The purpose of this paper is to analyze how paganism is used by various European extreme metal bands. The extreme metal subgenres of black metal and folk metal both heavily rely on pagan themes within vastly different contexts. While black metal bands of the 1990s misappropriate the idea of paganism in order to justify spreading fear and committing acts of religious terrorism, contemporary folk metal bands use historically accurate elements of paganism as an appreciative display of pagan peoples and faiths. Despite the supposed Satanism within the black metal scene, the anti-Christian sentiments and terrorism of black metal are rooted in and influenced more by a surface level understanding of Germanic paganism and Viking culture. In the case of folk metal, instead of using paganism as a fear tactic, specific elements of folklore and culture are explored upon in a way which respects the original culture from which these materials originate. In this paper I analyze how paganism is represented within these metal scenes by comparing song content and the personal beliefs of band members to authentic pagan source materials and neopagan beliefs and practices. While the elements of paganism shown in black metal music are misused to promote fascism, racism, and terror, the paganism shown within folk metal is highly researched and respectful of its original source material.

Genna Hilbing would like to thank their faculty sponsor Dr. Robert Hughes for their support with this project.