Wanted to dive into a bit of the background of satanism in black metal and why it's a much more complex--and misrepresented--topic for a lot of people. Thought this would be fun to dive into religiously and philosophically to give some in-depth stuff about the nuance of it! What're your opinions on this?! Be sure to let me know down below, can't wait to hear; there is no wrong answer!!!!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

Black metal, for me, was a means of lashing out against a faith that I lost when I was younger. I'm in my 30s now, and it's become more about the music with that touch of blasphemy that's become almost nostalgic for me at this point.

As ironic as it sounds, I'm an Orthodox Christian, but I also enjoy Black Metal

I actually listen to a so-called satanic band Twin Temple who whilst considered metal sing more in a doo-wop style. As a Catholic I don't mind their beliefs, it doesn't interfere with mine, and I really like their music. I don't think I listen to much in the way of black metal and thats more for the music than the meaning behind lyrics.

I find a lot of the Christian black metal acts, particularly in the modern context, go harder than the satanic ones and are far less cheesey. But perhaps I'm biased about that since im a Christian. Favorite black metal act overall is Marduk thoigh fwiw.

Nate from Spirit Adrift had an episode on his podcast where he examined several of his favorite bands from the 'satanic' side of the spectrum and concluded that, out of those listed, the only one he felt had any true zeal in their beliefs was Jon from Dissection. Then he did the same with more god-leaning acts and found that there were at least a few more examples of those who actually had a stronger sense of faith like Kirk from Crowbar or the band Trouble. I guess what I'm trying to get at is, yeah, casting the video title aside you'd be hard pressed to find a large sum of people who view black matal's satanism as going beyond the aesthetic level. Side note: He also said that out of all of them, David Eugene Edwards of the folk band Wovenhand (who is firmly god-fearing) is able to instill the fear of a higher power or force far greater than any satanist could hope to achieve. I finally started listening to Wovenhand and 16 Horsepower after that and yeah, can confirm.

Thank you, because(saying that in the less pagan/satanistic way possible) people don't realise that satanism and paganism are different things, mentioning it was great. Awesome video overall, good job for analysing it in depth! People don't fully understand black metal(because they're too scared to look into it to understand it and I get them), so that what you said about satan being in christianity and how black metal can't believe in satan if it doesn't belive that christianity exists is something not many people have thought of(and I hadn't thought of it either)

I would rather have a video saying black metal isn't n*zi I barely listen to it because the research about each band to see if they're sketchy cannot be worth the effort

In general, satanism in black metal always seemed to me like more an aesthetic element and inspiration to write lyrics than a proper, solid belief of the bands members. I agree with your arguments on this video. Of course there are black metal bands whose members are satanists, but there are also black metal bands where the musicians have other kind of spiritual/ religious beliefs.

When the term "black metal" first emerged in the 80s, it was applied to bands who had demonic imagery, and many of the bands had a noisy, dank sound that hinted at what the genre would become. Venom weren't truly satanic, they were just trying to upset people and be punky and rebellious. Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Profanatica, Blasphemy, and Sodom were anti-religious and anti-Christian, as you mentioned. Mercyful Fate were legitimately LaVeyan Satanists. The only first wave black metal band with an interest in paganism that I'm aware of is Bathory, but that would obviously inspire tons of later bands, including Enslaved, Wolves in the Throne Room, Panopticon, and the entire viking metal genre. Note that they were interested in Asatru or Odinism, and not Celtic paganism - the only major Celtic pagan/Druid band I'm aware of is Primordial, from Ireland. By the second wave demonic imagery stopped being so essential to black metal because the term began to refer to a specific sound. Because of that, there was room for Christian "unblack" bands like Antestor, who gravitated to the sound because they were part of the Scandinavian metal underground and black metal happened to be the big thing. Note that the vast majority of Satanists don't believe in the devil, and use Satan as a literary inspiration for individualism and rebellion, as with Nergal of Behemoth. There are some bands that walk the line between this kind of Satanism and occultism, like Archgoat and Gorgoroth, and it's notable that Euronymous of Mayhem played up devil worship as a way of marketing his band. Some Satanists are part of the progressive left, as with the Satanic Temple, the Global Order of Satan, and Nergal. The Church of Satan was also pretty atheistic but they took a more libertarian and elitist view. There are also Satanists who had more extremist views, as with the Order of Nine Angles, who are a terrorist hate group, and Jon Nodtveidt of Dissection's MLO. I have to point out, most of these bands do specifically target Christianity because it's the dominant religion in their countries. Even the pagan ones often resent the Church's historical persecution of pagans. Unfortunately, when black metal bands target Judaism and Islam, it's usually done from a place of xenophobia and racism.

As a metalhead for 20+ and a practicing Satanist myself for about 5 years now. It's more of a you are your own God type of thing. And yes the music is what Leo's is going I know that's how it helps me. Hell if not for slipknot hands down I wouldn't be here right now because of everything you said in generations

As a black metal fan, idgaf if the mfs from the band x or y are satanic or not I will just listen to their songs lmao. And all that imagery and stuff on albums is very secondary, sure I like it but it isn’t as important as the music itself

I think the satanic element in black metal is overdone as much as the awful national socialist movements that it has. Something can be cold and grim without it being cheesy or racist/hateful.

Going through Wikipedia articles on Black Metal you see a lot of divisive bickering amongst one another about not only what is or isn't black metal, or what is pagan even. Off the top of my head I can't remember who but one of the NSBM front men basically said Satanism isn't pagan and neo paganism if you are European well... I mean you know the acronym lol I don't think you think you can reduce a genre of music to an ideology unless it is something like Buyers Market which is basically just pro abuse philosophy to say in a Google friendly way lol

if you were to call any form of metal generally satanic, then it's black metal. I think that beyond the surface level, pretty much everyone realizes black metal isn't necessarily true satanism. The point you are making is going to be lost on the majority, and is already known to the rest; I think it might be more apt to say what black metal really is, rather than trying to show generally what it isn't.

True

Thank God another Christian with common sense when it comes to Satanism and theology and knowing that they're not all baby killers or demon worshipers. God bless you man, you're are one in a million when it comes to this type of thing.

Whether or not it’s satanic, I still have yet to find a Black Metal band I even consider mid enough to listen to.

Hmm, ok i must be wrong about the hundreds of overtly satanic black metal CDs and LPs i own.

As a LaVeyan/philosophical Satanist myself, my perspective is, quite simply put, that, few things in the world has been more detrimental to mankind and the world overall than organized religion, regardless of what that religion is. Therefore it is more logical to me to gravitate towards the antithesis of organized religion, philosophies such as LaVeyan Satanism, to some degree nihilism (it is by definition impossible to be a true nihilist) and misanthropy. Edit: I do also happen to be a musician that makes music of the Black or Blackened extreme metal variety.

👍

So burning down churches are a form of expression and "creativity"? I disagree.

Black metal never has been truly satanic. An authentic fully knowledgeable Satanist (No, not you LaVey) would hate most of black metal’s lyrics.

Satan is not interested in Black Metal anyways, because it sucks lol.

black metal is literally another word for satanic metal so idkkk

of course it is, bye.