Black Metal Villain Released From Prison
In some circles, the name Varg Vikernes represents a figure of a musical vision, a thinker and a powerful individualist. To most, it refers to a convicted arsonist a murderer… and a fascist.
In 1994, Vikernes, the self styled ‘Count Grishnackh’ sat on trial in Bergen, Norway, for the murder of , black metal aka ‘Euronymous’ of rival band Mayhem and the arson of churches. As he was given Norway’s maximum 21-year sentence, he smiled.
It was an event that rocked international headlines and brought black metal (The most extreme wing of Heavy Metal music) screaming from the fog of obscurity. After rotting in his cell for 16 years, Varg Vikernes has emerged from Tromsø prison claiming to be ready for society.
Black metal is unlistenable to most, but it goes to show that Norwegians aren’t the quirky, fish-loving democrats of Europe. Long, black winters make for boredom; Viking roots cause a stir in the youngsters and conformist Christian society breeds satanic extremists.
While hip-hop comes from the ghetto, Black metal comes from middle class kids who live in nice houses in quaint European countries. The legacy of Norway’s Nazi regime and isolation from the rest of the world has sired the likes of Varg and others who started the movement, now a major commercial export. Black metal bands win Norwegian Grammys, play to massive crowds at huge Scandinavian festivals and have led to the cities of Oslo and Bergen being dubbed as ‘Heavy Metal Petting-Zoos’.
Not satisfied with the drone of his band, Burzum, loitering in the ranks of adolescent covens and hanging out with skinheads, Vikernes brought the Viking blood feud to the 20th Century when he stabbed his rival, Euronymous, in the head. It turned out at the trial that Varg, Euronymous and others were responsible for burning 12th century wooden churches, the most famous, called Fantoft, was photographed as the artwork for Burzum’s album ‘Aske’ (Ashes). His exploits gained him status as the villain of every Nordic bedtime story and a rallying banner for thousands of nationalists, neo-pagans and other extremists worldwide.
In 2003, the clever Mr Vikernes went AWOL and was forced from a stolen Volvo carrying an AG3 automatic rifle, a handgun, several knives, a gas mask, camo-gear, a laptop, compass, GPS, maps and a fake passport, most of which he shifted from a local army barracks.
It says wonders for the Norwegian military when the country’s most notorious criminal has no trouble robbing an armoury without being identified – or shot.
Six years later, the authorities have decided that he’s OK and decided to release him from prison this month. “I have learned from my mistakes and become older. Now I just want to be together with my family,” he told Norway’s Dagbladet newspaper. “I looked forward the day that I could work on my farm, create music, write books, be with the wife and kids and live a normal life. I have received tremendous support from my family. It means a lot.”
[story by Alex de Moller]
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O, I thought he ate his rival. But apparently he didn’t.
Weak.
LOL
That was the guy who got stabbed, he ate a bit of the brain of his former lead singer after he shot himself in the head. Gotta love black metal!
Who ever wrote this should l2research, half of this shit isn’t true and makes out the entire black metal scene to be the musical equivalent of a Dracula themed restaurant accompanied by a size of fascism. Half of the facts here are incorrect or gross hyperbole and I’m faily sure one part of it is a direct quote from wikipedia. Go die in a fire Alex de Moller.
hey so has he been released or not?? wat day exactly?
I completely agree, the article was written by someone who hasn’t even heard black metal and couldn’t possibly grasp any sense of fact on anything in this story.
“for the murder of , black metal aka ‘Euronymous’ of rival band Mayhem and the arson of churches.”
He murdered black metal?
Also, Varg was a member of Mayhem at the time, who were not rivals with his solo band, Burzum; signed to the label that Euronymous owned.
“After rotting in his cell for 16 years…”
He composed several albums and there are videos showing him having a good time, it wasn’t so much a cell as a locked dorm room.
“Black metal bands win Norwegian Grammys, play to massive crowds at huge Scandinavian festivals ”
Black metal bands don’t win grammys, there’s an interview with Fenriz saying he turned down a Norwegian award because Darkthrone doesn’t want to be part of the spotlight. Mayhem played something like 3 or 4 shows for their first 10 years or so, if I remember correctly. Real black metal bands don’t play live, or if so, seldomly.
“Not satisfied with the drone of his band, Burzum,”
At that time, Burzum wasn’t drone
“loitering in the ranks of adolescent covens and hanging out with skinheads, ”
Do you mean hanging out with his friend, Euronymous?
Highly amusing comments, considering I knew few people with more knowledge of the black metal scene than Mr De Moller.
1. Varg had been fired from Mayhem. they were rivals.
2. Yeah, Prison is a laugh, everyone should go. that’s why they give out suspended sentences, becuase the judge thinks it’s harsher than going to the nice holiday camp.
3. Dimmu Borgir have won two Grammys. don’t pull the ‘real’ black metal crap. by that definition Mayehm aren’t a real black metal band and neither are Burzum.
Black metal is the scandinavian glam metal
PS No one respects you musically, dominus wanker
Wow, what a shame. He killed the godfather of black metal,Euronymous. He should rot, but unfortunatly Norway doesnt have long prison sentences. Here are facts you guys got wrong. Faust stabbed a homosexual to death, not related to this. Dead not only blew his brains out but slit his wrists. Euronymous took parts of his skull and made necklaces from it. Varg stabbed Euronymous because Varg is a bitch. A neo nazi bitch
“the musical equivalent of a Dracula themed restaurant accompanied by a size(sic) of fascism”
Sounds about right, yes. Some of it’s ok, most of it is risible.
Mayhem was not a “rival” band of Burzum, as a matter of fact they even exchanged musicians. The murder was a thing between two men, not two bands.
Also black metal does not equal fascism!
To all those who believe “fascist” to be a term of abuse, wake up and realise it to be what it is – an accolade.
Please research your subject matter more thoroughly in future, this article comes off as incredibly childish. Your limited and very biased view makes for an ignorant and depressing read.
This article is shallow, snarly, innacurrate, and presumptious. It sounds like this guy is afraid of the scene.
What a crap article
Varg Vikernes is NOT released from prison yet and this article is soon 1 month old.
You should really have let somebody else write this article for you and learn to back up facts and not just write a lot of gossip crap.
Having researched the comments on this article I have a fact!
Fact:
Norwegians are some sick motherfluckers. Strange-arsed, perverted bastards with no discipline.
You’re so right!!
Wait…I’m so right. Oh, I just responded to myself.
NIFTY!!
First cascading nested response!! Yay!!
OMG, Sausage! You’re being a Norwegian now, seriously. You need to stop.
Wait, wasn’t it the Norwegians who made those wooden toy women who fit one within the other, like 5 or so deep? I’ve always loved those things.
They may be swedish, but I think they’re Norwegian only because pulling the women out of one another involves snatching their heads off. *smirk*
And Norwegians are all about THAT crap. It’s just a good thing the toys don’t come with brains.
I love youuuuuu Varg, I want a Baby with you!!!!!!!