Black Metal and freedom of expression – extreme expressions encounter extreme attitudes
The Fritt Ord Foundation and Gammaglimt invite the public to a screening of the documentary film BLACKHEARTS, followed by a panel discussion on Thursday, 2 June 2016 at 7 p.m. at Uranienborgveien 2, Oslo. The panel consists of Sina Winter, Black Metal artist from Iran and the main character in the documentary, Kristian Eivind Espedal AKA Gaahl, former vocalist in the Black Metal band Gorgoroth, currently with the band Gaahl’s Wyrd, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Iran Human Rights, Jan Lothe Eriksen, SafeMuse and Fredrik Horn Akselsen, director.
Knut Olav Åmås of the Fritt Ord Foundation will introduce the film, and Håvard Rem, author of the book Native Screams – Norwegian Black Metal, will moderate the debate.
From a smouldering underground milieu in the early 1990s, a handful of Norwegian musicians laid the foundation for what might be considered Norway’s largest contemporary cultural export – Norwegian Black Metal. Satanism, several homicide cases and more than 50 cases of arson involving church buildings made headlines in the international tabloid press back then, but today – 25 years later – this genre has put its criminal past to rest here in Norway. Black Metal artists top the charts at regular intervals, make guest appearances on popular TV shows and, tour schools on government-sponsored programmes, and are the recipients of significant grants from the state.
‘Norwegian Black Metal’ is considered an international stamp of quality by fans of the genre and outside of Norway the genre still carries a dark, diabolical aura. Fans from all over the world make pilgrimages to Norway to see the birthplace of the genre.
Many of the original Norwegian artists have adopted broader, more nuanced modes of expression, while the genre’s formative spearhead still has a strong influence in other parts of the world. In some countries, the artists are silenced and persecuted.
The documentary BLACKHEARTS, which was described by the newspaper Adresseavisen as “surprisingly funny and ever so slightly macabre”, follows three dedicated fans of Norwegian Black Metal from Iran, Colombia and Greece, who get an opportunity to play with their bands in Norway. Iranian Sina cannot return to his native country for fear of being killed.
The event is free of charge and open to the public.
Link to the Facebook event.
Update: The Fritt Ord Foundation would like to extend a warm thanks to everyone who attended this event. Footage from the debate is now available at the Fritt Ord Youtube Channel.
