Early Norwegian black metal scene

The early Norwegian black metal scene of the 1990s is credited with creating the modern black metal genre and produced some of the most acclaimed and influential artists in extreme metal. It attracted massive media attention when it was revealed that its members had been responsible for three murders, a suicide, and a wave of church burnings in Norway.

The scene had an ethos and the core members referred to themselves as "The Black Circle" or "Black Metal Inner Circle". It consisted of men who gathered at the record shop Helvete ("Hell") in Oslo. In interviews, they voiced anti-Christian and misanthropic views, presenting themselves as a cult-like group of militant Satanists who wanted to spread terror, hatred and evil. They adopted pseudonyms and appeared in photographs wearing "corpse paint" and wielding medieval weaponry. The scene was exclusive and created boundaries around itself, incorporating only those it deemed to be "trve" or committed.^[1] Musical integrity was important and artists wanted black metal to remain underground and uncorrupted.

In August 1993, several of its members were arrested, and in May 1994, were convicted for arson, murder, assault and possession of explosives. Members including, Varg Vikernes for arson and the murder of Euronymous, Necrobutcher for murder. And other members in and out of the band. Most showed no remorse for their actions at the time. Some Norwegian media referred to them as "Satanic terrorists," and one Norwegian TV channel interviewed a woman who claimed Satanists had sacrificed her child and killed her dog.^[2] The early Norwegian black metal scene has since been the subject of books and documentaries.