Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T05:18:50.877Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Black and Viking metal: how two extreme music genres depict, construct and transfigure the (sub-)Arctic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2016

Nikolas Sellheim
Nikolas Sellheim*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Law, University of Lapland, PO Box 101, 96101 Rovaniemi, Finland ([email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

For centuries the Arctic has served as a stage of imagination and has inspired countless artists in different ways. Also the music genre of heavy metal frequently utilises the ‘north’ and the Arctic. This paper briefly explores how two heavy metal subgenres, black metal and Viking metal, approach and utilise narratives associated with the ‘north’. By using lyrics of black and Viking metal bands, different forms of utilisation come to the fore, ranging from narratives of death to the raging Northman. Also polar exploration finds musical expression and is a source for generating extreme conceptual settings.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 52 , Issue 5 , September 2016 , pp. 509 - 517
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amarth, Amon. 2006. With Oden on our side. Agoura Hills: Metal Blade Records.Google Scholar
Bartosch, R. (editor). 2011. Heavy metal studies. Lyrics und Intertextualität [Heavy metal studies: lyrics and intertextuality]. Oberhausen: Nicole Schmenk.Google Scholar
Bathory. 1988. Blood fire death. London: Under One Flag.Google Scholar
Staatsoper, Bayrische. nd. South Pole. Information. URL: https://www.staatsoper.de/en/opera-festival/productioninfo/south-pole/2016-07-05-19-00.html?tx_sfstaatsoper_pi1%5BfromSpielplan%5D=1&tx_sfstaatsoper_pi1%5BpageId%5D=579&cHash=863863d127bec89f0d7344d3eb02ac30 (accessed 15 January 2016).Google Scholar
Blight of Plebians . 2015. Grey Aura interview. URL: http://blightofplebians.com/grey-aura-interview/ (accessed 15 January 2016).Google Scholar
Bodin, J. 1576 (2009). Six books of the Commonwealth. Scotts Valley: CreateSpace Publishers.Google Scholar
CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna). 2013. Arctic biodiversity assessment. Akureyri: CAFF.Google Scholar
Chaker, S. 2014. Schwarzmetall und Todesblei. Über den Umgang mit Musik in den Black- und Death-Metal Szenen Deutschlands [Black metal and death lead. About how to deal with music in Germany's black and death metal scenes]. Berlin: Archiv der Jugendkulturen Verlag KG.Google Scholar
Christe, I. 2003. Sound of the beast: the complete headbanging history of heavy metal. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.Google Scholar
Chronicles of Chaos . 1999. A Viking vengeance, in blood. Chronicles of Chaos chats with Grutle Kjellson of Enslaved. URL: http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-199 (accessed 21 March 2016).Google Scholar
Darkthrone. 1992. A blaze in the northern sky. Heckmondwike: Peaceville Records. Google Scholar
DiVita, J. 2015. Ihsahn announces ‘Arktis’ album release + reveals ‘Mass darkness’ single. Loudwire, 18 December 2015. URL: http://loudwire.com/ihsahn-arktis-mass-darkness/ (accessed 21 March 2016).Google Scholar
Dorais, L.-J. 1997. Quaqtaq. Modernity and identity in a Inuit community. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.Google Scholar
Dornbusch, C. and Killguss, H.-P.. 2005. Unheilige Allianzen. Black Metal zwischen Satanismus, Heidentum und Neonazismus [Unholy alliances. Black metal between Satanism, paganism and neo-Nazism]. Hamburg/Münster: Unrast Verlag.Google Scholar
Dunn, S. and McFadyen, S.. 2005. Metal: a headbanger's journey. Toronto: Dunn and McFadyen.Google Scholar
Dunn, S. and McFadyen, S.. 2011–2014. Metal evolution. Toronto: Banger Films.Google Scholar
Einherjer. 2014. Av oss, for oss. Oslo: Indie Recordings.Google Scholar
Eismalsott. 2014. Weißblendung. London/Münster: Eismalsott.Google Scholar
Enslaved. 1994. Frost. Beaurainville: Osmose Productions.Google Scholar
