jerry Springer! (Or, maybe you will, on the show, "My Daughter Sold Her Soul To Burzum.") Well worth the money; buy two, and give one to a friend!
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Summary: The most disturbing thing about this book.....
Review: ...are some of the customer reviews I have just read, from impressionable, probably disturbed youngsters writing things like "Hail Sathanas" and recommending this book to all black metal scenesters as a "how-to" guide. Obviously these kids have MISSED THE POINT. Sure, the music is compelling--having worked in a record store that sells recordings by Burzum and Emperor, amongst others, I agree that black metal is quite unlike anything else out there and musically ingenious. But the philosophy behind it--NO WAY. I have no love for Christian belief systems, either, but this does not mean I condone the sort of blind, unrelenting, emotionless hatred and destruction perpetrated by the followers of black metal philosophy. The two journalists who wrote this book did a fine job of researching, interviewing and trying to be objective, but nothing in this book acts as an encouragement to embrace national socialism, or Satansism, or murder and church-burning--nothing. The most intriguing part of this book, which unfortunately the authors did not address in detail, is how little jail time and punishment was given to these black metal criminals. They are continuing their message of hate from jail, inciting their (very young) followers, and they'll be out in a matter of years, with every intention of committing other crimes. Even Vikernes will only be 42 when he is released. It saddens and frightens me that some people see this work of research into destruction and violence as some sort of handbook. I urge those people to read this book again, more carefully, without focusing only on the bloody murders and the nihilistic spoutings, and at least try to understand what happens to these people, what the consequences of their actions are. The best example is the interview with Ihsahn of Emperor--I don't agree with his beliefs, but he is one of those people who would understand that I don't have to--he seems to have his head on straight, at least, and a good grasp of what his beliefs actually mean. Read this book as the sociological study that it is, and hear the music as works of art, not as incitations to violence, and understand what it is that drives these people to embrace heathenism and Satanism--which is the best way to distance yourself from the actual violence, as the authors of the book have done. I congratulate them on a well-researched, intelligent account of black metal, and regret that there are those who cannot see beyond the hatred and gore to understand their objective account.
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Summary: What happens when music is wedded to ideology ...
Review: This book is not really about black metal as a musical form, although the first section of the book is concerned with tracing the sonic genealogy of the genre. However, you won't find much information on the distinctive sounds of black metal. Many of the innovators, popularizers, and post-black metallers get little or no coverage: Dimmu Borgir and Satyricon are briefly mentioned in the expanded preface as examples of black metal breaking into the mainstream. Instead, this book focuses on the crimes surrounding the black metal scene in Norway (as well as other scenes in Germany, France, etc) and, more compellingly, the evolution of the black metal ideology; from the cartoonish "in-name-only" Satanism of Venom, to the orthodox Odinism and neo-Nazi beliefs of Varg Vikernes, to the cultivated and mature Nietzsche-esque beliefs of Ulver. It is clear that, as far as the material uncovered in this book is concerned, this aspect of the black metal scene is the most deeply fascinating to Moynhihan. As such, I would say that this book is principally about ideology in metal music. Moynihan himself takes the union of these two things very seriously as one can well see when listening to his band Blood Axis. I think that black metal fans who pick up this book will get the most mileage out of the sections concerning the crimes of the inner circle centered around the Helvete store. However, the anthropological aspect of this book, which they may overlook, is invaluable to truly understanding those crimes and the motivation behind black metal in general.
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Summary: best Intro to Black Metal scene w/o adding to Band's profits
Review: I knew about the problems since Oystein Aarseth's murder, but I never wanted to buy the music because the royalties from the sale could encourage more actions by these figures. A companion sampler CD might be useful for future publishing. Only Anton LaVay and his disciples (Ihsahn, King Diamond) come across as worthy examples of the movement, through reading this book. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: A definitive history of dark influences in metal.
Review: This book is thoroughly researched, and I can see why it has been getting rave reviews from Sociologists, Historians, and Divinity Scholars. The whole story is here with interviews of dozens of key personalities including Euronymous, the Count, Grischnacht's *MOM*, Norwegian Politicians, all the members of Dark Throne, Emperor... the list goes on. The only book I have ever read with more and more thorough interviews was _Crash at Corona_ Stanton Friedman's 600 page account of the infamous saucer crash incident at Roswell, New Mexico. _Lords...._ starts out with a well-conceived history of gothic and satanic influences in music going as far back as pagan medieval music and so inclusive as to consider the dark side of American Delta Blues, ala Robert Johnson, one of the first musicians reputed to have a "pact with the devil." The book then traces evil rock from Coven (of "one Tin Soldier fame") to Sabbath, Venom, Mercyful Fate, and Bathory. No significant dark band is omitted. The book even discusses the rift between black and death metal that was fostered mainly by Mayhem in the late 80's. The rest of the story serves as a thorough account of the atocities in Norway and Sweden and the history of Black Metal throughout the world. I have been waiting for a book like this for a couple of years now. I'm happy to say that it exceeds my original expectations. This is professional journalism at it's best and also serves at the definitive history of extreme Satanic metal.
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Summary: Metal Evilutions...
