DISGRACELAND – “Norwegian Black Metal: Satanic Rebellion, Murder and Worse”

Host: Jake Brennan (Double Elvis Productions)
Original Air Date: October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of DISGRACELAND dives deep into the infamous origins of the Norwegian black metal scene—a subculture that fused extreme music with real-life chaos. Host Jake Brennan dissects the emergence of Mayhem, Burzum, and their dramatically violent and nihilistic offshoots. The story lays bare church burnings, murder, suicide, cannibalism, and the warped brotherhood that spun out of control in early 1990s Norway. Blurring the lines between theatrical rebellion and genuine evil, Jake follows the movement from its musical roots to its grisly apex, revealing the personal darkness that fueled its principal players.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Music as Rebellion’s Catalyst [03:58–06:53]

• The episode frames black metal as the “most extreme form of musical rebellion,” tracing a lineage from Bo Diddley to Led Zeppelin to Venom and finally to Norway's own Mayhem.
• Norway’s “peaceful,” affluent, and somewhat uneventful society becomes the perfect breeding ground for teenage boredom and radical rebellion:

  “Norway is kind of like Europe’s answer to an American flyover state… if you’re a Norwegian teenager, you’re probably bored. And even worse than that, you’re probably bored without a whole lot to rebel against.” (Jake Brennan, 06:06)

• Black metal emerges as a mix of Satanism, nihilism, neo-Nazism, paganism, and sheer noise, deliberately pushing against societal and religious norms.

2. The Birth of Mayhem and Dead’s Descent [13:53–17:30]

• Per Yngve Ohlin (“Dead”), a Swedish teen obsessed with death, joins Mayhem and soon achieves iconic status for his disturbing commitment—burying his stage clothes, smelling of death, and self-harming on stage:

  “He wanted the smell of death in his nostrils when he performed on stage.” (Jake Brennan, 15:20)

• Dead believed he was actually dead—potentially suffering from Cotard delusion, exacerbated by childhood trauma and social alienation.
• His mental agony culminates in suicide in 1991. Mayhem’s guitarist, Euronymous, discovers the body but reacts with chilling detachment, taking photos, collecting skull fragments for jewelry, and even allegedly consuming part of Dead’s brain:

  “He then began collecting bits of his friend's skull and brain… the shards from the skull would make for great necklaces…” (Jake Brennan, 17:51)

3. The Scene Grows: Real Evil vs. Theatrical Evil [21:10–23:55]

• With Mayhem’s notoriety peaking, a new figure arises: Varg Vikernes (Count Grishnak) of Burzum, who brings a darker, more explicitly ethnonationalist and racist ideology.
• The once theatrical anti-Christian posturing turns to literal war on society: grave desecration, attacks on rival musicians, random violence, and a series of church burnings that terrorize Norway.
• The black metal “Black Circle,” centered at Euronymous’s record shop Helvete (“Hell”), becomes the HQ for these acts.

4. Escalation: Church Burnings and Murder [23:56–30:08]

• More than 30 churches are burned, one incident resulting in a firefighter’s death. The media blames satanic cults; police are slow to make connections.
• Varg grows resentful of Euronymous getting credit for the scene’s violence and gives a brazenly self-incriminating media interview:

  “For all his high-minded, Norse, Viking, neo-racist, pseudo-intellectual horseshit, the Count sure seemed like a fucking moron.” (Jake Brennan, 27:24)

• Police quickly trace the arson to Varg, who is found with explosives but initially released.

5. Mayhem’s Downfall – Betrayal and Murder [30:09–34:20]

• Tensions between Euronymous and Varg escalate, with rumors of murder and snuff films circulating inside the scene.
• Varg, convinced that Euronymous plans to kill him first, confronts him at home. The confrontation turns deadly as Varg stabs Euronymous 22 times, killing him in a brutal, protracted attack:

  “Varg stabbed him... 22 of them, until Euronymous could run no more. His momentum slowed. He staggered to a wobbling standstill... before falling to his knees, bloodied and gasping for breath. He looked up to face his murderer, his one time friend and comrade in arms, Varg Vikernes.” (Jake Brennan, 32:48)

• Another scene member murders a homosexual man, receiving only an eight-year sentence, underscoring how lenient Norwegian justice appears against such horror.

6. Aftermath and Legacy [34:21–End]

• Varg’s trial is turned into a spectacle; he is convicted and receives a 21-year sentence, the maximum in Norway.
• Despite the carnage, the Norwegian black metal scene grows in international notoriety. Mayhem, though down to one original member, continues to tour:

  “A genre of music built on a foundation of murder, arson, cannibalism, and what can only be described as the most extreme form of musical rebellion to ever exist.” (Jake Brennan, 36:08)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Norway’s Boredom and Teen Rebellion:

  “What I’m trying to say is that if you’re a Norwegian teenager, you’re probably bored. And even worse than that, you're probably bored without a whole lot to rebel against.” (06:06)

• On Dead’s Death Obsession:

  “He claimed he’d wanted to die ever since he was three years old... He believed that his blood had frozen in his veins and that he was a non-human and didn’t belong on earth.” (15:46)

• On the Scene’s Descent into Real Crimes:

  “To be truly black metal meant you had to live for death. You praised Satan not because you really believed in Satan, but because it was so fucking subversive to believe in Satan.” (21:55)

• Sarcastic Critique of Varg:

  “For all his high-minded, Norse, Viking, neo-racist, pseudo-intellectual horseshit, the Count sure seemed like a fucking moron.” (27:24)

• On the Murder of Euronymous:

  “His adrenaline kept the screams for help coming at a piercing volume. The horrific sounds kept the neighbors terrified and paralyzed... And Varg’s hate kept the stabbings coming. 22 of them, until Euronymous could run no more.” (32:48)

• Conclusion:

  “Despite, or possibly because of the band’s horrific acts, there’s a large and active international audience for Norwegian black metal—a genre of music built on a foundation of murder, arson, cannibalism, and what can only be described as the most extreme form of musical rebellion to ever exist.” (36:08)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [06:06] – Norway’s boredom and birth of black metal
• [13:53] – Introduction of Per Yngve Ohlin (“Dead”)
• [15:20] – Dead’s disturbing pre-show rituals
• [17:51] – Euronymous’s ghoulish response to Dead’s suicide
• [21:55] – The philosophy of “true black metal”
• [23:56] – Beginning of church burnings and violent escalation
• [27:24] – Varg incriminates himself, becomes “person of interest”
• [32:41–32:58] – Murder of Euronymous described in detail
• [36:08] – Host’s summary of the genre’s enduring notoriety

Final Thoughts

Jake Brennan’s narration turns the chaos of Norwegian black metal into a chilling, fact-infused thrill ride, drawing direct lines from musical rebellion to true crime. The episode peels past the sensational headlines, giving weight to the real-life violence while never downplaying the undeniable influence and allure of the music and its mythology. As he concludes, Brennan sets Norwegian black metal apart as a genre forever haunted—and promoted—by the horrors at its roots.