Neseblod Records, an influential record shop in the early Norwegian black metal scene, has burned down. Originally opened in Oslo, Norway in the spring of 1991 by Mayhem‘s Euronymous as ‘Helvete‘, the store and its basement would become a meeting hub for musicians and fans of the now infamous scene, with Euronymous also running his label Deathlike Silence Productions out of the location.
Euronymous would ultimately shutter the store back in 1993 amid alleged bad business decisions and increasing police and religious uproar about the store and its denizens. Several individuals who frequented the establishment, including Varg Vikernes of Burzum, had begun drawing a high profile due to their involvement and convictions in as a series of black metal-motivated church burnings that had been taking place from 1992 onwards. Vikernes would ultimately go on to murder Euronymous in August of 1993.
The original location of Helvete was purchased in 2013 and reopened as Neseblod Records, serving as a living black metal museum of sorts alongside a functional record store. Key among its tourist attraction qualities was the infamous ‘black metal’ graffiti found in the basement. According to VG, the extent of the damage is still being assessed, as is the cause of the blaze.
This GoFundMe has been launched to help get owners Kenneth Neseblod and his wife Grete back on their feet.
