Archive for the 'Occult' Category

Black: Australian Dark Culture Magazine

It’s very rare that I click on ads that proliferate Facebook. In fact, it’s very rare that I even notice them but just the other day - I saw an ad for a forthcoming magazine called ‘Black’. Actually, I had clicked away from the page and only just caught a glimpse of the magazine’s cover… but it piqued my curiosity somewhat ‘cos it appeared to involved themes that are dear to my heart… all things dark, and all things that go bump in the night! I’m so there baby!

So I clicked the ad and found out a little bit more about this forthcoming publication and man, it all sounds damn good! After visiting their website, I fired off an email for more info. I exchanged some emails with the mag’s editor Angela Challis who had high praise for this here blog so it was evident a ‘mutual admiration society’ was clearly in development!

Black brands itself as ‘Australia’s only dark culture and entertainment magazine’ and will be released to an estimated 60,000 readership. It will cover all sorts of dark themed topics such as books, literature, movies, TV, music, the Occult and all manner of dark culture. Kinda like we do right here!

Check out their website here and make sure you download their media-kit for more info!

Signs of Satan

Signs of Satan!
tee-hee!

The Gospel of Filth: A Bible of Decadence & Darkness

The Gospel of Filth: A Bible of Decadence & Darkness

The Gospel of Filth is the boldest, most comprehensive and authoritative guide to the realms of darkness and devilry ever published. Taking in every significant milestone and major landmark, this lavishly illustrated volume will prove to be the definitive guide to the dark side for decades to come. From ancient formulae for conjuring the goddesses of hell, to the latest research on the psychopathology of serial murder, no tombstone remains unturned in this wide-ranging and witty dissection of the uncanny and unholy, of the esoteric and erotic. Music forms The Gospel’s entry point, but every medium, from movies and literature, to comics and computer games is considered, while the authorities consulted range from Oxford academics to metal musicians as well known for their criminal records as musical ones.

The principal consultant is Dani Filth, who rides shotgun with author Gavin Baddeley throughout the book, providing insight and impish irreverence at every turn. Dani’s band Cradle of Filth are one of England’s most successful and controversial musical exports of the past decade, loved and loathed in equal measure, the singer bringing that same provocative edge to this, his first literary effort. Emerging from the violent cauldron of chaos that propelled the black metal scene to the forefront of the extreme music scene in the early-’90s, Cradle of Filth have since transcended such subcultural boundaries, embracing the likes of Decadent art and Gothic literature to create an inimitable, sensuously sinister style all of their own.

Continue reading ‘The Gospel of Filth: A Bible of Decadence & Darkness’

Inside the Church of Satan: New Controversial Footage Captured

Inside the Church of Satan

New, controversial footage, from within the Church of Satan, has been released. It has been more than forty years since in-depth footage of the Church was shot, and a new Satanic ritual has been documented and publicly presented for the first time. It’s revealed and confirmed that public servants and various celebrities are, or have been, members of the Satanic Church, including Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jayne Mansfield. In interviews leading up to the un-cut ritual, one Satanist says, if there is a God who feels Satanists should roast in hell, “He can go _ himself,” and that all people are not created equal. Another said Christianity is “like a rabies.”

The footage was captured by independent filmmaker Joshua P. Warren. He was granted unprecedented access to the Church, traveling internationally to live with Satanists and document the most intimate aspects of their philosophy. He has now released it in his new documentary, “Inside the Church of Satan.”

“I’m an agnostic and my co-producer, C. Eric Scott, is a Christian,” said Warren. “We approached this with an open, curious mind, investigating the Church to find the truth about their agenda. Christians, Satanists, Pagans, Atheists, and perhaps everyone else will appreciate what we found.”

In December of 2007, the Catholic Pope formed exorcism squads to tackle the rising tide of Satanism across the world. Warren’s new film will show what many of those bishops are fighting.

