I find metal propelled a passion in me, going beyond the run of the mill cathartic lyrics to be more compelling than regurgitated sixteen-year-old anger. So I am going to take a look at some of the occult schools of thought that inspire various factions of metal. Though I have been a student of the occult for over twenty five years, the thoughts, theologies and beliefs being discussed are not necessarily those of the editors or other writers of CVLT Nation. I am not preaching my personal beliefs, though I will ponder some of the pros and cons of each mystery school from merely an academic and anthropological look at these powers, which keeps the corpse paint coming.
Theistic Satanism is not Anton Lavey’s secular humanism dressed up for Halloween. It is the traditional form of devil worship. Though, even the term “devil worship” brings division amongst Theistic Satanists, since some see devil worshippers as occult trailer trash. The origins of organized western Satanism go back to the Our Lady of Endor coven that formed in Toledo, Ohio in 1947, but one of the most metal orders is the San Antonio, Texas-based Cathedral of the Black Goat, which did not just rise out of the darkness on it’s own. It came from the teachings of Father Terry Taylor of the Chicago-based Thee Orthodox Satanic Church of the Nitelium Rite, which flourished in the 70s as an alternative to Lavey’s Church of Satan. In 2001, Father Myrmydom, who founded the Cathedral of the Black Goat and penned the Devil’s Bible, began to carry on Taylor’s traditions, even visiting the site of Taylor’s Toledo church in 2008 to soak in the aura.
The San Antonio coven got its start with only seven members. This order often collaborated with other groups to hold larger rites; some say it hit its peak with their working held on February 23rd of 2007, followed the next night with a black metal show that Archgoat played. Cathedral of the Black Goat have since gone on to hold similar rituals that precede a festival of the same name. Bands that have played this ritualistic gathering posing as a metal fest include Amputator, Goatpenis, Nuclear Majick, Bestial Raids, Hellvetron, Black Witchery, Nexul, Loss, Manticore, Void Meditation Cult, Teratism, Nocturnal Fear and Deipahgo.
Before they began holding metal fest rituals, the order had already split into two groups. The black metal entangled order one, run by Myrmydom, focused more on offline activities; and another, headed by their Webmaster Diane Vera, wanted a more open online community not bound to any initiatory elements. Vera’s group went on to be known as the Black Goat Cabal, and as with many orders, the split resulted in mudslinging. When not bickering on the Internet, their belief system focuses on an inverse form of Christianity; however, they dislike “Satanists” who are symbolic, such as Lavey’s followers, and view them with as much disdain as they have for Christians. Myrmydom also believes in a dual god, a Jehovah god and then his infernal counterpart, who serve as a ying and yang to one another until the day the evil twins overthrow the god. They are open to anyone who believes in a literal deity of evil, even if it is one of the other representations, such as Set, Kali, Lilith, and I suppose even Cthulhu would qualify, given those parameters.
One of the arguments against Theistic Satanism is that, when put in the context of it being just an inverse version of Christianity, you are just following another god to be dependent on. However, it should be noted that the more liberating side of the coin to it is not having to adhere to a strict moral code. Also, if you are gearing up for a big war with a creator god who created the fallen angel, you are taking sides; but the odds don’t seem in your favor if adhering to John Milton’s mythos. But every one loves an underdog.
Until next time, when I take a look at Poly-Theistic Satanism…
Further Reading
The Devil’s Bible by Myrmydon Pontifex Maximus
The Bible of the Adversary by Michael Ford
Satanism: A Beginners Guide to the Religious Worship of Satan and Demons By Brother Nero
Tentatio Diabolus by Myrmydon Pontifex Maximus
