Rating: 
Summary: Informative and insightful in the question it poses
Review: Most books about metal focus on trivial sociological interpretations of behaviors of the most deluded morons in ay group. This book thankfully is tackled by two authors who know enough to find the reasonably articulate youth who made great albums in the black metal era, and ask them questions about their beliefs, ideals and music.What is revealed is fascinating, and easy to read for information as it traces the formations of the movement and then launches into a way of explaining, through various ideological views, what the actual beliefs in common of the movement of black metal are. For example, it's heavy on Burzum in the second half, because Burzum defined in words what others would not speak, and changed black metal radically with his music and eventually, the murder of Euronymous. If any single act brought metal toward an understanding by the people who weren't burnt out in the mainstream, it was bands like Burzum, Emperor, Darkthrone and Immortal who revived a sense of pride in a method of making music as ancient as the European people, with passions appropriate to their history, culture and individual selves. As such, these bands are both fantastic voyages into creativity and a strike against society, through a blow against its attitude of socialization, meaning a docile morality and spectator mentality. As such, the description of Burzum is like those of other bands here a chance for them to speak, and both score and blunder, as we the audience can see where their knowledge falls short but where they have put their fingers on the pulse of a certain segment of humanity in frustration with the stagnation of post-modern life, waiting for globalism and technology to turn us into the little green men people think they see piloting saucers at night. It is with this attitude that Lords of Chaos, for all of its seeming overindulgence, captures the ideas that motivated these people to become alienated dropouts making majestic, traditionalist music, and unlike almost any book on metal thus finally TAKES IT SERIOUSLY and studies it as a formula of ideas and knowledge and will, in its purest and most feral human sense. While there are many things that could be fixed or made more smoothly readable, this volume is a massive find of information and honesty rare in both metal and underground music.
Rating: 
Summary: One of my favorite books.
Review: This book is emotional and yet very easy to follow. I recomend this book to any reader who needs a break from the usual dry meaningless readings of todays litterature!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and frightening.
Review: While Lords of Chaos portrays itself as a book of the underground satanic metal world, this is essentially the story of the scene most (in)famous individual, Varg Vikernes. That's not the fault of the authors, as Varg is the epitome of the black metal world. The book begins with a detailed evolution of black metal, stemming not only from music, but the culture and history of Norway. Finally, through newspaper and media accounts, and thorough interviews, the reader sees the baleful relationship of the largest players of black metal, especially Mayhem members, and the violent end of Euronymous. A small irony of black metal is that spawned in Norway. Norway is excellent for its majestic scenery and mysterious forests. But for a culture of extreme music, it's more interesting, because Norway is not a violent, strife-filled country. Rather, it's a country with one of the highest standards of living in the world. If you want to see how far a bright and intelligent individual can descend, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but uneven
Review: On the down side, the country by country accounts toward the end of the book are a little thin esp. the "America" chapter where the author attempts to link the "Lords of Chaos" group to Satanic activity and music but fails to offer any evidence that the group was even mildly interested in Satan or Heavy Metal. Pointless. Sometimes the author seems sidetracked by the socio-political aspects of Paganism/Heathenism. The author also attempts to make a case that the rise of Neo-Nazism is linked to the music but only offers one example (a band that had one demo and had never played out-not exactly a strong case). And to a lesser degree, the many typograhic and grammatical errors become distracting.
On the plus side, the author is able to offer a sensational story without being mired in the more salacious details. The author also steers clear of pandering to the musicians or the fandom that many "scene" books often fall victim. Also the overview of Norse mythology and folklore is interesting. I've read this book twice and I rarely do that( so there's definitely something here). It's been a while since the book was written and if the local record stores are any indicator this genre isn't dead, so this book is still relevant. Also, buy some black metal too. It makes an excellent soundtrack. Maybe try the "Gummo" soundtrack-nice place to start.
Rating:
Summary: A book that tells it like it was...
Review: "Lords of Chaos" is a very well-written book that documents certain key events in the rise and fall of the Satanic movement in extreme metal. Beginning with a slight history of the proto-black/death metal bands of the '80's (i.e. Bathory, Venom, King Diamond, Slayer, etc...), and bringing the reader to the early '90's when the Norwegian black metal scene declared its supremacy, this book tells it like it was. Everything from the church burnings (for which Samoth of Emperor was imprisoned), to Faust's (Emperor's drummer) murder of a homosexual fan, to the suicide of Dead (Mayhem's vocalist), to the murder of Oystein "Euronymous" Aarseth (Mayhem's guitarist) at the hands of friend and Burzum mainman Varg Vikernes, to the German band Absurd's own transgressions in the following years, this book is pretty much a black metal historian's dream. The philosophy is not elaborated on as much as it should, but there are several chapters that deal specifically with Anton LeVay's brand of Satanism (right down to an interview with him) to several notes on Nordic/Viking mythology, and plenty of rare photos and interviews with key personalities in the scene, including Ihsahn (Emperor), Varg (Burzum), and even the guys in Cradle of Filth (a.k.a. black metal goes pop). It is definitely not for all tastes, and even fans of black metal may find it horrid to find that a scene that carries so much enjoyment also carried such terror and insanity. Not for the weak of heart. Other than that, it is an interesting read...
Rating: 
Summary: Hight Quality book for all interested
Review: this book is very interesting even if your not a black metal fan, some of the crazy goings on in norway and the crazy personalities like varg make this book worthwhile.
Rating: 
Summary: A storm in a cup of tea...
Review: ...A reader may finish (if he can, I couldn't, that interesting it was...) the book, non the wiser as he was when starting reading it. All a collage of tabloid gossip, totally useless and boring, no insight and nothing new, without any philosophy behind it whatsoever...All the book shows, is a bunch of bored and not so intelligent kids, who took thier D&D role playing into the reality world, in which they continued to pose and do senseless harm to others, with out any high philosophy or principles. All this piece of [junk] for a book gives the reader, is all the more reasons not to be listening to Black Metal and in it National Socialist Black Metal bands, which is as stupid as its creators. Utter waste of money!!!...
Rating:
Summary: stays in the topic for sure!
Review: I am a huge of of this style of music and found this book to be very informative. It really stays on topic as far as the genere is concerned. I've seen some authors write on music history and stray from the main genere at hand while inter twining into sub generes. Didrik stays right in the belly of the beast so to speak and focuses right on the main 3 players in this music. The interviews with Varg are great and The pictures are amazing and in most cases are very rare. I definatley recomend this!
Rating:
Summary: A good attempt with strong coverage of thinkers
Review: Moynihan and Soderlund immediately won my favor by attempting bravely to capture the few clear ideological, political and philosophical statements of black metal and related genres. Dwelling in the tedium of backroom politics, infighting and the usual "I play what sounds good man" is kept to a minimum, showing that these authors may have absorbed the anti-democratic theories they give clear play in these pages. As a result the book is monumentally controversial and appropriate for the genre. Valuable primary materials such as interviews and pictures intersperse a narrative which intelligently chronicles the rise of extreme underground metal and then, shows where black metal emerged from the void and took prominence. While the "hump" (first half of second half) of this book lags like hell, its coverage of comedy from black metal personalities to the child molesting psycho cops pursuing them makes the pages pass easily. If you like black metal, or are researching extreme movements that have been touched by multiple minds of genius, this is an engrossing and relentlessly revelatory book.
Rating:
Summary: Real Deal
Review: Reading this book just filled me in on the details. I love the Norway metal scene and the music from Mayhem. I remember all of this happening. If you like this kind of music or (like myself) watched this unfold then this is the book for you. Moyhihan really put his time and knowledge into this. A must for black metal fans.
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