Aside from the complete ritual, “Inside the Church of Satan” includes a lengthy, candid interview with Peter H. Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan, along with a witch, priests, and members of various ranks. Warren asks questions probing most aspects of their agenda and beliefs.

“My goal was to create a movie, addressing all of life’s most difficult issues, that would give the audience a complete understanding of what the Church of Satan is about, for better or for worse,” Warren notes. “After this experience, I feel our governments do reflect Satanic principles.” Sprinkled with satire, the film addresses all from sacrifice and murder to political positions regarding the Biblical “mark of the beast” and 666.

Warren, a professional radio host in Asheville, North Carolina, originally interviewed High Priest Peter H. Gilmore on the air, was overwhelmed with controversial feedback, and felt the Church was a good candidate for a “shockumentary,” as he calls it. After special negotiations, the Church allowed him to come inside and objectively document its operation.

Warren says, “Frankly, I don’t know why they allowed me as the first person in so many decades. They said they thought I was the right guy at the right time. So I did my best. And yes, as you’ll see, I was surprised by what I found.”

Aside from the never-before-documented Satanic ritual, the film includes nudity, satirical depictions of baby butchering, anti-Christian language, and scenes where Warren himself attempts to conjure up “the Devil” on camera.

For now, “Inside the Church of Satan,” and a free preview of the film, are only available through www.InsideTheChurchOfSatan.com online.

NB: FREE PREVIEW DOES NOT WORK ON THE APPLE/MAC

View trailer here.

View Ritual here.

H.R. Giger Sanctuary DVD

H.R. Giger Sanctuary DVD

A week or so ago we reported on the H.R. Giger documentary.

It seems there is plenty of movement in the world of Giger and video because the following DVD H.R. Giger’s Sanctuary is now available for sale.

H.R. Giger’s Sanctuary explores the treasures of the H.R. Giger Museum & Giger Bar at the Chateau St. Germain in beautiful Gruyeres, Switzerland. The documentary features an interview and a museum tour with the master of the airbrush, the inventor of ‘biomechanics’, and the creator of the Academy Award winning ‘Alien’. The artist talks openly about his fascination with the morbid, his fame and cult following, his fears and nightmares, and about his visions of the future.

Specifications:
- Running time of short film: 19 minutes
- Anamorphic widescreen
- Stereo sound
- German language
- English subtitles

Over 20 minutes of Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes
- Analysis of “The Spell”
- Trailers
- Museum Visitors
- Gallery
- An Evening with Giger

DVD is code-free, playable all over the world! To purchase, click here.

Black Metal Barbies

Black Metal Barbies

Tired of the same old Goth chicks? Wanna take it a little more extreme? Then this wild photo shoot of the Black Metal Barbies starring Betina Kafer & Sophie Rutenberg might be more up your (dark) alley!

Continue reading ‘Black Metal Barbies’

Peter Beste - True Norwegian Black Metal

Peter Beste - True Norwegian Black Metal

Tonight is the opening for an exhibition of 30 photographs by Peter Beste called True Norwegian Black Metal. The exhibition is being held in conjunction with the launch and of his first book also titled ‘True Norwegian Black Metal’.

The book will include 126 Norwegian Black Metal Photographs; an introduction by Metalion of Slayer Magazine; Essays by Editor Johan Kugelberg and Peter Beste; 3 Panel foldout black metal time line by Tara G Warrior; 32 page section of old black metal ephemera including rare and obscure photographs, flyers, letters, and interviews.

True Norwegian Black Metal
Deluxe Limited edition of 666
Includes hand numbered silkscreened slipcase (measuring 11.25″ x 14.25″)
20×26? silkscreened black metal logo poster
Signed 8×10 Peter Beste print
$200 USD

Regular hardcover edition can be purchased for $38.40 on Amazon.

