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Black Metal court report - The killer cracks!
Interview with Varg Vikernes
"Kerrang!" Magazine (¹494, 1994), by Paul Elliott
Norwegian Black Metal star Varg Vikernes - aka Count Grishnackh - is charged with the murder of rival musician and Satanist Øystein Aarseth. "Kerrang!"'s exclusive coverage of the trial begins this week as Vikernes enters the dock and sensationally confesses to the killing!
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Varg Vikernes, 21, is charged with the murder of Øystein Aarseth in Oslo on the night of August 10, 1993. Vikernes also stands accused of several other crimes, notably the burning of various Norwegian churches (damages total £5 million), the desecration of graves in Oslo and Bergen and the theft of dynamite from the Norwegian roadbuilding authorities.
Aarseth and Vikernes were bitter rivals within Norway's infamous Black Metal Inner Circle. Better known as Euronymous, Aarseth controlled a record label, Deathlike Silence, a record store called "Helvete" (Hell) and led the seminal Black Metal band Mayhem. He was also recognized as the godfather of the heavily Satanic Inner Circle.
As Count Grishnackh, Vikernes led his own Black Metal band, Burzum, whose new album is reviewed later in this issue. Vikernes openly resented Aarseth's status within the Inner Circle. When Aarseth was found dead, Vikernes gloated: "I piss on his grave".
On the opening day of the trial, Vikernes submitted this astonishing confession:
"I wished to go to Oslo to collect some records and deliver a contract to Aarseth. It was never my intention to kill him".
Asked if he was carrying a knife when he arrived at Aarseth's Oslo apartment, Vikernes admitted:
"Yes. I was wearing three. In addition, I had four knives, an axe, a bayonet and a baseball bat in the car. I always have a lot of weapons close to me, in the hope that something will happen. My friend, though, carried no weapon", he added in reference to an alleged accomplice - a 22-year-old male known only as Snorre.
Vikernes claims that Snorre travelled with him to Oslo to talk with Aarseth about joining Mayhem, but remained outside when Vikernes went up to the apartment.
"As far as I know", Vikernes continued, "he (Snorre) doesn't even own a knife. The Christian/Jewish moral is to live in peace. Our moral is to die in war".
After ringing the doorbell to Aarseth's flat, Vikernes recalls:
"Aarseth opened the door. He looked tired and wore just his underpants. I tried to give him the contract, and suddenly we were arguing. Among other things, he accused me of talking meaningless shit.
He started threatening to beat me up. I told him only weak men threaten. Strong men take action. He then kicked me in the chest. I was dumbfounded, and pushed him over.
As Aarseth stood up, he began to run toward the kitchen. I am sure he was going for a knife. I therefore drew one of mine. I stabbed him, thereby preventing him from reaching the kitchen.
He then started running around the living room, screaming at the top of his voice. He kept screaming for help. Then I got really mad. He ran out in the hallway, with me close behind. I kept stabbing to make him shut up. I stabbed because I was angry at him for screaming for help instead of putting up a fight".
Aarseth suffered 23 stab wounds; two to the head, five to the neck and 16 to the back.
Vikernes said of the killing:
"It is regrettable because it has given me problems with the justice system. I don't care about him (Aarseth). He is dead and I am alive, and that is that. Aarseth and I were enemies and many people knew it".
The pair's first dispute was over the release of Burzum's "Aske" mini-album via Aarseth's label.
Vikernes told the court: "When I gave my first major interview in January 1993, the purpose was to get publicity for the record Aarseth was to distribute for me. The result of the interview was that I was imprisoned, accused of several church fires. When I got out, Aarseth still hadn't managed to release my record. I felt that my publicity stunt was a total waste".
Bizarrely, Vikernes ended the first day in court philosophizing. "I am a nationalist, and carry weapons to defend myself and my country. My goal is a beautiful Norwegian kingdom. We have white skin, blond hair and blue eyes. Those that don't have no business here. We are half-gods".
Vikernes was then reminded by his lawyer that he was accused of a very serious crime.
Vikernes responded: "I say exactly what I feel. It is out of self-respect. My time in prison will be more difficult for me if I don't say what I stand for".
The alleged accomplice, Snorre, was questioned on the second day of the trial. Snorre's story completely contradicted that of Vikernes.
He said: "I found Aarseth's attitude towards Vikernes aggressive, critical and negative. When I told Vikernes about my conversation with Aarseth, he got mad and said, "Aarseth must be gotten rid of. He stands in the way of my future earnings".
I understood that he wanted to do Aarseth in. He kept talking about killing him".
Vikernes and his alleged accomplice discussed with a third party various methods of killing Aarseth.
"One was to hit Aarseth in the head with an axe when he opened his door", Snorre revealed. "I said it would look stupid walking around in an area full of buildings with an axe. Another alternative was to make Aarseth demonstrate something on his PC in his apartment. Then he could be stabbed in the neck when he was sitting with his back turned towards us".
