Satanic Heavy Metal singer Count Grishnackh leader of Norwegian Black Metallers Burzum was arrested last week in Norway on charges of arson following as spate of fire attack on churches. The real name of the 18 years old has yet to be revealed. The count has allegedly confessed in an interview with a prominent Norwegian newspaper to torching several churches in town including Oslo, Stavanger and the singer's hometown of Bergen. If found guilty the count may face a jail sentence of up to 20 years. A total of eight churches have been damaged by fires since June 1992. Several burnt to the ground. The Count was pictured in Norway's national press being taken into police custody wearing a Venom "Black Metal" T-shirt. Another photograph showed the singer posing with a long knife and a bizarre close contact weapon with spikes and a curved blade. Both the Count and his girlfriend are outspoken Satanists. Burzum guitarist Samoth (anagram of his real name Thomas) was also arrested on arson charges but was later released. Samoth also played in Emperor and has proclaimed himself 'The lord of Silence'. He rarely speaks and apparently never smiles or laughs! Eccentric behaviour is rife in the Scandinavian Death Metal scene among bands like Norway's Darkthrone and Mayhem and Finland's Impaled Nazarene. Mayhem bassist Euronymous is the father figure of Norwegian Black Metal and runs the Deathlike Silence label to which Burzum are signed. Burzum and several other Norwegian Black Metal bands have material released in the UK soon via the fledgling Candlelight label. Burzum eponymous debut album will be issued in late spring preceded by Enslaved 'Hordanes Land' (Battle Metal with lyrics in ancient Norse!) and an eponymous album from Emperor in the epic style of Sweden's legendary Bathory!

Varg Vikernes - aka Count Grishnackh - had allegedly planned to blow up a church housing the Norwegian crown jewels before he was arrested for the murder of Øystein Aarseth.

Police searching Vikernes' apartment in Bergen in connection with the murder found 150 kilos of dynamite, which they believe Vikernes was plotting to use in an attack on Nidarosdomen church in Trondheim.

The church is the most famous in Norway and is a national monument. As well as the crown jewels, Nidarosdomen also houses priceless art treasures.

The church dates back to the XI^th century and is mostly built of stone. Consequently, it cannot be destroyed by fire alone-leading police to believe that Vikernes intended to blow-up the building. Vikernes is currently on remand awaiting trial for Aarseth's murder. Last week, police received a court order permitting the use of force in obtaining a blood sample from the accused after he objected to the use of a syringe.

Vikernes stated: "Take a blood test, but use a knife, sabre or axe. I refuse to be syringed". His objection to the syringe is based on his opposition to modern medicine. Police have also re-opened their file on the death of a former associate of Aarseth's. Known only as Dead, the deceased was singer for Aarseth's band Mayhem. Aged 18, he died from gunshot wounds in 1991 in the town of Ski.

The extent of the deceased's injuries made a post mortem difficult. Coroners recorded the death as a suicide, but acting police chief Truls Fyhn comments: "We will investigate all earlier cases in which Satanists may be involved".

Author: Aziz (© 1994 "Vortex From the East" Magazine, Malaysia)