From the press release:
In the last two decades a bizarre and violent musical subculture called Black Metal has emerged in Norway. It has its roots in a heady blend of splatter movies, heavy metal music, Satanism, Pagan mythology and adolescent angst. In the early-mid 1990’s, members of this extremist underground committed murder, burned down medieval wooden churches, and desecrated graveyards. What started as juvenile frenzy came to symbolize the start of a war against Christianity, a return to the worship of the ancient Norse gods, and the complete rejection of mainstream society.

American documentary photographer Peter Beste has spent the last eight years working in the milieu of this insulated and secretive community. Beste’s access and insight into this community has been without precedent, resulting in an amazing photographic journey. Beste has earned the respect and trust of this impenetrable, suspicious and often elitist society. True Norwegian Black Metal is a visual testimonial to this subculture. Peter Beste and editor Johan Kugelberg have created a unique photographic narrative that explores black metal from a truly visceral perspective.

Continue reading ‘Peter Beste - True Norwegian Black Metal’

H.R. Giger Revealed

H.R. Giger Revealed

My first foray into the world of H.R. Giger happened in 1985. A good friend of mine who went under the affectionate monicker of ‘Mick The Wiz’, (due to his dabbling in all things that go bump in the night and his fondness for Aleister Crowley) - bought for my birthday Giger’s Necronomicon II book.

I remember turning the pages of that book and literally being blown to hell at the sheer majesty and darkness at the artwork before me. It was all so spellbinding and mezmerising. I had never seen anything like that and still to this day, Giger is unparalleled.

Having been a fan all these years, two years ago I approached Giger’s manager with an offer to re-do the official Giger website. I was shocked when I got a response from his manager Les Barany who had looked over some of my work and was to speak to Giger about us working together on a new site.

After some emails back and forth… it didn’t all pan out and the same (horrid) site remained, but I felt I had come close to working with one of my heroes. Heck, I would do the site for free if need be because just to be working for someone so artistically dark and amazing - would have been a dream come true.

But I digress. (I do that alot!)

There is a new documentary titled ‘H.R. Giger Revealed’.

Whether it’s Ridley Scott’s award-winning Alien (based on his work Necronom IV) or the artwork for Debbie Harry’s solo album, Celtic Frost’s albums or the obscenity-lawsuit attracting cover for the Dead Kennedy’s Frankenchrist, we have all at one time or another been exposed to the dark and wonderfully twisted world of Swiss painter, sculptor and set designer Hans Ruedi Giger.

Documentary director David Jahn started work as an assistant at Giger’s studio in Zürich in 2000. After his departure back to the Czech Republic he co-operated with Giger as an initiator and consultee of the Prague exhibition which took place 14th April – 13th September 2005 at the National Technical Museum.

Jahn proposed to Giger to produce a DVD that would map his work and current life. The shoot took place at Giger’s studio in Zürich and in Gruyéres, where the H.R. Giger museum and bar is located.

Footage includes an interview with Austrian artist Ernst Fuchs, Debbie Harry (Blondie) recounting how their collaboration came about, Ridley Scott’s candid description of the moment he saw Necronomicon and realised his search for the perfect ‘Alien’ had ended and numerous interviews with fellow artists at the openings of his Paris and Prague exhibitions.

Initially his monochromatic canvasses depicting surreal, nightmarish dreamscapes (often displaying fetishistic, sexual imagery which have garnered him a large following in the gothic, occult and dark-burlesque scenes) were predominantly created by airbrush whereas later work has been created using markers, ink and pastel colours. His most distinctive stylistic innovation is that of a representation of human bodies and machines in a cold, interconnected relationship described as biomechanical. Often the result of visions he has had through the sleep disorder known as night-terrors, it is no wonder that film makers from the darker end of the spectrum (Alien, Dune, Poltergeist II, Species) have so often sought to collaborate with him when looking to achieve their vision.

The authors do not avoid the particular developmental periods of Giger’s work, however, the main purpose was not to create the artist’s biography. What they have achieved is an authentic perspective on the peculiar world of this ground breaking Swiss artist.