Snorre was then asked why he went to Oslo when he knew the purpose of the journey was to kill Aarseth.
He replied: "I was depressed, sick and more or less didn't care about anything. I don't think Aarseth deserved to die, but I don't know if I regret it".
Snorre then described the murder.
"Vikernes brought a contract with him so he had an excuse to get Aarseth to the door. I waited by the entrance while Vikernes went up to Aarseth, but after a few minutes I went up after him. When reaching the apartment, I heard noises from inside.
Suddenly the door opened and Aarseth came screaming directly towards me. I saw blood in the living room and I saw Vikernes stabbing him. Then they both disappeared down the stairs. After some seconds grasping the situation, I followed, passed them and ran into the street.
After leaving Oslo we stopped at a lake in Oppland where Vikernes took a nude bath and sunk his bloody clothes wrapped around a rock. On the way back, Vikernes said he stabbed Aarseth in the head, neck and back, but had missed the main artery. Vikernes said it was disgraceful for a leader of the Black Metal community to have died in only his underpants".
Aarseth and Vikernes were bitter rivals within Norway's infamous Black Metal Inner Circle. Better known as Euronymous, Aarseth controlled a record label, Deathlike Silence, a record store called "Helvete" (Hell) and led the seminal Black Metal band Mayhem. He was also recognized as the godfather of the heavily Satanic Inner Circle.
As Count Grishnackh, Vikernes led his own Black Metal band, Burzum, whose new album is reviewed later in this issue. Vikernes openly resented Aarseth's status within the Inner Circle. When Aarseth was found dead, Vikernes gloated: "I piss on his grave".
On the opening day of the trial, Vikernes submitted this astonishing confession:
"I wished to go to Oslo to collect some records and deliver a contract to Aarseth. It was never my intention to kill him".
Asked if he was carrying a knife when he arrived at Aarseth's Oslo apartment, Vikernes admitted:
"Yes. I was wearing three. In addition, I had four knives, an axe, a bayonet and a baseball bat in the car. I always have a lot of weapons close to me, in the hope that something will happen. My friend, though, carried no weapon", he added in reference to an alleged accomplice - a 22-year-old male known only as Snorre.
Vikernes claims that Snorre travelled with him to Oslo to talk with Aarseth about joining Mayhem, but remained outside when Vikernes went up to the apartment.
"As far as I know", Vikernes continued, "he (Snorre) doesn't even own a knife. The Christian/Jewish moral is to live in peace. Our moral is to die in war".
After ringing the doorbell to Aarseth's flat, Vikernes recalls:
"Aarseth opened the door. He looked tired and wore just his underpants. I tried to give him the contract, and suddenly we were arguing. Among other things, he accused me of talking meaningless shit.
He started threatening to beat me up. I told him only weak men threaten. Strong men take action. He then kicked me in the chest. I was dumbfounded, and pushed him over.
As Aarseth stood up, he began to run toward the kitchen. I am sure he was going for a knife. I therefore drew one of mine. I stabbed him, thereby preventing him from reaching the kitchen.
He then started running around the living room, screaming at the top of his voice. He kept screaming for help. Then I got really mad. He ran out in the hallway, with me close behind. I kept stabbing to make him shut up. I stabbed because I was angry at him for screaming for help instead of putting up a fight".
Aarseth suffered 23 stab wounds; two to the head, five to the neck and 16 to the back.
Vikernes said of the killing:
"It is regrettable because it has given me problems with the justice system. I don't care about him (Aarseth). He is dead and I am alive, and that is that. Aarseth and I were enemies and many people knew it".
The pair's first dispute was over the release of Burzum's "Aske" mini-album via Aarseth's label.
Vikernes told the court: "When I gave my first major interview in January 1993, the purpose was to get publicity for the record Aarseth was to distribute for me. The result of the interview was that I was imprisoned, accused of several church fires. When I got out, Aarseth still hadn't managed to release my record. I felt that my publicity stunt was a total waste".
Bizarrely, Vikernes ended the first day in court philosophizing. "I am a nationalist, and carry weapons to defend myself and my country. My goal is a beautiful Norwegian kingdom. We have white skin, blond hair and blue eyes. Those that don't have no business here. We are half-gods".
Vikernes was then reminded by his lawyer that he was accused of a very serious crime.
Vikernes responded: "I say exactly what I feel. It is out of self-respect. My time in prison will be more difficult for me if I don't say what I stand for".
The alleged accomplice, Snorre, was questioned on the second day of the trial. Snorre's story completely contradicted that of Vikernes.
He said: "I found Aarseth's attitude towards Vikernes aggressive, critical and negative. When I told Vikernes about my conversation with Aarseth, he got mad and said, "Aarseth must be gotten rid of. He stands in the way of my future earnings".
I understood that he wanted to do Aarseth in. He kept talking about killing him".
