National Socialist black metal
National Socialist black metal (also known as
'Nazi black metal' or
'NSBM') is a
neo-Nazi subgenre of
black metal music where the lyrics advocate ideas of
racial separatism,
anti-Semitism and
Aryanism. It is more of a scene than a musical sub-genre as bands are often on the same underground labels as one another, and
Oi! and other
punk-related bands with similar persuasions are often associated in the same way as well.
Beginnings and influences
NSBM is sometimes considered to have started with the work of
Burzum. However, there is no direct reference to National Socialism in Burzum's earliest compositions; as a result, this claim can be - and often is - contested. One of the earliest Black Metal bands to write overt lyrics espousing white racialist beliefs was the Polish one-man band
Graveland.
While
nationalism (or at least
national romanticism) has been an influence in
black metal from early on, NSBM adds a focus on advocating National Socialism as an alternative to modern liberal society. However, while
Nazi Germany was never overtly opposed to Christianity, NSBM continues the black metal tradition of opposition to Judeo-Christianity in its entirety, while placing more emphasis on
anti-Semitism.
Artists in the NSBM scene typically argue that not only
Judaism but also Christianity is a major cause for the perceived present troubles of modern
European peoples (
Aryans according to Nazi ideology), which distinguishes them from many other neo-Nazis. As an alternative to Christianity, most NSBM bands have advocated variations of
pagan beliefs and traditions, with the most common alternatives being
Ásatrú and
Odinism. It should be noted that among black metal listeners, interest in Paganism is not restricted to those involved with NSBM;
environmentalism (see
R. Walther Darré for a greater understanding of the connection) and
Julius Evola's teachings of
traditionalism are also recurring themes.
Argument often arises on whether NSBM ought to be considered a distinct black metal sub-genre to begin with. Many NSBM bands play the same styles as other black metal bands that do not share the ideology. The musical differences, if any, are often trivial, and tend to overlap with other metal-subgenres like
Viking Metal. Still, it has become a substantiated and useful label, as many interested in the genre would either like to avoid bands with National Socialist tendencies, or consciously seek them out. Some black metal fans indeed have questioned the lyrical themes used heavily within NSBM as irrelevant to the musical genre altogether, as they advocate a 'positive' outlook (of sorts) as far as ones' own race and creed are concerned; having pride in anything is hardly reason to believe that it falls in line with the extreme
nihilist tendencies of both the genre and the music.
NSBM and other forms of White Power music
It appears that somewhat recently, the NSBM and
Rock Against Communism (RAC) scenes have been uniting, as NSBM is increasingly being sold at RAC and other
White Power music outlets, and known bands such as
Gestapo SS and
Bannerwar have covered RAC and Hatecore songs on their NSBM releases. Additionally, NSBM bands are beginning to perform alongside RAC bands.
Another point worth noting is that NSBM seems to have more appeal to fans of Black Metal who do not hold National Socialist, or any socio-political beliefs, at all. This is a direct contrast to RAC; one is unlikely to come across fans of this genre who are not supporters of neo-Nazi/far-right politics.
NSBM and the broader black metal scene
Bands currently in existence that
are NSBM are actually representative of a very small scene of extremely underground bands throughout
Europe and the
United States. In fact, the only two identified NSBM bands that are known as crucial black metal bands are
Burzum and
Graveland, only the former of which being one of
black metal's best known acts.
Darkthrone are often said to be a NS band mainly from the fact that
Norsk Arisk Black Metal (Norwegian Aryan Black Metal) was written in the back of their album
Transylvanian Hunger. Later on they denounced that and now they maintain an apolitical thesis as a band.
Burzum is also related to the legendary history of black metal; the band's only member,
Varg Vikernes, killed his former friend and bandmate
Euronymous, in a string of events that are well-documented. The motives were believed to have been related to a record deal dispute, as well as Euronymous having associated with and befriended members of the
Israeli death metal band
Salem, to whom
Varg Vikernes attempted to send a
mail bomb.
Some black metal bands, although unrelated to NSBM, have some mostly meaningless references to
Nazi Germany. These are mainly used for nothing more than mere shock value; a tradition which traces back at least to punk bands like the
Sex Pistols. This has caused some black metal bands to inaccurately be labeled as NSBM when they are not. A good example of this was the
Czech band
Amon, which from 1995 to 1999 was called
Amon Goeth in order to distinguish themselves from other bands called
Amon.[
1]
*
Absurd*
Acirema*
Blutkrieg*
Branikald*
Ad Hominem*
Aryan Terrorism*
Astrofaes*
Der Sturmer*
Funeral (France)*
Gestapo SS*
Gontyna Kry*
Grand Belial's Key*
Graveland*
Hate Forest*
Infernum*
Infester*
I Shalt Become*
Kataxu*
Kondoleezza Jugend*
Legion of Doom*
Lord Wind*
Nokturnal Mortum*
Ohtar*
Pantheon*
Perunwit*
Thor's Hammer*
Veles*
Winter Funeral*
Xenophobia*
Black metal*
Nazi mysticism*
Nazi Skinhead*
Nazism*
Nazi Punk*
Neofascism and religion*
Neo-Nazism*
White Power*
White pride*
White supremacy*
Rock Against Communism*
The Pagan Front - A NSBM Organization *
Southern Poverty Law Center report on NSBM Sounds of Violence*
The NSBM FAQ*
NSBM Spain