Continue reading ‘H.R. Giger Revealed’

H.R. Giger Documentary From 1987

Man Jailed For Satanic Slaughter of Goat In Church

Man Jailed For Satanic Slaughter of Goat In Church.
A Heavy Metal Rock band member was jailed today for his part in a Friday the 13th satanic ritual in which a pet goat was killed at a suburban Brisbane church.

Celtic Frost & H.R. Giger

Celtic Frost & H.R. Giger

Swiss Black/Death/Doom Metallers Celtic Frost will play a special party celebrating the 10th anniversary of the H.R. Giger Museum on June 21. The group will pay tribute to the Swiss fantasy artist who designed the creature in the Alien movies and contributed the cover to Frost’s To Mega Therion album, among other accomplishments.

In a 2006 interview with the Associated Press, bassist Michael Eric Ain said of Giger, “We were completely stunned when he got back to us telling us that he could relate to the music, that he saw something of his art reflected in the music. That was one of the biggest boosts we’ve ever gotten artistically speaking, because back in those days…a lot of the inspiration we got was from literature or art”.

The concert will tentatively take place at 11 P.M. at the Globull nightclub in Bulle, Switzerland.

More on Celtic Frost @ Dogmatic.

Far From Devil Worship And ‘Harry Potter,’ Young Witches Explain What They’re Really About

Far From Devil Worship And ‘Harry Potter,’ Young Witches Explain What They’re Really About.
Hollywood horror films would have us believe that anyone who identifies as a “witch” worships the devil and uses “black magic” to manipulate the wills of others.

Last Rites Gallery Brings the New York Art World Over to the Dark Side

Paul Booth

On April 5th, the New York art scene is going to get a lot darker. Legendary painter and tattoo artist Paul Booth, of Last Rites Tattoo Theatre, is opening up NYC’s only gallery devoted to the macabre, erotic and surreal.

Last Rites Gallery’s inaugural show, Transgression, curated by gallery director Genevive Zacconi, showcases artists ranging from internationally renowned sculptor and Alien designer H.R Giger to classical oil painter Shawn Barber, to tattoo-artist Vincent Castiglia, whose beautifully rendered watercolors are painted in his own blood. Designed to provoke thoughts and shatter taboos, Transgression will introduce viewers to 31 artists who change what we think art is.

Transgression opens on Saturday, April 5th, 7-10pm at Last Rites Gallery, 511 W. 33rd Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues (3 blocks from Penn Station), 3rd floor, New York, NY 10001. Show runs April 5th thru April 28th, 2008. More info at www.lastritesgallery.com.

..:: Now showing at Last Rites Gallery ::..
Last Rites Gallery

Participating artists include: Michael Hussar, John Abrahamson, Shawn Barber, Jon Beinart, Rachel Bess, Matthew Bone, Paul Booth, Patrick Byers, Vincent Castiglia, Colin Christian, Christopher Conte, Daniel Martin Diaz, HR Giger, Naoto Hattori, William B Hand. Fred Harper, Nikko Hurtado, John John Jesse, Stephen Kasner, Kevin Llewellen, Fabrice Lavollay, Laurie Lipton, Travis Louie, Jesse Pepper, Karl Persson, Dan Quintana, Celeste Rapone, JL Robbins, David Stoupakis, Heidi Taillerfer, Brian Viveros, Chet Zar.

About Last Rites Owner Paul Booth:
A tattoo artist for nearly two decades and a painter for years before that, Paul Booth has devoted his life to the evolution of his craft. In the tattoo industry, after years of public appearances and numerous international awards, Paul Booth is now a household name. He has been featured on networks such as CNN, MSNBC, DISCOVERY, A&E, TLC, and MTV.
Due to the macabre nature of his style, Paul has tattooed many major metal bands. As a result, in 2002, Rolling Stone Magazine dubbed Paul “The new king of rock tattoos.” There is currently a two-year waiting list for his work.