Burzum – Jesu Død

Genre: Black Metal

Country of Origin: Norway

Themes: Rediscovering the ancient Pagan ways

“Jesu Død” is Norwegian for “Jesus Dead.”

I understand that old school black metal can be difficult to listen to for many people, because of the low production value. It often sounds like someone is shouting into a one track tape recorder with glass shards in their mouth, and then blasting the music out through a wet sponge and a coffee filter.

But I love it. I love the dark, gritty atmosphere of it. I like playing it in the background as I work on creative writing or draw a picture. It’s got an ancient, primeval madness that well produced music can’t quite capture.

Varg Vikernes is the one man artist behind Burzum. He is controversial because he went to prison for burning churches and for murdering Mayhem guitarist Øystein ‘Euronymous. He is also controversial for his racist and antisemitic views. Views that are obviously not supported on Metal-Gaia. However, people must remember that Black Metal in itself is a very controversial art form. It’s a forum within which many artists express hatred for institutionalized religion, and a longing for the old, brutal pagan ways. But it is also a forum in which people have expressed favor for contentious ideas like National Socialism and so on.

Sometimes it can be difficult to reconcile the fact that you may love an artist’s music, but don’t support their views. I mean, you can love Megadeth without supporting some of Dave Mustane’s wacky political ideas. And that goes for Ted Nugent as well. I mean, who doesn’t like Cat Scratch Fever?

In the end, I guess we must remember that art is a forum within which people push the limits of conventional thought. And thus sometimes those artists will believe in extreme things, and promote those ideas through their music. But it is up to the listener to use their own logic and reasoning to decide for themselves what they believe is true.

And sometimes, you’re just a person who likes the music, and doesn’t give a fuck about the rest. That’s okay too.