Helvete: The History of Norwegian Black Metal – Episode 3: Helvete Opens

Darkthrone, Thorns and Burzum each push black metal in their own unique musical direction. A record store in Oslo, Helvete, becomes the central meeting place for the emerging black metal scene, and things begin to spiral out of control. Episode 3 explores the pivotal year 1991, when Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth opened the legendary Helvete ("Hell") record store in Oslo. More than just a shop, Helvete became the headquarters of Norway's second-wave black metal movement, where musicians from bands such as Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum, Emperor, Thorns, and others gathered to exchange ideas and shape the ideology and sound of the genre. The episode examines: The evolution of the Norwegian black metal sound. The rise of Darkthrone, Burzum, and Thorns as defining forces in the scene. How Helvete became an influential cultural hub for underground musicians. The increasingly radical atmosphere surrounding the inner circle, foreshadowing the darker events covered in the following episode.