Until the Light Takes Us

"Until The Light Takes Us tells the story of black metal."That's the first line of copy for this "documentary". It is a complete lie. This isn't the story of black metal, it's the story of two dudes, one who thinks he is far more deep and complex than he is, and one who is a murdering, Nazi, arsonist and their perspectives on black metal. It largely avoids, well, the entire history of black metal.If you want to hear the pseudo-philosophical ramblings of twits, you might enjoy this. If you want to learn more about black metal, keep looking elsewhere.

This is just about the best documentary about black metal among many really bad ones. It gets past the hype and outrage, and into the true philosophy of black metal. Fenriz remains a one man historian of all things black metal. To me the proper context of Nordic black metal is as a modern vehicle for the appreciation and preservation of pre-Christian, pagan culture in the Nordic countries. This doc gets to much of the heart of this issue.In centuries past, Christian armies ran rampant and ultraviolent over vulnerable, peaceful pagan cultures in the same way that radical religious and political ideologies do today. The Nordic church burnings during the 1990's were radical and violent but those burnt Christian churches were themselves built upon the ruins of pagan landmarks that were trampled on. Some people felt it was a way of symbolically reclaiming their culture and paying tribute to their old gods - gods which made sense to them. Violent desecration was the only way to get it on the front pages of every newspaper in Scandinavia for months on end.The best of 1990's black metal interpreted this history in a way that was very palatable to the disenfranchised youth of those times. It wasn't so much an endorsement of Satan as it was an indictment and rejection of a violent Christian god that showed no respect for centuries old pagan cultures. In this context Satan is not a demonic entity but rather a metaphor for human self-determination in harmony with the forces of nature. I don't think that a lot of these bands really spent much quality time reciting cryptic incantations and burning black candles (well, maybe Gaahl does), but they do appreciate the bleak beauty of their homelands - and they want to keep them that way.Once one has gotten past the makeup, the fashion and the posing, one can see that the very best of black metal really does have a philosophy that deserves respect.

If it was mosques or synagogue being burnt down nobody would be writing about how the burning of them was a statement about reclaiming heritage. When it comes to how various cultures impact each other this documentary is silent on the massive waves of immigration from Asian and African countries and how they've changed European demographics, yet they pick a few corporate companies like McDonald's and say these have had some kind of significant impact on their culture. I thought Fenriz seemed like a cool guy, but Varg was incredibly annoying living in his country club lockdown. Regardless, I have an ambivalent view about this documentary because I like many aspects of it, but I also find it heinously hypocritical. The musical part of it was interesting while the pathetic attempts to justify the burning of a 1000 year old Church was like listening to OJ Simpson or Charles Manson. Also, lets not forget the cultural impact of the Vikings, heh.

Very interesting. A view of black metal based on interviews with two of its finest creators, Varg and Fenriz, with snippets from others as well. Hellhammer is always funny (Euronymous was a commie and thus deserved to die - probably the best insight of the whole film). The most interesting aspect of the movie is the how free Varg seems, despite being in prison, and how imprisoned Fenriz seems despite being free. Varg seems to have embraced and accepted the past and thus is liberated in mind and spirit; Fenriz seems to be haunted and trapped by the past - unable to make an album that doesn't rehash something from 20 years ago and financially trapped by the meagre lifestyle of a musician in an underground genre - and is trapped both mentally and spiritually as well as physically by the routine and the demands of work.The bonus material is quite nice. Fenriz seems to come alive during his 'history of metal' lecture and really looks to be enjoying himself as he is engrossed in his chalkboard flowchart of metal influences.

I'm pretty sure this only qualifies as a "documentary" because it's a mix of old footage, and a bunch of low quality video that looks and sounds like it was shot with a camera made from a potato. It plays less like a professional production, and more like something shot by hipster black metal fan-boys who interned at Vice. We all know the story of the angry teens from Norway who made some great music, but then took themselves a little too seriously, and ended up killing each other. There is nothing really new or interesting here, and I literally fell asleep listening to Varg Vikernes drone about his nonsensical politics. Nevertheless, Fenriz is a pretty interesting guy to follow around, and he is the only reason I'm giving this 2 stars instead of negative-50. He takes the genre very seriously, but he still seems to have a good degree of real-world perspective, and at least some sense of humor about him, which makes him seem sort of likable. He is a refreshing contrast to Vikernes and his man-boy philosophy lessons. His awkward interaction with Norway's "most famous artist since Edvard Munch" (according to his Wikipedia page) is genuinely cringe-worthy, and worth a look.If you're hoping this movie will provide any real insight into the early Norwegian black metal scene, it won't. You'll probably get more information from the Wikipedia page than you will from this. Norwegian black metal in the late 80s and early 90s was nothing less than terrifying, and it speaks volumes about whoever made this movie, that they managed to bore me to sleep on my couch like a little overfed baby.

A great documentary about the main players + the history/ideology behind the creation of Norwegian Black Metal in the late 80's and early 90's. There has always been something morbidly thrilling about the Black Metal pioneers, particularly Mayhem. This DVD succeeds in bringing the BM scene out of the darkness and contains interviews with exactly those people that, as a fan of the genre, you would want to be interviewed. Even if you aren't a fan, it is still a fascinating insight into the freaks, sociopaths, geniuses, rejects and murderers responsible for some of the most extreme - and best - music ever created. You get to listen to the real world-view of Varg Vikernes, the creator of Burzum, a man who is so intelligent and well informed about world events that it takes your breath away. And you get to meet the shadowy Fenriz of Darkthrone, who, in his own way, is just as complex and troubled as Vikernes. This talented, enigmatic duo are the main focus of the documentary but you wouldn't want it any other way. Between them, they sum up everything that is necessary about Black Metal. The drummer from Mayhem has his say as does a pixel-blurred Faust. Frost from Satyricon even makes a typically bizarre and unearthly appearance. There's even a 101 introduction to Black Metal by Fenriz. Shame that Marduk didn't get a look-in though. Or Mysticum for that matter. But hey.Along the way, you learn not only about Black Metal, its influences, motivations etc., but also something about the Norwegian psyche in general and the power struggles that arise in any underground/artistic movement.

Product advertised as “multi region dvd”It’s actually region 1 & 4 therefore can’t play it.Not to mention the time it took to arrive, Metallica have released albums in a shorter period.

If you're looking for live or rare performances in this, don't buy it.If you want a rare insight into an epic era of metal then this IS for you.Nice interviews with Varg, plus 4 hrs of extras!Can't recommend it enough for the true fan!

DVD Was advertised in in the wrong region and would not work in the UK.

Unfortunately it wasn’t the correct region as advertised