Until The Light Takes Us Isn't Illuminating

Until The Light Takes Us is allegedly the world's first feature length documentary recounting the history, impact and outcome of Norway's infamous late-1980s/early-1990s black metal scene. That means it examines time when acts such as Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum and more drew attention for senseless murders and burning historically significant churches. But it's a double-edged, albeit incredibly dull sword.

While the intention is wonderful with Ewell and Aites travelling to the homes of scene heavyweights like Darkthrone's Gylve "Fenriz" Nagell (Darkthrone) and Burzum and Mayhem's Varg "Count Grishnackh" Vikernes to glean some previously-unheard tidbits about the past, the results don't justify the effort. Until The Light Takes Us almost solely focuses on these two (important as they are) contributors without touching on other vital pieces of the puzzle.

Until The Light Takes Us does have moments, though, and works best when Nagell and Vikernes share personal reflections. Otherwise, it's rather thin, featuring very little black metal overall.

What's worse is the Attention Deficit Disorder delivery, which fails to follow any informative or structured narrative. It plods along, assuming we know what's happening (although most metal students will).

Being one of these enthusiasts, there were few revelatory details for me, while my non-black metal viewing companion lost all interest due Until The Light Takes Us' lack of explanation, haphazard delivery and juvenility.

In all, Until The Light Takes Us is a passable start, but needs a deeper successor that doesn't reek of tourist directors looking to capitalize on an untapped idea and wanting to do something cool rather than do something justice. If you've got any remote interest, I'd suggest you catch this one quick before anonymity takes it.