U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Sounds of Violence

NCJ Number
181109
Journal
Intelligence Report Issue: 96 Dated: Fall 1999 Pages: 28-32
Author(s)
Eric K. Ward; John Lunsford; Justin Massa
Editor(s)
Mark Potok
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The music young people listen to and its increasing identity with neo-Nazi ideology have an important influence on hate and violence.
Abstract
Extreme right rock bands are infiltrating the "black metal" music scene in a bid to recruit youth to white supremacist causes. Black metal emerged in the early 1980's and has been called a teenage soundtrack to the battle between good and evil. By definition, black metal bands are anti-Christian. Some follow this line because of their belief in Satan as a deity, while others see themselves as independent thinkers opposed to the sheep-like mentality of Christianity. Over the past 5 years, black metal has grown exponentially in the United States and neo-Nazism, white power, hatred of Jews, and people of color is building in the black metal scene. White supremacists are increasingly turning their attention specifically to black metal music. Such music seems to be becoming an effective vehicle for racist hatred and violence. 6 photographs