Occult / Ritual / Satanic / pagan / BM-esque / dark dungeon music

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Was going through piles of various black metal demo tapes lately and happened to put Malefica ‎"Black Magic" tape to tape deck. Wasn't sure what its going to be, but of course could see it's hand numbered #72 copies from 2007, with connection to Eskil Blix of Mare/Kaos Ritual etc.
While I have strong love/hate relationship with all sorts of projects one could lump loosely to "black metal intro music", once in a while it feels like it works out. This Malefica tape consist handful of songs, where slow floor-tom bounding, eerie keyboard melodies, chanting vocals and such rather expected elements, still manage to create rather good atmosphere. Perhaps thanks to tape format as well as semi-lo-fi cavernous sound quality, it manages to be well above the usual level of software addicted iMac occultists.

Deverills Nexion is another unit I have recently been listening some. I was never too fond of his previous works, but this one has achieved something quite different. It's never noise, not too obvious black metal side-project flaws. LP on AJNA is more of eccentric music than "industrial" or "ambient". Some of the keyboard works of the band is almost like Les Joyax De La Princesse transforming into sinister magick, instead of historical documents.
Such as:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D91-NeMqryk

More gloomy ritualistic chanting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOgtDtGvu34

While ago was writing:

N.A.O.S. "Iron Youth" 7"
Devilish Music Propaganda
Greek black metal fame with his martial/"neo classical" project on Membrum Debile Propaganda side label. Combine Mortiis, Blood Axis and Laibach and you got N.A.O.S., hah... So plenty of keyboard cheese, but also low-pitch male voice, proto-fascist/satanic lyrics and overall 90's industrial vibe. I remember I didn't care much for this when it came out, but now when I think how many of this type of bands are out there, it's decent for at least nostalgic reasons.

It makes me think there should be topic of such stuff.
Not stuff what is integral part of industrial movement, such as Korpses Katatonik, Zero Kama kind of material. But material what appears to come from outside the genre.

I always admire old days of dark underground of Poland. Bands like Perunwit for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5iok2JRWoE

Usually it irritates when purely metal band comes up with "ambient" record. But in the other hand, I may appreciate the simplicity of conceptual elements of works like HATE FOREST "The Gates" LP.  Fire crackling. Wind whistling. Next side comes some instrumental distorted BM riffing and eventually sinks into dull minimalist beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFnbbznKGqA

If I'm not mistaken, in Noise Receptor magazine, editor used term Dark Dungen Music (which of course refers to label of Mortiis) to describe "BM originated" keyboard music. To my taste perhaps too close to Mortiis to use widely. Perhaps also that I don't really like any Mortiis. VOND appeals a bit more. Especially Green Eyed Demon isn't that bombastic keyboard music, but closer to sound one could associate even with death industrial. Not far from MEGAPTERA or such!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVOi3-8CRec

[re:evolution]

If I'm not mistaken, in Noise Receptor magazine, editor used term Dark Dungen Music (which of course refers to label of Mortiis) to describe "BM originated" keyboard music. To my taste perhaps too close to Mortiis to use widely. Perhaps also that I don't really like any Mortiis. VOND appeals a bit more. Especially Green Eyed Demon isn't that bombastic keyboard music, but closer to sound one could associate even with death industrial. Not far from MEGAPTERA or such!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVOi3-8CRec

Mikko - this is review I think you are referring to: https://noisereceptor.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/aeva-%e2%80%8e-%E2%88%9E/

Anyway essentially Mortiis self described his work as 'dark dungeon music' around the time of his demo, which then became the name of his label.  The 'mortiis' keyboard approach has then become know as 'dungeon synth' music in BM and related circles, which quite a few projects using the descriptor to carry the torch so to speak.

Today I still like the first 3 Mortiis albums, but mostly for nostalgia and collectible sakes. Vond on the other hand has held up far better and I agree that 'Green Eyed Demon' certainly stands apart in Vond (and Mortiis' catalogue for the matter) as a good, rough death industrial type record.

[Dr Alex]

Burzum - Hlidskjalf is one of the best albums of this genre.

