Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The atmosphere didn't suit me." — Faust (Describing his reason for leaving a bar before a murder)
"It's not good for us to laugh. We have nothing to laugh at in this laughable society." — Varg Vikernes (Reflecting the scene's self-seriousness)
"The Osnome Moss, I took his life and I paid for it. It's not a big deal, at least not in my opinion." — Faust (Reflecting on his prison sentence)
This episode chronicles the grim trajectory of Norwegian black metal, moving from church burnings to murder. It begins with Bård "Faust" Eithun's stabbing death of Magne Andreassen in August 1992. Faust's motivations remain ambiguous, ranging from a desire for notoriety to a violent reaction to what he perceived as an unwanted advance. The narrative then shifts to the escalating tensions between Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth, the influential figure behind Deathlike Silence Productions and the band Mayhem, and Varg "Count Grishnack" Vikernes, a musician and ideologue. Vikernes, driven by a complex mix of personal ambition, alleged threats from Euronymous, and ideological fervor, murdered Euronymous in August 1993.
The episode details the various accounts and controversies surrounding Euronymous' murder, including Varg's own defense of self-defense and counter-theories of premeditation. It highlights how Varg manipulated media attention, giving anonymous interviews to amplify the black metal scene's notoriety, which inadvertently brought police scrutiny. The hosts discuss the internal conflicts within the scene, particularly the rivalry between Euronymous and Varg, fueled by creative differences, financial disputes, and personal animosities, leading to Euronymous' eventual demise.
Finally, the episode touches upon the legal repercussions, with Faust receiving a 14-year sentence and Varg eventually being convicted for Euronymous' murder. The hosts ponder the underlying motivations for these acts, suggesting ego, a desire for dominance, and a commitment to an extreme ideology as key factors, while emphasizing the blurred lines between artistic expression and criminal action within this dark subculture.