The Devil Has All The Best Songs Part 3: Satan loves a mosh pit

 The Devil Has All The Best Tunes: Part Three

Satan in the mosh pit 

In the final part of our series we look at how Satan imagery and ideology has influenced the world of heavy metal and dark rock. We will look at the goth/emo scene as well the evolution of heavy metal as well black metal and thrash.

Any colour as long as it’s black: the goth and emo movement

The goth music scene emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a dark, moody offshoot of post-punk in the UK. Bands like Bauhaus (with their 1979 single “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”), Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, and Joy Division (later evolving into New Order) laid the foundations with echoing guitars, brooding basslines, dramatic vocals, and lyrics obsessed with death, romance, melancholy, and the macabre.

Often called dark punk in its earliest days, the scene quickly developed its own identity: pale faces, backcombed black hair, leather, lace, velvet, religious and occult imagery, and an unapologetic love of the theatrical. By the mid-1980s, the Batcave club in London had become the unofficial headquarters, while Andrew Eldritch of Sisters of Mercy famously declared “gothic rock” the proper name—partly to distance the music from the fashion victims who were starting to flood in. Emo has become a sort of pink sister of the goth scene ; It began in the mid-1980s Washington, D.C. hardcore scene as “emotional hardcore” or “emocore” with bands like Rites of Spring, Embrace, and Moss Icon—groups that replaced macho posturing with raw, personal lyrics about heartbreak, mental health, and alienation, often delivered in urgent, screaming-then-singing dynamics. The darker side of the goth scene however has largely been replaced with a mere shadow of its dark self being influenced by the human condition rather than esoteric or occult influences.

Three names that are key to the goth music scene were Gary Numan, Sisters of Mercy  and The Mission ( which featured ex members of Sisters). Whilst none of these ever hinted at a leaning towards the side of Lucifer we are sure he greatly liked the look and music. Many of there fans certainly seemed to prefer life on the dark side.

The gothic shock rock of Marilyn Manson, a modern day Alice Cooper 
In the early 1990s  Manson showed that the imagery and power of dark themes and satanism had evolved . Brian Warner (Marilyn Manson) met Anton LaVey several times in San Francisco. LaVey made him an honorary Reverend of the Church of Satan in 1994. Manson’s early shock-rock persona, the use of Satanic symbolism, and songs like “Antichrist Superstar” were consciously modelled on LaVey’s blend of theatrical Satanism and media manipulation. Manson later distanced himself after LaVey’s death in 1997, but the early influence is undeniable. Manson’s name is decidedly tainted (pun intended!) these days but his music, especially the earlier songs were top notch.

The Godfathers of heavy metal and accusations of satanic messages

Black Sabbath
Although they were never Satanists, the band’s name, the song “Black Sabbath,” and early imagery (inverted crosses, horror themes) emerged in the same late-60s countercultural stew that produced LaVey. The accusations of Satan worship wasn’t exactly helped by the large invert cross on the original debut album gatefold sleeve! Geezer Butler has said they were simply using scary imagery to contrast with flower-power hippies, but the timing aligned perfectly with LaVey’s rise. His and Aleister Crowley’s influences cannot be minimised or ignored even if band members protest (rather too strongly) that they were never followers of Satan.  Maybe they didn’t but Satan sure helped them create some truly outstanding heavy metal music! Maybe Sabbath and the boys weren’t satanic, but there’s no denying He was whispering in their ears!

Some bands like Motley Crue and WASP used satanic imagery and objects like the pentagram as part of their “look” or as inspiration for their songs. Were they satanic? Probably not no. But Satan and sex sells!

Witchcraft and Coven also pulled more than an idea or two from the Occult and satanism along with many others like Pentagram , Celtic Frost and Candlemass. These, and many more bands have proved the ever evolving influence of Satan whilst producing some excellent music.

Parental Advisory: 

Led Zeppelin , Judas Priest, WASP and the satanic panic that gripped America 

We looked at Led Zeppelin in part 2 but controversy was never far from the band. They were accused, like many including the Beatles and Judas Priest of recording backwards tracks on some songs in the so-called “Satanic Panic” that erupted in the US. Spear-headed by the Washington Wives and Tipper Gore these Christians were obsessed with how music and the arts were corrupting the minds of kids. Mostly this was total BS and a vehicle for Al Gore’s political campaign.  This all came to head in the US courts with the likes of Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister standing up for freedom of speech and expression.   In the end the Paraental Advisory stickers and free publicity did wonders for metal and good old Nick himself. Satan 1 Christians 0.

