Early Norwegian Black Metal Scene - Church Arsons and Attempted Arsons

Church Arsons and Attempted Arsons

Musicians and fans of the Norwegian black metal scene took part in over 50 arsons of Christian churches from 1992 to 1996. Some of the buildings were hundreds of years old, and widely regarded as important historical landmarks. One of the first and most notable was Norway's Fantoft stave church, which the police believed was burnt by Varg Vikernes. In May 1994 he was found guilty for the burnings of Holmenkollen Chapel, Skjold Church and Åsane Church. To coincide with the release of Mayhem's De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, Vikernes and Euronymous had plotted to blow up Nidaros Cathedral, which appears on the album cover. Euronymous's murder in August 1993 put an end to this plan and stalled the album's release. The musicians Samoth, Faust and Jørn Inge Tunsberg were also convicted for church arsons.

Today, opinions on the church burnings differ within the black metal community. Guitarist Infernus and former vocalist Gaahl of the band Gorgoroth have praised the church burnings in interviews, with the latter saying "there should have been more of them, and there will be more of them". However, Necrobutcher and Kjetil Manheim of Mayhem have berated the church burnings, with the latter claiming "It was just people trying to gain acceptance within a strict group … they wanted some sort of approval and status".

The following is a partial list of the church arsons:

1992:

• May 23: burning of Storetveit Church in Bergen
• Jun 6: burning of Fantoft stave church in Bergen – Varg Vikernes is strongly suspected as the culprit, but was not convicted.
• Aug 1: burning of Revheim Church in Stavanger
• Aug 21: burning of Holmenkollen Chapel in Oslo – Varg Vikernes and Faust were convicted for this; Euronymous also participated but was murdered before the trial began.
• Sep 1: burning of Ormøya Church in Oslo
• Sep 13: burning of Skjold Church in Vindafjord – Varg Vikernes and Samoth were convicted for this.
• Oct 3: burning of Hauketo Church in Oslo
• Dec 24: burning of Åsane Church in Bergen – Varg Vikernes and Jørn Inge Tunsberg were convicted for this.
• Dec 25: burning of a Methodist church in Sarpsborg – a firefighter was killed while fighting this fire.

1993:

• Feb 7: burning of Lundby New Church in Gothenburg, Sweden

1994:

• Mar 13: burning of a church in Sund
• Mar 27: burning of Seegård Church in Snertingdal
• May 16: attempted burning of Gol stave church in Buskerud
• May 17: attempted burning of Åmodt Chapel in Buskerud
• Jun 4: burning of Frogn Church in Drøbak
• Jun 19: attempted burning of Heni Church in Gjerdrum
• Jul 7: burning of a church in Jeløy
• Jul 21: attempted burning of Odda's Church
• Aug 13: attempted burning of Loop Chapel in Meldal
• Dec 10: attempted burning of Åkra Church
• Dec 22: attempted burning of Askim Church
• Dec 26: attempted burning of Klemestrud Church

1995:

• May 13: burning of Lord Church in Telemark
• May 25: burning of Såner Church in Vestby
• Jun 14: burning of Moe Church in Sandefjord
• Jul 21: attempted burning of a church college in Eidanger
• Sep 3: attempted burning of Vågsbygd church college in Oddernes
• Nov 3: burning of Innset Church in Rennebu