I’ve become somewhat obsessed with black metal recently. Academically obsessed, that is; I don’t have much interest one way or the other in the music. I just can’t help but be fascinated by a scene that features so many murders, suicides, and church burnings. If someone has written a really good book about it, I want to find and read that book. Or at least skim it.
Anyway, Greg really is going on vacation, which will give me plenty of room to fill my life with black metal friends. It also means that next week Greg will be drawing sketch comics from the lovely beaches of New Jersey. Those of us who read Two Steps Back at work, myself included, can feel free to curse his name.
The book you want is _Lords of Chaos_ by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlnd.
Friends in Norway caution that the political and social agendae supported by a good chunk of the black metallers is an ultra-nationalistic fascism, closely akin to that of the Nazis. On stage its all Viking lore. Offstage its white power, "Norway for Norwegians", and anti-immigrant violence, not that different from the beliefs preached by Anders Breivik.
You may want to hold off on starting that black metal band.
Is that a wig, did Ted get extensions, or did he magically grow long hair from the sheer power of metal?