Review: I picked up a copy of "Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground" by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind, and it has been quite an intriguing read - the book mostly focuses on church arson, murder amongst their own, and the development of this counter-culture primarily in The Netherlands, spawned from the iconoclasm of Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Mercyful Fate, Possessed, and Slayer. These were bands that I listened to in formative evilution, and still put them on the crackling turntable from time to time when the feeling is appropriate, for evocation and Vampriric invigorating preservation/time travel. Of particular note, and the main reason I purchased this tome, is for the interview with Dr. LaVey and Ms. Barton, in which they discuss the pretention of many of these devil-worshipping bands who are mainly not Satanists, and the precious few who actually are, like King Diamond and Acheron, to name only a couple. By now, we know that Satanism is about Strength Through Joy, Living Life to The Fullest, evolving to one's highest potential, a winner's creed, not about misery and criminality, which hampers self-preservation, and is decidedly and ironically Christian in nature. The horror genre does span the multimedia spectrum, but most of those devil-worshipper types divulge their misinformation from horror movies, books, and music lyrics, which are intended as entertainment, not to be taken fundamentally. The Satanic Bible explais what Satanism is, and the non-satanic will frequently misinterpret this essential text, and crib from the J/C bible at that. And they eventually return to their god, whom they never really left. And that is as it should be, for it is a process of stratification. The blindlight religions muck-rake the inferior away from us, as well as those who dwell within the same paradigm. Black sheep are still sheep, and have no place amongst the Black Wolves, which they have pretentiously attempted to be. We are The Church of Satan, the Source of true information.
Rating: 
Summary: A complete waste of time.
Review: I don't read very fast, and when I think of the hours I spent reading this rubbish I am crestfallen at the prospect of what else I could have been reading. First off, I was bored out of my mind. There is no information of interest in this book that I couldn't collect from many band's Home sites. Not to mention, there is a site I frequent where each Black Metal band is listed with its own biography and a list of their influences. I got more from the Mayhem biography at that site, a whole 4 paragraphs, than I did in the first 200 pages of this over-hyped text. The cover reads "The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground." Every "Satanic" band in the book that is interviewed states vehemently that it is all an act of rebellion against Christian-dominated society. They are targeting disenchanted youth for cash, nothing more. Also, most of this book is a collection of interviews with disturbed pyromaniacs who have delusions of grandeur. "Chieftan" Vikernes, indeed. Another portion is a detailed description of the Nazi fascination with UFOs. What has that got to do with Black Metal? The authors are not above the occasional veiled slander of something they believe to be ridiculous. They mask it fairly well, but other times I coughed in disgust. This book is a complete waste of time.
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Summary: For Those Who Want to Ignore Heavy Metal
Review: In "Lords of Chaos", author Michael Moynihan states, "As decades passed and the business swelled, the multinational corporations who came to control it could not allow such seeds to develop into uncontrollable stalks and vines." That statement explains why heavy metal keeps getting commercialized. It may also explain why the professional rock critics also dismiss it. Despite those efforts, people seem to recognize the power in heavy metal and keep it going.
Moynihan gives a great history of heavy metal and it's evolution into the extreme forms it has taken in order to stay pure. He covers the Satanic aspects of it very well with interviews with the most important figures in underground metal and even Anton LaVey. "Lords of Chaos" is a very interesting book and is required reading for any fan of heavy metal music. It will give the fans a solid respect for the music that the media tries to downplay. The idea of black metal is very interesting. In the book "Lords of Chaos," black metal is a philosophy where the musicians practiced their antireligious beliefs by burning down churches and killing. It was like the American hardcore movement of the early '80's where the whole scene relied on an underground network, but more militant and radical.
While there is no difference between wearing a shaved head with a chain wallet and wearing corpse paint make-up with bullet belts, there is a difference between living in reality and living in a fantasy world. Hardcore seemed to live in the real world, where black metal lives in a fantasy world. The hardcore scene was able to draw a line between radical thoughts and radical actions. What "Lords of Chaos" mainly demonstrates is heavy metal's impact on popular culture. While critics may dismiss heavy metal as teenage machismo, this book demonstrates that its main purpose has been to demolish Christianity. No other current pop culture music has challenged religion more than heavy metal. It's been a much more powerful force than any other form of rock 'n roll.
Some people believe that the hippie music of the '60's changed the world with the "peace and love" and antiwar messages. The left wing agenda is still being pushed in pop music today in commercialized and socially acceptable forms. But, judging by the current state of America, those ideas have failed.
Heavy metal is fighting a much deeper cancer in our culture: religion. The effects are taking much longer to unfold than the ideas propelled in the '60's. The anger the artists channel into their music comes through loud and clear and increases more and more with each new form. It's true revolution that is more passionate and more immediate than any slow moving left wing rock. Underground heavy metal is the only form of music that is really evolving into something more than a commercial commodity.
Scandinavian black metal is floating right into the mainstream now that Dimmu Borgir will be appearing on the main stage at Ozz-fest. In the '90's, it was the most extreme music on the planet. Now, its becoming a part of the American mainstream.
Driving by any construction site, one is most likely to hear radio stations that play a heavy metal format. Heavy metal seems to be the choice of the new generation of blue collar, lower class workers. These are the people who seem to take the brunt of the religious hypocrisy and social scorn society hands out. They're considered criminals, immoral, and primitive. These are the people who are most likely to revolt against the system and heavy metal music may play a role in it.
Rating:
Summary: Lords of Chaos
Review: Chronicles the literaly "killer" Scandinavian black metal scene. Fascinating look at the events that unfolded, where bands that were making brilliant music, were also burning down churches and comitting murders. And you thought Madonna and Bono took themselves too seriously! Also includes some great essays on the wild hunt from euro folklore.
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Summary: Great book for black metal lovers!!
Review: I randomly spotted this book at Waldenbooks, and WOW, I never saw a book so dedicated to black metal! It tells the story of the evolution of black metal in Norway & Scandanvia & etc, and has great pictures of black metal bands, like Bloodbath, Emperor, Old Man's Child, and of course Venom (surprised no pics of Dimmu Borgir.. my 2nd favorite black metal band after Dissection) Excellent book, check it out if you like black metal!
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