On Friday night I headed to Cinema du Parc to catch the Montreal Premiere of Until the Light Takes Us, a feature length documentary chronicling the history, ideology and aesthetic of Norwegian black metal – a musical subculture infamous as much for a series of murders, suicides and church arsons, as it is for its unique musical and visual aesthetics. 

American filmmakers Audrey Ewell and Aaron Aites moved to Norway and spent two years gaining the trust of the scene’s reclusive artists. The film focuses on two musicians in particular; Fenriz, of Darkthrone, and Varg Vikernes of Burzum. Ewell and Aites’s evenhanded portrayal neither vilifies nor celebrates the scene. Though ample time is spent on the violence done in black metal’s name, it also presents the genre’s musical innovations and its continued influence on underground music.

For the most part, the people interviewed come off as artists caught up in something much bigger and darker than they expected. The portrait of Vikernes is particularly disturbing, however. Interviewed from his cell in Trondheim maximum-security prison, this well-spoken musician calmly justifies the burning of ancient Norwegian churches as a defense of Nordic culture.  Oh, he also casually recalls his murder of former Mayhem band mate Euronymous, whom he stabbed several times in the head. Highly recommended, especially for metal heads (former or current) and anyone fascinated by the occult.

Playing every night at 9:30pm. Cinema du Parc, 3575 Parc.