He was a kid with a guitar and a basement. That’s the simplest way to look at Øystein Aarseth, the man the world knows as Euronymous. But the 2018 film Lords of Chaos didn't just want to show a kid in a basement; it wanted to show a revolution fueled by gasoline and blood. If you’ve seen the movie, you probably walked away thinking you saw a definitive history of the Norwegian black metal scene.
You didn't.
Real life is rarely that cinematic. While the film captures the grimy, freezing atmosphere of Oslo in the early nineties, the true story of Euronymous, Lords of Chaos, and the Mayhem inner circle is a weird mix of teenage posturing, genuine musical innovation, and a tragic spiral into actual violence. It’s a story about what happens when "edgy" roleplay stops being a game.
The Myth vs. The Man: Who Was Euronymous?
Euronymous wasn't just a musician. He was a brand manager before people used that term for social media. By founding the label Deathlike Silence Productions and opening the Helvete record shop, he basically created the infrastructure for a subculture.
Most people see the corpse paint and the spiked gauntlets and assume he was some kind of high-level occultist. Honestly? According to people who were there, like Necrobutcher (Jørn Stubberud), he was often just a guy who talked a big game. He wanted to be the "Evil" center of the universe. He pushed a persona that was meant to scare the "posers" away, but those who knew him personally often describe a more complex, sometimes even goofy, individual who was deeply dedicated to his art.
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When Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin) died by suicide in 1991, the legend of Euronymous took a dark, exploitative turn. The film depicts him finding the body and immediately running out to buy a disposable camera. This actually happened. He took photos. He allegedly made necklaces out of pieces of the skull. This wasn't "satanic ritual"—it was a calculated move to cement Mayhem’s status as the most dangerous band on the planet. It worked. But it also set a precedent for the violence that would eventually claim his own life.
Why Lords of Chaos Frustrates the Fans
If you talk to die-hard black metal fans, mention the movie and watch them roll their eyes. Why? Because Lords of Chaos leans heavily into the "clash of egos" narrative between Euronymous and Varg Vikernes (of Burzum).
It simplifies the politics. It glosses over the fact that these were mostly middle-class kids in one of the wealthiest countries on Earth. The film treats the church burnings as a direct result of Euronymous’s influence, but in reality, the motivations were a chaotic mess of anti-Christian sentiment, Norse paganism, and just plain old boredom.
The Varg Problem
Varg Vikernes has spent decades complaining about his portrayal in the film. While Varg is an incredibly problematic figure—a convicted murderer and a promoter of extremist ideologies—his point about the film's "Hollywood-ization" holds some weight. The movie paints him as a desperate fanboy trying to impress Euronymous.
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In reality, the power struggle was about money, credit, and the direction of the scene. Euronymous owed Varg money for the production of Burzum records. Varg was becoming more famous and more radicalized. The tension wasn't just a playground rivalry; it was a volatile mix of financial debt and escalating extremism.
The Music Still Matters
Amidst the talk of arson and murder, we often forget that Mayhem was making groundbreaking music. De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is arguably the most influential black metal album ever recorded.
- The riffs were cold.
- The drumming (by Hellhammer) was revolutionary.
- The atmosphere was genuinely haunting.
Euronymous had a specific vision for "The True Mayhem." He hated the "fun" death metal coming out of Florida at the time. He wanted something that sounded like a nightmare. If you listen to "Freezing Moon," you can hear that vision. It’s stripped-down, dissonant, and bleak. He wasn't just a shock jock; he was a legitimate architect of a new sound.
August 10, 1993: The Night It Ended
The climax of the Euronymous Lords of Chaos narrative is, of course, the murder. The film depicts it as a frenzied, almost accidental escalation. Varg drove from Bergen to Oslo in the middle of the night. He claimed Euronymous was planning to kidnap and torture him, so he acted in "self-defense."
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The court didn't buy it. Euronymous was stabbed 23 times.
It was the end of an era. With Euronymous dead and Varg in prison, the "inner circle" collapsed. But in a weird, twisted way, the death of Euronymous ensured his immortality. He became a martyr for a genre that thrives on darkness. If he had lived, would he have become a corporate music mogul? Would he have faded into obscurity? We'll never know.
What the Movie Gets Right (And Why You Should Care)
Despite the historical inaccuracies, the film does one thing very well: it captures the loneliness. You see these kids in a gray, suburban landscape, trying so hard to be something more than "normal."
- The production design is spot-on.
- The recreation of the Helvete basement feels claustrophobic.
- Rory Culkin’s performance captures the insecurity behind Euronymous’s bravado.
It serves as a cautionary tale. It shows how a subculture built on "ironic" extremism can easily be co-opted by people who aren't joking. It's a reminder that words have weight and that playing with fire—literally—usually ends in someone getting burned.
Practical Steps for the Curious
If you’re interested in the real story behind Euronymous Lords of Chaos, don’t stop at the movie.
- Read the Book: Lords of Chaos by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind is the source material. It has its own biases, but it contains much more primary source info.
- Watch 'Until the Light Takes Us': This documentary features actual interviews with the people involved, including Gylve "Fenriz" Nagell of Darkthrone, who provides a much more grounded perspective on the scene.
- Listen to the Discography: Start with Deathcrush and De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Focus on the music. It’s the only part of this whole mess that Euronymous actually wanted to leave behind.
- Visit the Site: If you ever find yourself in Oslo, the site of Helvete (now a record shop called Neseblod) still exists. It’s a pilgrimage site for fans, but remember to be respectful; it’s a place of business, not just a movie set.
The story of Euronymous is a tragedy of errors. It’s a story of a young man who created a monster he couldn't control. Whether you see him as a visionary artist or a manipulative teen, his impact on music is undeniable. Just don't believe everything you see on the big screen. History is rarely that clean-cut.