Fjågesund, P. 2014. The dream of the north. A cultural history to 1920. Amsterdam: Rodopi.Google Scholar
Green Global Travel . 2014. Interview: Wardruna revives ancient Nordic folk traditions. 30 July 2014. URL: http://greenglobaltravel.com/2014/07/30/wardruna-einar-selvik-interview/ (accessed 19 January 2016).Google Scholar
Aura, Grey. 2014. Waerachtighe beschryvinghe van drie seylagien, ter werelt noyt soo vreemt ghehoort. Utrecht: Grey Aura.Google Scholar
Hálfdanarson, G. Iceland perceived: Nordic, European or a colonial other? In: Körber, L.-A. and Volquardsen, E. (editors). 2014. The postcolonial North Atlantic. Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Berlin: Nordeuropa-Institut: 39–66.Google Scholar
Hannesson, P. 2007. Allein durch die Einöde [Alone through the wasteland]. In: Hannesson, P. Villa á öræ- fum/Allein durch die Einöde [Alone through the wasteland]. Translated by Lerner, M.. Reykjavík: University of Reykjavík Press: 108–145.Google Scholar
Heesch, F. 2010. Metal for Nordic men: Amon Amarth's representations of Vikings. In: Scott, N.W.R. and von Helden, I. (editors). The metal void: first gatherings. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press. URL: http://inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/mmp1ever3150410.pdf (accessed 15 January 2016): 71–80.Google Scholar
Heesch, F. and Höpflinger, A.-K.. 2014. Methoden der Heavy Metal Forschung [Methods of heavy metal research]. Münster: Waxmann.Google Scholar
Ihsahn. Forthcoming. Arktis. Wallingford: Candlelight Records.Google Scholar
Immortal. 2009. All shall fall. Donzdorf: Nuclear Blast Records.Google Scholar
Jakobsson, S. (editor). 2009. Images of the north. Histories – identities – ideas. Amsterdam: Rodopi.Google Scholar
Kliemann, H. Koordinaten des Nordens. Wissenschaftliche Konstruktionen einer europäischen Region, 1770–1850 [Coordinates of the north. Scientific constructions of a European region, 1770–1850]. Berlin: Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag.Google Scholar
Kliemann-Geisinger, H. 2009. Facetten des Nordens – einleitende Bemerkungen [Facets of the north – introductory remarks]. In: Hecker-Stampehl, J. and Kliemann-Geisinger, H. (editors). Facetten des Nordens. Räume – Konstruktionen – Identitäten [Facets of the north. Spaces – Constructions – Identities]. Berlin: Nordeuropa-Institut: 9–18.Google Scholar
Körber, L.-A. and Volquardsen, E. (editors). 2014. The postcolonial North Atlantic. Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Berlin: Nordeuropa-Institut.Google Scholar
LaVey, A. S. 1976. The Satanic Bible. New York: Avon.Google Scholar
Leane, E. 2012. Antarctica in fiction. Imaginative narratives of the far south. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Lerner, M. 2009. ‘Landnahme in nächster Nähe zu den Nordlichtern.’ Verschränkungen von nationalem Selbstbild und Nordenbild in Island im frühen 20. Jahrhundert [‘Land-taking in closest proximity to the northern lights.’ Linkages between national self-image and North-image in Iceland in the early 20th century]. In: Hecker-Stampehl, J. and Kliemann-Geisinger, H. (editors). Facetten des Nordens. Räume – Konstruktionen – Identitäten [Facets of the north. Spaces – Constructions – Identities]. Berlin: Nordeuropa-Institut: 135–157.Google Scholar
Lokke, M. 2011. Norwegian black metal. The New Yorker, 5 October 2011. URL: http://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/norwegian-black-metal (accessed 19 January 2016).Google Scholar
Martin, G. R. R. 1996. Game of thrones. A song of ice and fire. Book I & II. New York: Bantam Books.Google Scholar
Metal Archives . 2016a. Browse bands – by genre – black. URL: http://www.metal-archives.com/lists/black (accessed 15 January 2016).Google Scholar
Metal Archives . 2016b. Browse bands – by genre – folk/Viking/pagan: http://www.metal-archives.com/lists/folk (accessed 19 January 2016).Google Scholar
