Variance Films present Until The Light Takes Us, a full length feature docufilm about the story of black metal music throughout Europe and specifically in Norway. The film has been made by directors Aaron Aites who is the singer/songwriter behind the band, Iran and Audrey Ewell who co-produced the 2001 comedy, A Sign from God as well as being an art director for album covers.

The duo’s collections of visual/video art collaborations have shown in Europe, America and Japan and Until The Light Takes Us is their first feature length film, which was originally released in NYC in November 2009 and L.A in December 2009 to critical acclaim. Already British critics have hailed the film similar accolades, which makes this piece something you shouldn’t miss out on.

A great piece of work – The Guardian

An expertly made documentary, which teases out a gripping story, refuses to judge its participants and shows how even the most ferocious underground movement can be corrupted and commodified by the media – Empire

The synopsis for this unique film says:

“Until The Light Takes Us tells the story of black metal. Part music scene and part cultural uprising, black metal rose to worldwide notoriety in the mid-nineties when a rash of suicides, murders, and church burnings accompanied the explosive artistic growth and output of a music scene that would forever redefine what heavy metal is and what it stands for to other musicians, artists and music fans world-wide. Until The Light Takes Us goes behind the highly sensationalized media reports of “Satanists running amok in Europe” to examine the complex and largely misunderstood principles and beliefs that led to this rebellion against both Christianity and modern culture.

To capture this on film, directors Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell moved to Norway and lived with the musicians for several years, building relationships that allowed them to create a surprisingly intimate portrait of this violent, but ultimately misunderstood, movement. The result is a poignant, moving story that’s as much about the idea that reality is composed of whatever the most people believe, regardless of what’s actually true, as it is about a music scene that blazed a path of murder and arson across the northern sky.”

What looks interesting about the nature of the piece is that there is something for a lot of groups of people, whether you are interested in the type of music that the film is about, the nature of filmmaking or documentary making or even the landscape in which the film is set, it certainly seems like something you don’t want to miss.

For more information check out the website HERE and remember the film is on UK VOD release (it will be available from iTunes and the PlayStation store) from the 15th September 2011, that is Thursday!