Some rock and metal musicians have in recent years decried their “evil” past such as Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and Blackie Lawless of WASP. That is of course up to them and they can believe in and sing about what they like. It’s still a little funny however listening to Lawless saying he is a Christian : he wrote Animal ( F**k Like A Beast)! 

Still there will always be many more musicians who will explore the Occult and Satanism. The evangelical community and witch hunts can never silence Lucifer and he is continuing to do very well in the rock and metal scene…

Dark rock and heavy metal refuses to give in : Satan has the last laugh 

Incubus Succubus 

The band has been around in various incarnations for years and whilst they are far more of a witch/wiccan orientated band in terms of song subjects they are influenced by the dark energy and imagery of Satanism and Witchcraft. Damn good songs too about topics such as the burning times and vampires.

King Diamond (Mercyful Fate)
One of the clearest cases. Danish singer King Diamond (Kim Bendix Petersen) was an open, card-carrying member of the Church of Satan in the 1980s and early 1990s. His stage makeup, inverted crosses, and concept albums (Melissa, Don’t Break the Oath) were heavily inspired by LaVeyan philosophy. LaVey himself gave interviews praising King Diamond as the public face of musical Satanism.

German band Lucifer are heavily influenced by bands like Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath. Formed in 2014 they draw from a wide range of musical influences and inspirations including Lucifer. Well they would really as they are named after Him!

The bridge between gothic and metal

Italian band Lacuna Coil formed in 1994  and over the years their songs , iconography and appearance has got darker and heavier. Much to the delight of fans! Like many bands they are influenced by the occult and dark subjects but it isn’t their main focus. They instead follow the traditional goth ethos of empowerment and freedom of expression. Satan loves that shit!

Satan in rock and metal today : It got heavier : Black Metal, Doom metal and thrash. Satan loves a good mosh pit!

  Venom and First-Wave Black Metal
The extreme metal explosion of the early 1980s (Venom’s Black Metal album title, Slayer’s Hell Awaits and Reign in Blood) used Satanic imagery largely for shock value. Venom’s Cronos later admitted they were more influenced by LaVey’s showmanship than by any actual belief in the devil.

Norwegian Black Metal (indirectly)

While the second-wave black-metal scene (Mayhem, Burzum, Emperor) was explicitly anti-LaVeyan (they saw his version of Satanism as atheistic and “Hollywood”), they were still reacting to him. Varg Vikernes and others despised the Church of Satan precisely because LaVey had made Satanism intellectual and non-theistic; they wanted a return to literal devil-worship and paganism. So LaVey was the foil they defined themselves against.

Slayer and the thrash movement 

Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981. Widely regarded as one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal (alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax), Slayer is known for its blistering speed, aggressive sound, and controversial lyrical themes centered on war, death, Satanism, serial killers, and religion. Since the first beginning of the band they have used the inverted pentagram and down turned crucifix on their albums and stage shows but the main maintain that’s all it is- imagery. 

Tom Araya (lead singer/bassist, a practicing Catholic):
“I’m not Satanic. I believe in God… We used those images because they’re frightening, they’re scary, they get a reaction.”

•  Kerry King (guitarist, atheist/anti-religion):
“I’m not a Satanist. I think religion is stupid… Satan is just a great character to write about because he’s the ultimate rebel.”

•  Jeff Hanneman (late guitarist, wrote many of the “Satanic” lyrics):
“It’s just shock. We’re not trying to convert anybody or preach anything.

Okay, how about Kreator then? And Ghost ?

Nope. Again they use the imagery for effect.

UK gothic metallers Cradle of filth again is not a genuinely Satanic band in the sense of promoting or practicing Satanism as a religion or philosophy (LaVeyan, theistic, or otherwise). However, they lean much harder into Satanic, occult, and anti-Christian imagery than Slayer or Kreator ever did — and they’ve kept doing it for 30+ years.

Ghost too are simply using traditional tropes to create atmosphere and themes for their music and live show.

Hang on then, so which bands are satanic these days?

Don’t worry, Satan is still getting a share of the music industry glory. He always will thanks to up and coming bands that are coming through to take the thrones of bands like Deicide , Behemoth, Watain and Dissection. 

