Customer Reviews

Black Metal: A Documentary

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Black Metal: A Documentary (Bill Zebub, 2007)

Bill Zebub, best known for making low-budget horror films whose names I can't reproduce here (for those reading this somewhere that values freedom, i.e. anywhere that isn't Amazon, I'll supply you with the titles of such deathless cinematic gems as Jesus Christ Serial Rapist and Rape Is a Circle), weighs in here with, as the title would imply, a documentary about black metal. It is absent of narration (though it does feature an interviewer on occasion), simply sitting back and allowing band members to dig their own graves. And, as expected, the subjects are often stupid, more often unintentionally funny, and always filled with far more self-importance than they should have. (Oddly, the most affable of the bunch is the one who actually is black metal royalty, King Diamond.) And I say this as a fan of the music. Compare it to, say, The Misanthrope, Nocturno Culto's doc about Darkthrone's members wandering around the forest living their lives, and Black Metal comes off as amateurish. (And Nocturno Culto is an amateur filmmaker, while Bill Zebub is not. Think about that for a second.) Unless, of course, you consider the idea that Bill Zebub's intro is a load of bull, and his objective was to make everyone in this movie look like a fool. I'm pretty sure we'll never know the answer. I can't really recommend it unless you're a huge fan of the genre, and even if you are, I'd suggest double-featuring it with The Misanthrope to get a view that's a little more balanced. ** ½

I recently purchased this dvd and it. is. awful. I can look past the poor video quality and poor audio, but the interview content is just pathetic in itself. This documentary basically revolves around different people all saying the same things. Absolutely pathetic. If you are looking for a good documentary about the history of black metal then look elsewhere.

This is a raw but excellent documentary on the European Black Metal scene from the mouths of the musicians themselves. There is no narrator, only opinions expressed by the musicians to occasional questions asked by an interviewer (largely unseen). Topics discussed include satanism, origins, religion, church burnings, racism, Dead's (of Mayhem) suicide, etc. Interviewed musicians include Cronos of Venom (best, most insightful and funniest interviews in the documentary), Celtic Frost, King Diamond, Dark Funeral, Enslaved, Mortiis (ex-Emperor), Abbath of Immortal, Gorgoroth, Fenriz of Darkthrone, etc. Also includes clips of Immortal, Merciful Fate/King D., and other bands in concert. The only things that would have made it better is clearer sound (some dialogue is hard to understand due to background noise, etc. and subtitles would have helped in spots) and the participation of a couple of more bands (i.e., Mayhem and Emperor) who probably didn't take part because they wouldn't get paid enough. Those two minor complaints aside, this is an excellent documentary and well worth the money. Buy it and spread the word!

the DVD was cool but I have a problem with anything calling that joke of a band lacona coil black metal!!! They suck and are not even worth being sacraficed to Satan! Keep the DVD only black metal and it would be better!

This Documentary is a JOKE and Bill Zebum is a talentless hack. he mocks everything and thinks its always funny. he always thinks hes funny. whats funny is people still pay attention to his retardation and bad taste.
this was poorly done just like his magazine and dont waste your time.
thumbs down....way down...give up and please quit breathing Bill.fgt.