Review of Until the Light Takes Us (2008) by Trent R — 27 Jul 2010

This was an interesting documentary, I thought. I see that some complain that the documentary is unfocused, but it what it is that they're really getting at is that the documentary doesn't focus on what they wanted it to; which is to morally judge the actions of those involved in the crimes associated with the scene. There isn't really anything interesting about denouncing murder and racism -- do we need another lecture? Anyway, I think the focus of the film is more interesting -- the evolution of the music movement from violent, DIY extreme music to commercial commodity and the inspiration for the music.

Though there is other focal points. One is Fenriz as kind of the last bastion of the scene, a person of integrity who is somewhat revered for never involving himself in the criminal acts. And to present the viewer with some perspective they present Varg as the sensationalistic, most "extreme" figure of the movement and his relationship to Fenriz (I suppose a way to show the dichotomy in the art form) .

But in regards to how the scene has become appropriated and to illustrate that point, there are some interesting interviews with Frost who basically seems to be the "Face" of new mainstream Black Metal -- he doesn't shy away from prostituting its mythology and mystique (which I don't mind personally). Beyond the interviews with Immortal, Hellhammer (of Mayhem), and Frost, I thought the most interesting interviews centered around Varg and Fenriz's relationship, their concepts for creating the music they did and how that conceptual framework related to electronic music. Also, I thought the interviews with Bard "Faust" Eithiun (who was involved in the murder of a homosexual) were interesting because he gave it behind a silk screen (or something similar) to obscure his face and had his voice digitally altered so that no one could identify him -- yet you can find his Myspace page with plenty of pictures of him. Weird.