Images of Satan

“Christianity is based only on stolen souls and lives, so, of course, every trace of them should be erased,” Gaahl says in the video.

“He fancies himself a shaman,” Beste says. “He definitely has, I don’t wanna say healerlike qualities, but the guy has a special energy about him, there’s no doubt. He prides himself on guiding people.”

Peter Beste

For his book True Norwegian Black Metal, Peter Beste photographed the blackest of the metalheads: apolitical and anti-Christian separatist self-preservationists.

Peter Beste

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More About

• Peter Beste
• Krakow
• Royksopp
• Heavy Metal
• Religion

In his book, Beste also includes a black metal history timeline, from the Norway’s conversion to Christianity to the arrival of every classic band and landmark album; plus, more photos and articles from Norway’s Slayer magazine, and tabloid stories on some of the music’s infamous events, including the church burnings in the ’90s and the murder of Mayhem founder Euronymous in 1993 by band mate Varg Vikernes, who’s currently serving 21 years in prison.

Even in all his macabre imagery Beste manages to find the goofiness and camp: the very rotund Carpathian Forest bassist Vrangsinn smiling like a Satanic Buddha; a group of passersby on a cobblestone street quizzically looking at former Gorgoroth drummer Kvitrafn; and Gorgoroth bassist King ov (what else) Hell raising the Devil horns in a white station wagon.

“I have to show both sides,” Beste says. “I can’t always show them as these tough, stoic, serious guys. There is a vulnerability. There is a dorkiness to it.”

True Norwegian Black Metal | By Peter Beste | Vice | 208 pages | $60 hardcover. The book appears as part of an exhibit at Zune Gallery, 8275 Beverly Blvd., Nov. 21-Dec. 18.