Until the Light Takes Us

[#519]

[Note: This is a 2010 DVD documentary on Norwegian black metal. It features new interviews with Burzum's Varg and Dark Throne's Fenriz, amongst a slew of others. It attempts to examine the 'black metal phenomenom' of the 1990's and beyond. Here is a quote from the back of the DVD: 'To capture this on film, directors Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell moved to Norway and lived with the musicians for several years, building relationships..."
Does that sound strange to you? Imagine doing a film and having the money to move 'for several years' to another country.
OK, that peculiarity aside, back to the DVD (or two DVDs in this case, since this is the special edition containing various deleted scenes and extra footage)...

It is rather comical that the booklet states that the early Norwegian bands were fighting two things "McDonalds and Christian churches"! HAHA! Imagine Burzum's 'Aske' with a McDonalds burning instead of a church on its cover. Now that would have been "T R U E" !

For the most part this bored me. Hearing the same rehashed stories about Euronomous over and over again. They really weren't that interesting the first time we heard them almost two decades ago. There unfortunately is nothing unique or really interesting here.

Perhaps the only really interesting thing here is a deleted scene of Fenriz in a classroom drawing out on a blackboard the influences of Norwegian black metal, which pretty much could be the influences of planet Earth's black metal. No surprises or arguments with his interpretations. He lists Bathory as the single most important band. I'd have to agree.

When I first heard Bathory I was entranced, and still am. I'd loved Venom for years, but this was different. Bathory were fallen gods. They were everything Venom had been missing.

There are a ton of interviews with Fenriz on this film, and I guess I can see why, he definitely comes off as very down to earth and with a sense of irony and humor a lot of the others seem to be lacking.

The really bad aspects of this film are showcasing an 'art' exhibit of black metal pictures and 'paintings', not too mention a few other idiot segments. But overall, you'll be more bored than offended.]

[Above: DVD case back]

[Above: booklet, containing various pics and "psycho-babble"]

[Note: Zombie themed wine. How will they whore out the living dead next? Did you know they even make zombie themed bullets?! So now people can get drunk on zombie themed wine and kill themselves with matching bullets. But don't expect to re-animate as a zombie, since most people already are one!]