Rating: 
Summary: Writing the Wrong
Review: I purchased this book for it's sensational aspects--satanism, murder, church-burning and heavy metal--I certainly was not disappointed, but more than that "Lords of Chaos" is a sociological study and an intelligent defense of Satanism/Paganism. I should have known anything produced by Feral House is not to be taken lightly.
Rating: 
Summary: Lords of Chaos
Review: I just finished reading this book by M. Moynihan and D. Soderlind. As a book, it's averagely written. This is basically an expose of the Norwegian black metal bands including Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, and Emperor. Deals heavily with Euronymous of Mayhem and Varg of Burzum, but also covers other Black metal acts. Spends two chapters on the German band Absurd's "colorful" history. The authors cover several murders involving these groups (members and not) and the eventual ties to Nazism and Skinheads on the part of some former members, many now in prison. Overall, I feel the book takes the whole Black Metal scene far too seriously. Sure, you have a few nuts out there, but I think the author uses 3 or 4 murders to try and scare the reader unnecessarily. I question the validity of many of the supposed beliefs of various band members. At a certain point, the author spends several chapters on Satanism which I found rather boring and tedious. However, there is some good history of Black Metal here for students of music, particularly heavy metal. Goes into the beginnings of Black and Death metal all over the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Impressive and much-needed overview of blackmetal
Review: I have to say that this is one of the best books I've read in 1998. Being an avid listener of black metal, naturally I was interested in the subject, but after reading this book, I have to say that no background concerning this type of music is necessary for you to enjoy this book. Anyone who enjoys true crime books as well as works of sociology will be fascinated by LORDS OF CHAOS because it contains so much material related to these areas; specifically it deals with a leader of blackmetal's murder and the ensuing trial, along with the reasons he was murdered by the individual on trial. Also, it gives a great overview of the roots of blackmetal and the type of people involved in the scene. It also strives to answer the question of why people are attracted to this type of extreme music, and does a fairly good job of answering that question along with posing a few more questions in the long run?(relating to the possibility of 'ancient forces' having an impact of the rise of blackmetal) All in all, you can't go wrong here. I do wish that more coverage was given to more bands that deserve attention, but that certainly does not detract from the book's overall impact. Highly reccomended!!!
Rating:
Summary: Krigen mot alt!
Review: I've been a fan of black metal since 1989 when I got My first Mayhem tape (Deathcrush), and a Darkthrone bootleg. I've read alot of stuff about what went on in Norway in Kerrang!, Pit, and several other mags and online zines, and net friends from Norway. This book is a good primer for the novice Black Metal fan who knows nothing of the past, or the scene. I think the space that the author wasted on Absurd would've been better suited to describe in depth the Black Metal scenes from around the world, like the Vinland scene for instance.
Rating:
Summary: Great documentation of the Black Metal explosion: good book
Review: My first impresion of this book is that it is profesionally written. This is a suprise for it deals with music that is associated with brainless youths. as a fan of this music i thought the author did a superb job in explaining how black metal came to be. But I was disapointed that the second wave of black metal(Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir, Sayricon, Cradle) was not metioned. Instead, the author spent his time covering some pathetic band from Germany and crimes and Bands unreated to blackmetal. A cd sampler is missing. Loads of pictures on every page is definitely a plus. This book is great reading, and a must for sociologist and black metalers.
Rating:
Summary: Lords of Chaos will rip your Soul!!!!
Review: Amazing academic study of the kings of Satan-o-rama. Makes all those boring, lame crime books look so bad, you want to torch them. Hail Satan! Hillarious!!!! 29 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: An over indulgent, silly book about a bunch of posers.
Review: This book is incredibly long-winded and redundant about a bunch of no talented, narcissistic, conduct-disordered delinquents. In a nut-shell, the book is about a bunch of wanna-be musicians who dress up in comical makeup. Since no one takes them seriously, they "up" their evil by burning down churches and killing a few people in the name of "satan" or something. The music these bands play is unlistenable as well as the trite dribble they profess to believe. This book is a perfect example of a bunch of drunken losers who commit crimes because of their mental illness yet profess to some nonsense pseudophilosophy which the media and these authors gobble up. The book is about 300 pages too long as these teenagers ramble on about nothing. Much like any other gangs, they are intent on killing themselves versus the christians that they hate so much. I say let them out, after all they have done nothing wrong have they?
Rating:
Summary: And you thought you have heard it all......
Review: Being a fan of the genre of black metal (not necessarily a follower,) this proves to be interesting insight on this mysterious sect. Everyone who follows the scene knows of the church burnings and the murders, but this book goes even further in depth, discussing the orgins of the movement. Most of the context is concerning the two most notorious figures in Norwegian Black Metal...Varg Vikernes and Euronymous. It even goes deeper...bringing to fact that neo-fascism played a big part in the formation. Prison interviews with Vikernes and Faust shed new light on their violent crimes. This book is not to be missed.. whether you are a music fan, or a true-crime buff. Sure some of the things mentioned in the book is very disturbing, but one has to wonder, right?
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and Poignant!
Review: Lords of Chaos undoubtedly changed my views on Scandanavian culture, as well as the sub-culture of Black Metal there. Especially surprising (and perplexing), is the the fact that in all the mayhem described here in this true-crimer--no character was involved with drugs. Instead, they're high on status within the scene, and transformation of Norway back to Odinism, or maybe not....hehehe Excellent read....disturbing photographs (including one of lead singer "Dead" of the band Mayhem with his brains on his lap after blowing his head off...picture taken by the bandleader)
Rating:
Summary: Everything you wanted to know about black metal, and more!!!
Review: Satanism, underground "circles", heavy metal's bastard child, fascism, heathenism, suicide, and murder. What the hell else could you possibly ask for in a good read? Not much! Lords of Chaos is the most in depth, provacative, and interesting look at the Norwegian black metal scene and all of the bubbly individuals involved. And most importantly, it seems to be 100% accurate. Not only does it cover black metal, but like one of the aforementioned ideologies above, it reveals how fascism ties in with alot of black metal's belief system. Forget all those fanzines and magazines, if you want to know the ugly truth about black metal, Lords of Chaos is a mandatory must!!
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