An illustrated history of Satanism from the Old Testament to death metal, this book features a provocative series of interviews with Anton LaVey, the recently deceased founder of the Church of Satan. 100 photos & illustrations.
It's only natural that rock and roll -- 'the devil's music' -- and Satanism should be intimately linked. Lucifer Rising explores this unique cultural confluence. Divided into three parts, the book first traces the history of Satanism, from the birth of the Black Mass through the fashionable sinners of the Hellfire Club. The second section examines Satanism in the 20th century, including Aleister Crowley, the formation of the Church of Satan, the Manson Family, and the rise of occult-influenced bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. The book's third part looks at the new waves of Thrash Metal, Death Metal, and the Scandinavian Black Metal scene; the murder case surrounding the band Burzum; the neo-Nazi element; and the religious right's courtroom pursuit of heavy metal. Lavishly illustrated throughout with graphics, medieval woodcarvings, and stunning photographs, the book also contains entertainingly cynical comment from Anton LaVey, in one of his last in-depth interviews.
Delving into the psyche of Manson, this book explores the cultural and psychological factors that shaped his identity. It uncovers the influences and traumatic experiences that contributed to his notorious persona, offering a deep analysis of his motivations and the societal context surrounding his actions. Through a meticulous examination, the author reveals the complex interplay between Manson's life and broader cultural phenomena, providing insights into the darker aspects of human nature.
Exploring the evolution of a significant youth subculture, the book traces Goth's origins in Gothic and Romantic literature, highlighting its rise in the 1970s as a counterculture. It analyzes key milestones through the 1980s and 1990s, showcasing influential bands and the subculture's impact on film and music. The narrative includes insights into Goth festivals and the evolution of Goth fashion, while also addressing the emergence of "Cybergoth." This comprehensive examination reveals the profound influence and distinctive philosophy of the Goth scene.
Exploring the allure of vampire portrayals on screen, this book delves into the captivating performances of iconic actors from Edward Cullen to Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi. It highlights a range of characters, from the action-packed Kate Beckinsale in Underworld to the romantic leads of True Blood, showcasing how each portrayal contributes to the enduring fascination with vampires. With over 100 film stills, it serves as a comprehensive study for fans eager to understand the evolution and impact of these undead dreamboats in cinema history.
Due to its passionate, extreme aesthetic, Goth culture remains both vibrant and vibrantly loved, and continually inspires new developments in pop culture. Both a starting place for newcomers and a source of incisive insights for veterans, Goth Chic examines this dark culture from multiple angles. Each chapter of this lavishly illustrated guide dissects a distinct aspect of the Goth genre, including movies, music, books, graphic novels, and more. Written by an official representative of the Church of Satan, Goth Chic is an insider's view of a fascinating realm.
The Jack the Ripper case has never been solved - the killer remains a blood-spattered silhouette. Although 'Jack' as an entity was almost certainly invented by an unscrupulous journalist, he became an archetype - decked in the top hat and cloak of a Victorian melodrama villain, stalking the fog-wreathed streets of the old East End. The numerous Ripper theories which emerged at the time tell us more about Victorian attitudes than they do about the killer's true identity. In Jack the Ripper the authors follow the grim homicidal trails that have permeated popular culture since the Whitechapel murders of 1888. It tells the victim's stories in all their desperate poignancy, and explores the theories and suspects of the burgeoning field of 'ripperology'. Conspiracy theories and myths that swirl around the case to this day, from black magicians to the royal family, are considered, as is the modern forensic view of the Ripper murders as sex crimes, with reference to disturbing modern cases such as that of the 'Plumstead Ripper'. Terrifying and unignorable, this is the ultimate book on Jack the Ripper.
Street Culture explores the family tree of youth movements, examining the lines that tie Beatniks to Bikers, Punks to Emos, Goths to Metal Heads. Illustrated throughout, the book presents a sumptuous visual history of youth culture, and the style, behaviour and values of the groups who have defined it.
A war hero, a mass murderer and a Gothic legend the world has never forgottenVlad the Impaler is one of history’s most compelling and brutal characters, with a bizarre afterlife as a cult horror sensation. A hero to his countrymen, Vlad Dracula is a byword for dread. Not just for generations of Western fans of Gothic fiction and film, but also for an appalled and fascinated 15th-century readership, for whom contemporary accounts of Dracula’s atrocities became the world’s first horror bestsellers.Combining historical research and dramatic reconstruction with contemporary reference, here is Vlad the Impaler’s dramatic career, from pampered captive of the Ottoman Sultans to exterminating angel of Christian vengeance. But in reality, was he the embodiment of unbridled cruelty or model ruler of an embattled realm?Prince Dracula also examines the role of psychological warfare and black propaganda in international politics, from the medieval torture chamber to the headlines of the modern age, and shows Vlad as an unwitting pioneer of the modern world.Plying a grisly course through medieval bloodbaths and contemporary horrors, Gavin Baddeley and Paul Woods leave no tombstone unturned in this extraordinary history.
Der definitive Wegweiser in das Reich der Finsternis! Von uralten Beschwörungsformeln bis hin zu neuesten Erkenntnissen über die Psyche von Massenmördern: Bei dieser unheimlichen Reise ins Reich der Finsternis bleibt kein Grabstein unbewegt, wenn Cradle-Of-Filth-Sänger Dani Filth und Musik-Journalist Gavin Baddeley die Pforten der Hölle weit aufstoßen. 'Das Kompendium der dunklen Künste' ist kein Buch ausschließlich über Black Metal, denn die Musik dient nur als Eingangstor zu einem Defilee der Abscheulichkeiten. Auch Filme, Literatur, Kunst und Comics werden auf diesem Trip durch die Schattenwelt auf ihre satanischen Qualitäten überprüft. Darüber hinaus haben Baddeley und Filth ihre Adreßbücher gewälzt, um eine ganze Galaxie dunkler Stars und Sternchen exklusiv zu Wort kommen zu lassen. In 'Das Kompendium der dunklen Künste', finden sich größtenteils unveröffentlichte Interviews mit Schauspieler Christopher Lee, Horrorfilm-Legende Dario Argento, Anton LaVey (Church-Of-Satan-Gründer), Tom Araya (Slayer), Pete Steele (Type O Negative), Glen Benton (Deicide), James Hetfield (Metallica), Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost), Jinx Dawson (Coven), King Of Hell (Gorgoroth), Cradle-Of-Filth-Gitarrist Paul Allender und vielen anderen …