Black metal has long been a genre predicated on transgression, priding itself on its rejection of societal norms and its embrace of darkness in both aesthetic and ideology. While the genre has produced bands of immense artistic merit, a subset of its practitioners have courted controversy not merely as a marketing ploy, but as a core tenet of their artistic and ideological framework, leading to some extremely controversial acts with far lasting consequences: arson, rape, torture and even murder.
This goes beyond being "edgy" and into something else entirely.
The Most Controversial Acts in Black Metal History
The following list explores the top five black metal bands that have earned infamy not only for their extreme music, but also and above all for their troubling associations, lyrical content, and public actions. While some defenders of the genre might argue that black metal's very nature is meant to provoke, it remains imperative to approach these acts with a critical lens... where do we draw the line between what is in-character provocation, and what is an expression of actual controversy?
1. Gorgoroth
Norwegian black metal outfit Gorgoroth has long been associated with provocative imagery and militant political rhetoric. But in 2006, frontman Infernus was accused of the rape of an unconscious, bridging the gap between "fantasy" and "reality". Since then, many bands members have denounced both the band's overall NS sympathies, as well as the attitude of several of its members: vocalist Gaahl and guitarist Infernus, notably, who were known to make sexual advances on other members. For instance, King ov Hell (ex-bassist) has called Gorgoroth a "carousel of sodomy", implying that many band members were engaged in such acts.
2. Watain
Swedish black metal band Watain has successfully blurred the line between metalcore and black metal, fostering a reputation built on media exposure rather than genuine ideological commitment. Led by Erik Danielsson, the band has repeatedly been called "poser central" by several other black metal musicians (Fenriz, notably), but this isn't where the story ends...
Must Read: The Top 5 Swedish Black Metal Bands of All Time!
A particularly infamous moment occurred in 2019, when guitarists Set Teitan and vocalist Erik Danielsson were caught engaging in roman salutes (NSBM) during a live event in Poland. While Teitan is no longer part of the band, these acts raise question about the influence of black metal in "normalizing nazism".
3. Dissection
Dissection remains one of the most controversial names in black metal, not only for their music but for the deeply disturbing history of their late frontman, Jon Nödtveidt. In 1997, Nödtveidt was convicted as an accessory to the murder of a man in Sweden, a crime that was reportedly linked to occult rituals, but was later revealed to be something more disturbing even. The victim of the crime was a homosexual immigrant, Josef Ben Meddour, and both Nödtveidt and his associates of Dissection were suspected - by the Swedish police - of engaging in "homo hunts", where they would go into homosexual neighbourhoods late at night. The crime was eventually ruled a hate crime, and Nödtveidt served maximum sentence in jail.
4. Antekhrist
Of all the bands on this list, Antekhrist may be the most sonically impenetrable and ideologically grotesque. A project from France that embodies the most unfiltered and anarchic aspects of black metal, Antekhrist traffics in lyrical themes so extreme that they have been widely condemned, even within underground circles. With subject matter ranging from blasphemy to unrelentingly perverse violence against women and minorities, the band appears to function as an experiment in pushing the absolute limits of moral acceptability. Their albums "Fukked by God" and "La Bite du Diable" ("The Genitals of Satan") are full of grotesque lyrics, as well as song titles. Moreover, the vocalist has been convicted multiple times of sexual assault in Lyon, a French city - he would frequent nightclubs, and behave inappropriately towards women, before hiding from the police in a kebab shop. The band has disbanded since the imprisonment of vocalist (Mouloud A.) but there are rumours of a reformation for the tenth anniversary of "Fukked by God".
5. Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is most known its role in the commercialisation and dilution of black metal's original ethos. Formed in Norway in 1993, Dimmu Borgir brought symphonic elements into the genre, making it more accessible to mainstream metal audiences. Hardly something sinister, right? Wrong. Despite its flamboyant style, Dimmu Borgir has long flirted with NSBM ideologies. In 1995, frontman Shagrath gave an infamous interview in which he praised the "Arian [sic] race" and claimed that he would gladly cut the throat of "every black person in the world". This statements go beyond mere provocation and show the dark side of a band that has, at least musically, done everything possible to remain "Yankee White".
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