Norwegian black metal emerged in the 1990s, aiming to be more raw than death metal. Black metal was also invented to be a rejection of the then-current death metal scene in Europe and North America. During their heyday, many musicians set fire to more than 50 ornate wooden churches, writes the Daily Hive.
Face-painted musicians led the second wave of black metal, and eventually, the movement centered around Mayhem guitarist Oystein Aarseth's record store Helvete. Aarseth reportedly warned away people who wouldn't understand or enjoy the music. Overall, the scene was mainly made up of young men who were against foreigners, religion, and homosexuality.
In June 1992, Bergen's Fantoft Church burned to the ground in what many initially believed to be an accident. However, over the following months, a growing number of churches were torched and burned. This went on for four years. Out of 45 to 60 church fires from this period, over a third are thought to be perpetrated by black metal band members or fans (per "Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground").
Prominent musician Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes) was thought to have influenced others to commit arson, though he has denied his involvement. However, according to The Independent, he was quoted as saying at his trial: "Through church burning and black metal music, we will reawaken the Norwegians' feelings of belonging to Odin."
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