From: d90-two@dront.nada.kth.se (Thomas Wolmer)
Newsgroups: alt.thrash
Subject: Therion and the evil Norwegians, the story continues
Date: 4 Jan 93 11:14:31 GMT
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

I wrote:
>> Furbowl (Swedish band you probably haven't heard of)
>> Therion

cblanc@pomona.claremont.edu (Malevolessence) wrote:
>         I haven't _heard_ either of these bands, although I have seen Therion
> mentioned.  What do they sound like? -- is it the "Swedish sound" or does it
> vary?  

Furbowl have an album out an a small Swedish label (Step One Productions).
It's called "Those Shredded Dreams" and although it isn't recorded in
Sunlight it has the generic Swedish sound. Produced by Mike Amott of Carcass,
who also plays some leads on it I think.

Therion are IMO one of the best bands to come out of here... The debut album
"Into Darkness" was different, even though it came from Sunlight, but
the latest album "Into Sanctorum" is absolutely incredible. Among the more
dynamic Death Metal you can find.


I wrote:
>> Therion has a load of death threats from the Norwegian Black Metal
>> circle hanging over them, and if they had played as second band and if the
>> bomb had been more effective, then they would have been in small pieces

lavonius@kruuna.Helsinki.FI (Ville Lavonius)
> Yes, apparently this Black Circle or Sigil of Baphomet (are the Dark Throne
> guys involved ? - inquiring minds want to know) is regulating the genre in
> Scandinavia. I didn't know the thing was serious enough to warrant bombs.

venom@csa.bu.edu (Leonid Makarovsky) wrote:
> I read interview with DarkThrone like 6 months ago.And they said smth like:
> "We have our own black metal audience and we don't wanna be associated
> with DEATH METAL.About video we are not gonna make any videos till
> this shit like Napalm Death, godflesh and Entombed will go out of
> metal scene.We don't give a fuck abt these bands.In fact, Morbid Angel
> toured here in Norway and ask us to jam with them.We just told
> them to fuck off..."  and so on.I don't reember details.
> But dudes frrom DarkThrone got very weird attitude (thouugh both
> albums are excellent IMO)
>
> And yeah what is this BLACK CIRCLE or Sigi of Baphomet? What's the deal
> with it? Is it association of some certain scandinavian black or death
> metal bands?

The Circle is a kind of association of mostly Norwegian Black/Death bands,
with Hieronymus (sp?) from Mayhem as their leader. Other bands involved are
Burzum* and Darkthrone. Swedish bands in touch with them are Marduk and
Abruptum (no, you don't have to feel embarrased if you haven't heard them).
Also Polish (no longer existing) Tormentor seems to be involved.
As said, they want to rid the Death Metal scene of all bands who aren't
satanic or evil, including, as they've said, "a few hundred Swedish bands".
They especially loath bands with socially concerned lyrics, "Life Metal"
as they call it.
They have burnt down a few churches in Norway and sent death threats to
a bunch of bands, even Paradise Lost I have heard. The band topping their
death (life?) list is Therion (because of their lyrics to their first album),
and someone have tried to burn down Christofer Johnson's
(Therion's vocalist/guitarist/songwriter) parent's house (it failed). There
are enought rumours around to satisfy the most paranoid, but the deed seems
to have some connection to the Circle.
The Circle, or at least the band Mayhem, has a record label
"Deathlike Silence Production" and a record store in Oslo called Helvete (it
means Hell).

Can any of our Norwegian friends correct me or come with more details?

* Yeah, you are so satanic and evil and steal your name from the works of
the devoted catholic JRR Tolkien. Cool man!

-- 
 _.^._  |\_|\_|\ V2.0 /|_/|_/|"There's no tomorrow,           |
[_<X>_] Thomas Wolmer        | just sadness and sorrow        |
  !_!   d90-two@nada.kth.se  | Hold on to the Ancient Dreams" |
  IOI   Angantyr on IRC      |  - Candlemass "Ancient Dreams" |
Newsgroups: alt.thrash,alt.rock-n-roll.metal.heavy