Svartmálmur is a portrait of the Icelandic Black Metal scene by Verði ljós, the alter-ego of Wormlust musician Hafsteinn Viðar Ársælsson. Despite its geographic isolation, the island has seen an extraordinary flourishing of this scene in the last twenty years. Born as a reaction to the extreme reality of the country beyond its fairy tale appearance, the genre has gained worldwide recognition and a key position in the wider heavy scene: today it is home to renowned record labels, festivals such as Oration and Eistnaflug, and internationally acclaimed bands. The book features images of Abominor, Auðn, Carpe Noctem, Draugsól, Mannveira, Misþyrming, Naðra, Norn, Nornahetta, Núll, Nyiþ, Sinmara, Svartidauði and Wormlust. The photographs were taken over three years and, seamlessly blending documentary and fiction, offer a unique insight into an apparently impenetrable world.