[This Q&A was originally published in our sister publication, The Stranger. —eds] There has always been a sense of intrigue and mystery surrounding the world of black metal. Since the early days of Mayhem—the notorious Norwegian band often credited for catapulting the genre into the mainstream in the '80s with their headline-grabbing history of suicide, murder, and alleged church burnings—the genre has become one of the most deeply fascinating underground subcultures in modern times. Adding.