Vikernes and his alleged accomplice discussed with a third party various methods of killing Aarseth.
"One was to hit Aarseth in the head with an axe when he opened his door", Snorre revealed. "I said it would look stupid walking around in an area full of buildings with an axe. Another alternative was to make Aarseth demonstrate something on his PC in his apartment. Then he could be stabbed in the neck when he was sitting with his back turned towards us".
Snorre was then asked why he went to Oslo when he knew the purpose of the journey was to kill Aarseth.
He replied: "I was depressed, sick and more or less didn't care about anything. I don't think Aarseth deserved to die, but I don't know if I regret it".
Snorre then described the murder.
"Vikernes brought a contract with him so he had an excuse to get Aarseth to the door. I waited by the entrance while Vikernes went up to Aarseth, but after a few minutes I went up after him. When reaching the apartment, I heard noises from inside.
Suddenly the door opened and Aarseth came screaming directly towards me. I saw blood in the living room and I saw Vikernes stabbing him. Then they both disappeared down the stairs. After some seconds grasping the situation, I followed, passed them and ran into the street.
After leaving Oslo we stopped at a lake in Oppland where Vikernes took a nude bath and sunk his bloody clothes wrapped around a rock. On the way back, Vikernes said he stabbed Aarseth in the head, neck and back, but had missed the main artery. Vikernes said it was disgraceful for a leader of the Black Metal community to have died in only his underpants".
Out for the Count!
Burzum "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" (Misanthropy Records, EYE 002)
Burzum is the work of one man; Varg Vikernes. Better known as Count Grishnackh, Vikernes is currently on trial, accused of the murder of rival Norwegian Black Metal musician Øystein Aarseth - Euronymous. There may not be many more Burzum albums after this; if convicted, the Count could get 31 years!
But does Burzum's music matter? So far, the Norwegian Black Metal scene has produced a serious crime wave, great controversy but little in the way of great music. Euronymous and two others are dead, churches have been burnt to the ground. The music is rarely talked about.
"Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" is Burzum's second LP, and a big improvement on the eponymous debut, which came out last year as churches first began going up in flames. Much of the debut was generic Black Metal inspired by the first three Venom albums, but there was also an element of mock-orchestral pomp which set Burzum apart from the more mundane Black Metal combos; Rotting Christ, Emperor et al.
This pomp is further developed on "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss", wherein Grishnackh makes clever and atmospheric use of keyboards. Keys aren't usually associated with the heaviest music, but they are central to Burzum's epic Black Metal.
Epic it is. Each of the four tracks weighs in at around 10 minutes. Grishnackh isn't the best of guitarists - his riffs are simply relentless - but his drumming is pure Norse thunder and, like Quorthon Seth of seminal Swedish Black Metal one-man band Bathory, The Count is a skilled arranger. But there is no guile in Grishnackh's singing. His vocals are primal screams.
There is a depth to Burzum that goes far beyond the total noise of the deceased Aarseth's Mayhem. Hell, the closing track on "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" is a serene instrumental piece evocative of ambient Pink Floyd!
It's said that there's a thin line between genius and insanity. Varg Vikernes is no genius - far from it - but the intelligence that informs this album also gave Vikernes control of the Black Metal Inner Circle. However, with Vikernes in jail, this album sounds like a fitting swansong for Norwegian Black Metal.
But does Burzum's music matter? So far, the Norwegian Black Metal scene has produced a serious crime wave, great controversy but little in the way of great music. Euronymous and two others are dead, churches have been burnt to the ground. The music is rarely talked about.
"Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" is Burzum's second LP, and a big improvement on the eponymous debut, which came out last year as churches first began going up in flames. Much of the debut was generic Black Metal inspired by the first three Venom albums, but there was also an element of mock-orchestral pomp which set Burzum apart from the more mundane Black Metal combos; Rotting Christ, Emperor et al.
This pomp is further developed on "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss", wherein Grishnackh makes clever and atmospheric use of keyboards. Keys aren't usually associated with the heaviest music, but they are central to Burzum's epic Black Metal.
Epic it is. Each of the four tracks weighs in at around 10 minutes. Grishnackh isn't the best of guitarists - his riffs are simply relentless - but his drumming is pure Norse thunder and, like Quorthon Seth of seminal Swedish Black Metal one-man band Bathory, The Count is a skilled arranger. But there is no guile in Grishnackh's singing. His vocals are primal screams.
There is a depth to Burzum that goes far beyond the total noise of the deceased Aarseth's Mayhem. Hell, the closing track on "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" is a serene instrumental piece evocative of ambient Pink Floyd!
It's said that there's a thin line between genius and insanity. Varg Vikernes is no genius - far from it - but the intelligence that informs this album also gave Vikernes control of the Black Metal Inner Circle. However, with Vikernes in jail, this album sounds like a fitting swansong for Norwegian Black Metal.
Author: Paul Elliott (© 1994 "Kerrang!" Magazine, UK)
