Norwegian Black Metal: Unique, Church Burnings, Ideals?

Among my favourite subgenres of metal is Black metal. It is the most contraversial, authentic type of music there is today. If you haven't heard of this type of music then read the article on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_metal

When the average listener first hears black metal, they instantly repute it as noise, extreme and satanic. Almost all of this true as Norways biggest export is this type of music. This is not suprising because of Norways reputation as a peaceful religious country. The important factor of black metal is that it is primarily a underground genre that even most metalheads and artists have never even heard of - well at least until the arsons...

After several church burnings, murder of other musicians and other radical things, Black metal starts making headlines in newspapers and tv shows. These images of the music and clips from bands spark a sense of fear in Norway and to the rest of the world- as it should since these are acts of extremities from extreme people. Call them criminals, hooligans, terrorists or whatever but these musicians are radical thinkers, poets, philosphers and they are not afraid to do what they believe.

I guess a good question to ask is "What attracts people into this murder music?" the answer: because it is not just music but a way of thinking and a view of life. More importantly theres are many belief influences associated with different black metal bands! There is Satanic, Viking, Folk, and Pagan Black metal. What I hate is how people just think Black metal is just about Satanism, which I think to be the weaker form of black metal. Sure Satan is cool and I can list hundreds of bands that call themselves "Satanic black metal" but do they ALL spend the time to do these rituals and attend the church of Satan? probably not. But in despite, it is the more popular type because of its "image" and extreme form of music. I do hate it when fellow "Black metallers" bash other black metal bands because their image and music isnt evil or satanic enough, I always laugh when people say Norway makes the best black metal in the world.