In conjunction with making "the most extreme music in the world" (says Harmony Korine, featured briefly herein), 90s Norwegian black metal bands got into burning churches, wearing make-up, suicide, and killing other band's members (not in that order).
Until The Light Takes Us tells the story via two key players. Old school homies Gylve Nagell (Darkthrone) and Varg Vikernes (Burzum) took divergent paths: one is now incarcerated, the other has led a murder and arson-free life.
UTLTU is frustratingly clumsy, with too little information, too much interstitial footage of Gylve walking to the 7-11, bad sound and terrible handheld camera. Still, the choice of key subjects is great; Gylve and Varg are intelligent, well-spoken and likable (if you can call someone who stabbed a guy in the head 'likable'). And their inclusion of Bjarne Melgaard and fine art's black metal fascination shows how this radical scene became a fashionable accoutrement.
It's great hearing the real story behind the movement, and how the media got it wrong (for instance, devil worship was never involved -the church burnings were a pro-pagan, anti-Christian nationalist statement). But mostly, this documentary is just fascinating for the story.
What:
Until The Light Takes Us
Where:
Out now on Shock DVD
Watch the trailer:
Here
Win:
Thanks to Shock, we have 2 DVDs to giveaway! To enter, just email us at brisbane.win@rightanglestudio.com.au your postal address with the subject line, 'Varg hates soft corn flakes!'
Australian Competitions Club