Satan has for many years been a source of inspiration, controversy, empowerment and expression whilst offering an alternative to the norm and organised religion. His power to challenge conceptions and ideologies cannot be denied. The love of, or fear of, the Devil has inspired music for generations and will no doubt continue to do so.

Anton LaVey: Making Satiam Cool

 Making Satanism Cool
Anton Szandor LaVey:

 A Concise Biography

Anton Szandor LaVey (1930–1997), born Howard Stanton LeVey, was the founder of the Church of Satan and author of The Satanic Bible (1969). He turned Satanism into a modern, atheistic philosophy of individualism, hedonism, and self-deification.

His Early Life

Born in Chicago and raised in California, LaVey left high school to work in circuses and burlesque houses. He later claimed (without evidence) to have been a San Francisco police photographer and to have had affairs with Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. By the late 1950s he was giving popular lectures on the occult from his black-painted Victorian home.

The Founding the Church of Satan

On April 30, 1966 (Walpurgisnacht), LaVey ritually shaved his head and declared the founding of the Church of Satan and the start of the “Age of Satan.” High-profile Satanic baptisms, weddings, and funerals followed, attracting massive media attention.

The Philosophy: LaVeyan Satanism

LaVey’s Satanism is non-theistic. Satan is a symbol of pride, liberty, and individualism, not a literal entity. Core ideas include:

•  Indulgence over abstinence

•  Vital existence over spiritual pipe dreams

•  Responsibility to the responsible

•  Rejection of herd morality and guilt

Magic is purely psychodramatic catharsis or applied psychology.

The Satanic Bible (1969), The Satanic Rituals (1972), and The Satanic Witch (1971) remain his most influential works, blending Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, and carnival showmanship.

Anton’s Public Image and Influence

In the late 1960s and 1970s, celebrities (Jayne Mansfield, Sammy Davis Jr., Kenneth Anger) visited his “Black House.” LaVey appeared in films, recorded occult music, and became a late-night TV staple in full Satanic regalia.

His Later Years and Death

By the 1980s the Church had shrunk; LaVey became reclusive and fell out with former allies, including his daughter Zeena. He died of pulmonary edema on October 29, 1997 (the Church initially claimed Halloween for dramatic effect).

The Satanic Bible (1969) – Structure and Core Content

The Satanic Bible is a short (272-page) paperback that serves as the foundational text of LaVeyan Satanism. It is not a “holy book” in the traditional sense but a manifesto of atheistic, hedonistic philosophy dressed in theatrical occult language.

The book is divided into four sections, each named after one of the “Four Crown Princes of Hell.”

1. The Book of Satan (The Infernal Diatribe)

•  Mostly plagiarized and adapted from Ragnar Redbeard’s Social-Darwinist rant Might Is Right (1896).

•  Fiery, poetic denunciations of weakness, herd morality, Christianity, and turn-the-other-cheek ethics.

•  Tone: angry, over-the-top, Nietzsche-on-steroids.

Key quote: “Blessed are the strong, for they shall possess the earth – Cursed are the weak, for they shall inherit the yoke!”

2. The Book of Lucifer (The Enlightenment)

•  The philosophical heart of the book – 12 essays.

•  Core ideas:

•  Satan represents indulgence, not abstinence.

•  Man is just another animal, but the most vicious of all.

•  Rejection of guilt, self-denial, and spiritual pipe dreams.

•  Stratified society is natural; equality is a lie.

•  “Responsibility to the responsible” – help those who deserve it, not the undeserving.

•  Sex, money, and power are good if you earn them honestly.

•  Heavy influence from Ayn Rand’s Objectivism and Nietzsche, stripped of metaphysics.

The Book of Belial (The Balance of Nature)

•  Theory of LaVeyan magic.

•  Magic is divided into:

•  Lesser Magic: applied psychology, seduction, manipulation, “looks, tricks, and confidence” (glorified pickup-artist tactics and salesmanship).

•  Greater Magic: ritual psychodrama to vent emotions or focus the will. No belief in supernatural forces required – it’s catharsis and auto-suggestion.

•  Emphasis on the “balance factor”: know exactly what you want and whether you can afford the emotional/energy price.

4. The Book of Leviathan (The Raging Sea)

•  Actual rituals and invocations.

•  Contains:

•  The Enochian Keys (19 calls adapted from John Dee, translated into “the language of Satan” by LaVey).

•  Three basic rituals: Lust, Compassion, and Destruction.

