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This
DVD is a rather shallow exploration into the genre’s
history and blurry philosophies. Perhaps Black Metal
Satanica tries to pack too much information into one
eighty minute documentary and therefore it does not
succeed at either. It tries to cover so much territory
it leaves the viewer with a faint idea of both; the
genre’s history and the ideas pushing the musicians
towards their philosophies. It lacks focus and fails to
paint an accurate description of the genre’s travails
and of the underlying philosophies that abound in it.
We can divide
Black Metal Satanica in two parts; the first one is about
history and it’s the doc’s weak side as for the first half an
hour or so, Black Metal Satanica peruses through the genre’s
origins (Venom and Bathory are quickly mentioned) and the events
(Eurnonymous and Count Grishnack, blah blah), that marked the
genre’s transition from provocative fantasy/occult based music
to misanthropic lifestyle. Events like the development of the
extreme Norwegian scene are covered in a rushed manner and the
voice over that rush the genre’s history is poorly written.
More
interesting is the last half of the documentary; where a handful
of the genre’s protagonists tell their stories and ideas behind
their music. The most interesting perspectives come from members
of Shining and Watain; both of which put into articulate lingo
their striking philosophies. Watain’s Eric Danielsson sounds
rather reflective, cup of wine in hand and frequently striking
his chin he is soft spoken while Shining’s Niklas Kvarforth
Olsson comes off as likable and intelligent, even while
admitting to being suicidal and to have met only about three or
four women ‘worth speaking to’. Other bands included are
Mordichrist, Vreid, Rimsfrost and OndskaptbBut considering the
high number of high profiles black metal bands from the region,
why is this documentary focusing on only two high profile black
metal bands? Watching Black Metal Satanica, I see a lot of
potential. There is a lot of ground to cover and do justice to
the genre, unfortunately the makers stop short of mediocre.
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