Metal Injection . 2014. MYRKUR on black metal, nature and her Danish homeland. 2 October 2014. URL: http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/myrkur-on-black-metal-nature-and-her-danish-homeland (accessed 14 January 2016).Google Scholar
MetalSucks . 2013. I am the working class: the MetalSucks interview with Fenriz. 15 March 2013. URL: http://www.metalsucks.net/2013/03/15/i-am-the-working-class-the-metalsucks-interview-with-fenriz/ (accessed 14 January 2016).Google Scholar
Montesquieu, C. 1748 (2001). The spirit of laws. Kitchener: Batoche Books.Google Scholar
Moynihan, M. and Søderlind, D.. 1998. Lords of chaos. The bloody rise of the Satanic metal underground. Port Townsend: Feral House.Google Scholar
Myrkur. 2015. M. Upper Darby: Relapse Records.Google Scholar
O'Donoghue, H. 2007. From Asgard to Valhalla. The remarkable history of the norse myths. New York: I. B. Tauris.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Officer, C. and Page, J.. 2001. A fabulous kingdom. The exploration of the Arctic. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Patterson, D. 2014. Black metal: evolution of the cult. Port Townsend: Feral House.Google Scholar
Pedelty, M. 2015. Ecomusicology: rock, folk and the environment. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.Google Scholar
Saouma, R., Molpheta, S., Pille, S. and other. 2007. Cultural heritage and history in the metal scene. Wageningen: Belvedere Educational Network.Google Scholar
Satyricon. 1996. Nemesis divina. Nesoddtangen: Moonfog Productions.Google Scholar
Schnurbein, S. v. 1993. Göttertrost in Wendezeiten. Neugermanisches Heidentum zwischen New Age und Rechtsradikalismus [Consolation of gods in times of change. Neo-Germanic paganism between New Age and right-wing radicalism]. München: Claudius Verlag.Google Scholar
Simek, R. 2006. Lexikon der germanischen Mythologie. Stuttgart: Alfred Kröner Verlag.Google Scholar
Spracklen, K. 2010. True Aryan black metal: the meaning of leisure, belonging and the construction of whiteness in black metal music. In: Scott, N.W.R. and von Helden, I. (editors). The metal void: first gatherings. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press: 81–93. URL: http://inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/mmp1ever3150410.pdf (accessed 15 January 2016).Google Scholar
Stormbringer .at. Eismalsott – Aínvar and Albôin. URL: http://www.stormbringer.at/interviews/1500/interview-eismalsott.html (accessed 15 January 2016).Google Scholar
Suotana. 2015. Frostrealm. Rovaniemi: Suotana.Google Scholar
Tolkien, J.R.R. 1954. The lord of the rings. Crows Nest: George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Vendetta Metal Magazine . 2014a. Interview: Suotana. 1 October 2014. URL: http://www.vendettametalmagazine.com/interview-suotana/ (accessed 14 January 2016).Google Scholar
Vendetta Metal Magazine . 2014b. Interview: Grey Aura. 24 November 2014. URL: http://www.vendettametalmagazine.com/interview-grey-aura/ (accessed 15 January 2016).Google Scholar
Vendetta Metal Magazine . 2015. Interview: Incursed. 21 February 2015. URL: http://www.vendettametalmagazine.com/interview-incursed/ (accessed 14 January 2016).Google Scholar
Venom. 1982. Black metal. Wallsend: Neat Records.Google Scholar
von Helden, I. 2010. Barbarians and literature: Viking metal and its links to Old Norse mythology. In: Scott, N.W.R. and von Helden, I. (editors). The metal void: first gatherings. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press. URL: http://inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/mmp1ever3150410.pdf (accessed 15 January 2016): 257–264.Google Scholar
von Helden, I. 2011. The forest is my throne. Zur Darstellung und Funktion von Natur in den Lyrics norwegischer Metal-Bands [The forest is my throne. About the depiction and function of nature in the lyrics of Norwegian black metal bands]. In: Bartosch, R. (editor). Heavy metal studies. Lyrics und Intertextualität [Heavy metal studies. Lyrics and intertextuality]. Oberhausen: Nicole Schmenk: 114–123.Google Scholar
Weiss, M. and Hassan, H.. 2015. ISIS. Inside the army of terror. New York: Regan Arts.Google Scholar