•  Instructions for setting up a ritual chamber, using a naked woman as altar, the Sigil of Baphomet, black candles, gong, sword, etc.

•  Written in pseudo-Shakespearean language for dramatic effect.

The Overall Philosophy in One Sentence

LaVeyan Satanism is atheistic epicurean egoism: there is no God or Devil, only you; life is short, so indulge responsibly, reject guilt, reward strength, and use ritual theater when your emotions need an outlet.

LaVey’s Influence and Reception

•  Sold over one million copies and still in print.

•  Became the single most influential occult book of the late 20th century.

•  Shaped countless heavy-metal lyrics, goth fashion, and modern atheistic Satanist groups (Church of Satan, The Satanic Temple, etc.).

The Satanic Bible is less a religious scripture than a provocative, Randian self-help book wrapped in Halloween theatrics – and that combination is exactly why it endured.

The Nine Satanic Statements

(The opening creed of The Satanic Bible – LaVey’s concise summary of his entire philosophy)

1.  Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!
Pleasure and satisfaction of natural desires are good. Denying yourself food, sex, comfort, or success for the sake of “spirituality” or guilt is stupid and life-denying.

2.  Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
This real, physical world is all there is. There is no heaven, hell, afterlife, or soul. Focus on the here-and-now instead of wasting your life on imaginary rewards or punishments.

3.  Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
Face reality exactly as it is. Reject comforting lies, false humility, and pretending to be “good” when you’re not. Honest knowledge (even if unpleasant) beats self-delusion.

4.  Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates!
Love, help, and generosity should be given only to people who earn and reciprocate it—not squandered on everyone out of guilt or dogma.

5.  Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!
If someone harms you, hit back—harder if necessary. Forgiveness without justice is weakness and invites further attack.

6.  Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!
You owe nothing to leeches, manipulators, or chronic victims who drain you. Take care of yourself and those who pull their own weight.

7.  Satan represents man as just another animal—sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours—who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!
Humans are biological animals, not “children of God.” Strip away the veneer of civilization and we’re often more cruel and predatory than any beast.

8.  Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth are natural drives. When indulged responsibly, they make life richer and more enjoyable.

9.  Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!
A sardonic jab: the Christian churches owe their power and wealth to the fear of Satan and Hell. Without the Devil as a boogeyman, religion would collapse.

Taken together, the Nine Statements are a complete rejection of Christian morality and a celebration of egoism, realism, and responsible hedonism. They are the closest thing LaVeyan Satanism has to “Ten Commandments”—except they glorify what Christianity condemns.

The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth

(Written by Anton LaVey in 1967 and printed in The Satanic Bible)

These are the practical, everyday social rules that members of the Church of Satan are expected to live by. They are not mystical commandments; they are hard-headed guidelines for dealing with other people in a world full of fools, predators, and psychic vampires.

1.  Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.
Unsolicited opinions make you look weak and needy.

2.  Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
Most people don’t care; dumping your problems on them is emotional parasitism.

3.  When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.
In someone else’s home, workplace, or space, follow their rules—or stay away.

4.  If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.
Your home, your rules. No obligation to tolerate rude or abusive guests.

5.  Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
Consent is mandatory. No signal = no advance.

6.  Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.
Theft is contemptible—except when someone is begging to be robbed of a problem (rare).

7.  Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.
Give credit where it’s due: if ritual psychodrama worked for you, don’t pretend it was “just coincidence.”

8.  Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
Whining about things you can walk away from is pathetic.

9.  Do not harm little children.
One of the very few absolute moral prohibitions in LaVeyan Satanism (the other being no cruelty to animals unless in self-defense or for food).

10.  Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
Same principle: animals are innocent and useful; only a weakling torments them.

11.  When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.
Live and let live—until someone refuses to leave you alone. Then end the threat decisively (legally, socially, or, as a last resort, physically).

In short: Be polite and self-contained until politeness fails. Then retaliate without hesitation or guilt. These eleven rules are the real-world application of the Nine Satanic Statements—egoistic, pragmatic, and fiercely protective of personal boundaries.

LaVey’s Legacy

Though membership was always small, LaVey’s aesthetic and philosophy profoundly shaped heavy metal, goth culture, and modern atheistic Satanism. The Church of Satan continues under Peter H. Gilmore. Rival groups (Temple of Set, The Satanic Temple) either emerged from or reacted against his model.

In short, LaVey replaced the medieval Devil with a stylish, rationalist anti-hero and became the most successful re-brander of Satan in history.

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