Rock/Metal Music and Satanism

King Diamond.  

(image credit goes to metalsucks.net at https://www.metalsucks.net/2013/02/04/a-metalsucks-exclusive-return-from-the-graveyard-king-diamond-on-his-near-death-and-new-life/)

This is more of an opinion blog post for me so here it goes.

People think that Rock/Metal music is Satanic or at least that certain genres of rock and metal are Satanic.  For decades, Christianity and other Abrahamic religions have tried to label rock and metal as Satanic so that people will avoid this type of music like it’s an automatic ticket to hell.

Is this type of music Satanic?  Well, there’s ways that it can and can’t be Satanic, so here’s how it goes.

The CoS founder, Anton Szandor LaVey, actually disliked rock and metal music.  In his biography, The Secret Life of a Satanist, Blanche Barton stated that LaVey "saw modern rock as part of the current desensitizing and de-emotionalizing trend of the country" (p. 133).  Blanche also states that "as outlined in The Satanic Bible, Satanic principles emphasize an increase in physical awareness, not the deadening of the senses that loud music causes" (p. 133).

LaVey felt that the music industry relied mainly on powerful visuals in order to give rock music the power and sales that it was looking for.  The problem, however, is that the music industry loved to have the looks that Satanism had but they didn't actually play the game of Satanism. They talked the talk and the looks but didn't do the actual walk.  LaVey confirms this when he says in The Secret Life of a Satanist, "'it's the old story of using the Devil's name to make your millions but not wanting to play the Devil's game'" (p. 133).

The only exception when it came to this kind of topic is King Diamond.  The man has been a Satanist even since before he became a rockstar.  He uses imagery and he plays the Devil's game.

Anton LaVey and King Diamond 

(Photo credit to Blanche Barton and the Church of Satan in The Secret Life of a Satanist, pg. 187.  Blanche and/or CoS: if you somehow see this blog and feel I shouldn't use this photo in my blog post, I will gladly remove the picture and I apologize in advance for using the picture).

Now here are my own personal thoughts when it comes to rock/metal music and Satanism.

While I fully agree with LaVey's ideas when it came to this subject, I also believe that the rocker/metalhead lifestyle can be Satanic.  Yes, I myself am a metalhead as you can see in my profile information.  But I didn't embrace my Satanic identity because of rock music.  However, many metalheads such as myself grew up in a household and environment where our parents and other elders tried to tell us what we could and couldn't enjoy.  To me, being a metalhead is a symbol of rebellion against the herd and against spiritual religions.  Being a metalhead helped me become myself and do whatever I wanted and not felt guilty about it, either, especially during those times when I've seen Christian protestors show up outside concert venues to tell us that we're going to hell for enjoying what life has to offer or because we listen to a certain kind of music.  Being a metalhead means rejecting mainstream society and being different from everyone else.  If I wanna look a certain way or buy certain things, it's because I chose it, not because I want to blend in with the herd.

In The Satanic Warlock, Magister Johnson describes metalheads as the Black Musician Warlock.  In defining this type of Satanic Warlock, he states that the Black Musician “is aggressive, opinionated, and a staunch defender of Satanic principles, especially Lex Talionis” (p. 28).  Because of personal life histories, the rebelliousness, anti-herd attitude and personal philosophies that metalheads have, metalheads can be natural-born Satanists.

To me, it's the rebellious and individualistic attitude that makes me say that rock/metal music can be Satanic.  However, the main thing to remember is that Satanism isn't just about rock/metal music nor is it about the imagery.  Satanism isn't about loud guitars and screaming vocals.  You don't have to look like a rockstar nor do you have to be a rockstar to be a Satanist.  You don't have to dress in all black and have piercings and makeup and all that stuff.  Also, you don't have to follow a stereotype to be a rockstar; you don't need to look like King Diamond or like you're a member of Ghost.  It's the attitude, philosophy, and actually walking the walk that is Satanic.

This isn’t to say that Rock/Metal Music wasn’t totally bad in LaVey’s eyes.  He did see some positive things about the genre of music.  He appreciated seeing young kids flashing the sign of the devil during concerts.  He saw that that at concerts, there’ll be at least 1-2 people who have read The Satanic Bible and understand the symbolism, attitude and philosophy behind it and with its connection to Rock/Metal music.

And obviously, don't go around burning down churches like Holden Matthews and Varg Vikernes.  That's just plain stupid, irresponsible, and can land you in prison.

For anyone reading this, if it looks like I'm contradicting myself in any way or I'm making Satanism look bad in a certain way, please let me know.  But I hope you get what I'm trying to convey.

Rock on and Hail Satan!

-Manny

References

Barton, B. (2014). The secret life of a Satanist: The authorized biography of Anton Szandor LaVey. New York, NY: Feral House.

Johnson, R. (2016).  The satanic warlock.  Santa Monica, CA: Aperient Press.