Tevun-Krus #66 - Satanic SF

@Nablai's Nebula

Technically Satanic Punk is defined as the Punk Rock category espousing lyrics and/or imagery which advocates Satanism. Satanic Punk sometimes crosses over with Horror Punk.

The Quintessentials were the first Satanic Punk band that I came across while searching for a couple of dark, horror songs. And they fully support the Church of Satan. Their music was inspired from the dark forces and the fiery volcanic pits under the murky ocean depths of Hawai'i.

Satanism is indeed addressed by some rock bands, but there is little to call this "satanist" music (dark, horror, intense). Black Sabbath, the mother of all metal bands, explored religious themes of good and evil; however, they consistently wrote songs that were expressly pro-God! Sabbath never exhorted anyone towards evil. In contrast, it is clear that Jimmy Page, the leader of Led Zeppelin - the most important rock band of the 70s - was fascinated by the occult and especially the writings of Alastair Crowley. That said, it is hard to find a Zeppelin song that glorifies evil.

Taken together, rock is not in any way a satanic music form. It was always the devil's music which causes people to shake like they're being possessed. Punk had a general agnostic outlook and with symbols like Bad Religion's crossed out cross people read it as 'satanic' more than confrontational. Elvis was thrusting his pelvis into women's faces with abandon and causing evil thoughts to break loose in the minds of the youth at that time.

A lot of people saw the Crass symbol with Ouroboros as Satanic. Many folks will read confrontation to their beliefs as 'satanic' in an attempt to indiscriminately neuter an argument saying, "They're in league with Satan so shouldn't be listened to with any reliability!" While I agree that their statement may sound stupid but this argument has been held up for ages. Parents are claiming their sons and daughters never questioned going to church or believing in God until they heard The Subhumans or some such.

Harder music genres such as punk, metal, rock/hard rock, etc. have explored the darker side of the emotional spectrum as opposed to the mainstream, which explores the happy emotions. Worship music, country music, pop music, etc. didn't talk about hatred and addiction, and so when bands began discussing these issues, it was different; and of course, people fear what is different.

Sump and Nuit noire seem to be punk bands with black metal influence or the other way around.

Most people enjoy listening to "happy" music, that talks about either directly happy emotions, or bittersweet ones like loss and sadness; they dislike when they hear a fellow with waist-length hair growling about "exposing the dark side", and such darkly poetic lyrics. The hard rock like Satanic Punk is an acquired taste and most people fear the unknown, untapped music.

I think that people are not used to emotional honesty in the Satanic Punk genre. This honesty is what sets harder genres apart; these genres dig deep into the psyche, and make beautiful, sometimes disturbing things from the experience. Ask a metal head, and they will state truthfully, that they feel horrible. In a way, these genres are satanic: because they accurately portray the soul, and the soul is incredibly evil.