This was a random choice of book picked up from the library and one that as we start to cover more in the way of horror seemed like a good idea to review here especially as it combines black metal along with the basic survival horror premise. As I read the introduction the author described how he had researched via Moynihan and Søderlind’s ‘Lord Of Chaos’ and found the book invaluable and that also he had taken certain liberties with a Dark Throne song title, so I was instantly intrigued.
This was a new author to me and Neville was apparently born in Birmingham in 1969 so possibly has had some sort of contact with the cities burgeoning music scene. He has written two other books, Apartment 13 and Banquet Of The Damned which I am rather keen to read after this.
The book can easily be divided into two parts and the first is traditional survival horror which pits four university friends getting together and going away on holiday. This time they have chosen a hiking trip in Sweden, one where the terrain is much tougher than anticipated, especially for two of the party who are nowhere near as fit as they used to be. They decide to take a short cut through a forest which is rather ill advised considering the “dead thing they found hanging from a tree that changed the trip beyond recognition.” There is no black metal subtext in this half of the book, although if you are a fan it’s kind of difficult not to smile wryly and consider that the ancient stalking evil following the friends (who quickly fall out as the story develops) is not conjured up by an evil and malevolent Shamaatae. Strange old buildings are discovered along with bones in mass graves as the survivors are ruthlessly pursued and toyed with.
The survival aspect still considers in the second part but the hunted are now captured by three of the strangest looking individuals encountered in the middle of nowhere. They are members of a Norwegian black metal band called Blood Frenzy and along with a strange old lady questions are asked. What is their dark secret and what ties them in with the sinister monstrous thing in the wilderness? As for the black metal aspects and the characterisations of the three members of Blood Frenzy it is quickly evident that Neville is neither going to cast them in a good light or that he is anything other than an outsider looking in on something he is not part of. Still it does keep the reader, even the enlightened one, involved and even laughing at the odd joke whereby Cradle Of Filth’s mention does not even gain acknowledgement by the teenage band members and that Dimmu Borgir are nothing more than mere poseurs.
The book is a real page turner and keeps you guessing as it continues. The first half is especially skilfully executed as in essence it is nothing more than four characters out of their depth, stumbling around lost and would be quite boring unless it had strong narrative and characterisation. As I got towards the end of this I was thinking what an interesting movie it could make and sure enough I have just read that it has recently been optioned for filming in the very near future. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn the music we love into a juvenile mockery. In the meantime the book will do nicely and is well worth checking out.
http://www.adamlgnevill.com
Pete Woods
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