[ANDROPHILIA]

VOND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5T6i6QNgdI

[vomitgore]

I would say Semilanceata fits this theme very well. It's a sort of Ritual / Ambient project by Wagner Ödegard aka Kumulonimbus of Wulkanaz and Tomhet. Started exploring the project due to my interest in the aforementioned Black Metal bands, but ended up liking Semilanceata most of all. At times, very ritualistic and accoustic, maybe comparable to some Arktau Eos material and more based in Ambient, Drone and more "disturbing" frequencies at others. The sounds are always very juicy and alive, no matter what style is emphasised, and the atmosphere is always brilliant. Each album has a very distinct character. I think the concepts mostly deal with psychoactive substances in occult contexts and Dark Germanic Heathenism. Certainly so much more than some clumsy "ambient" intro to a Black Metal album!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc1yF5PeMKg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fonh64fUJ5E

[Zeno Marx]

The "dungeon" motif might be the cheesiest music in my library.  That isn't to say it isn't without merit, without a role, or garbage.  I find it laughable in much the same way as the fun, goofy characters of Sturmpercht or Arkanum.  Was Mortiis the first to create a character and use prosthetics?  One of its endearing qualities is that is so poorly played and crude, sort of like so much early punk.  Like children stepping to their first keyboard at X-mas morning.  It's just awful, but fun.  I would say that some of the worst ambient I've ever heard has come out of black metal (ie Ildjarn).  I'd be game for the total shitshow of a result of Steve Roach or Vidna Obmana teaming up with Mortiis or Burzum.

[SSAPW]

I am a fan of Occulto Mortualia which would probably fall under this description. Good music and good packages. You can probably still find some releases available from distros around the globe.
http://ekladata.com/1T5zXUQMQEFSWe0MxnBBiZf0eXI.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/dca2604f4b8aa447466ec0592629e3bd/tumblr_ng0lnsrznx1tdyqk1o1_500.jpg

[totalabuse]

"black metal intro music" made me LOL hard... so true... what is the first BM project (or side project) to do an "ambient" bm album?? anyone know?

[ANDROPHILIA]

Vinterriket maybe?

[Andrew McIntosh]

I usually hate Black Metal intro stuff. I think the ambient bits of Striborg work pretty well, on their own and as part of the overall albums. But for the most part I skip the intros and get straight into the rock.

[Zodiac]

This Galactic Reich stuff is awesome. Thanks for the hint. I didnt knew the label either.

[urall]

Wolfmangler ?
https://auroraborealisrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/dwelling-in-a-dead-raven-for-the-glory-of-crucified-wolves

not a fan myself though.

[Bloated Slutbag]

The "dungeon" motif might be the cheesiest music in my library. 

http://youtu.be/9QvhxWfslfc

[FreakAnimalFinland]

"black metal intro music" made me LOL hard...

It's not necessary derogatory remark.. more like.. well fact?
While black metal intro music generally serves purpose, what goes beyond the "musical value", it is certainly quite slippery route to try stretch that purpose from 1-3 minute interlude to actual album what should fulfill some artistic purpose as well.

I was today listening SIRPALEET / OCCULT SUFFERINGS split tape. Probably around 8-10 years old release. I got quite a pile from Occult Sufferings, but it is, at least used to be, sort of "secret project". Whole label what put out possibly dozens and dozens, if not hundreds of tapes is barely known. Perhaps people know mostly the ultra limited vinyl editions they did from black metal bands. Sirpaleet side is pretty much dungeron music / ambient noise fusion for about half of the side, until suddenly drums hit in. Suddenly it changes to almost Aluk Todolo/Urfaust type of stuff, but only sloppier. There is actually good stuff on this side and while musical part is ok, I'd have preferred entire side being with drums. Occult Sufferings I got lots of tapes. As said, hardly acknowledged project from Finland for reason that it was never intended for "audience". Stuff was never publicly sold, but label could be reached by devotees. This is sort of clumsy keyboard-Burzum / Mortiis kind, but perhaps leaning also to horror soundtrack themes? Processed vocals here and there, everything manually played to analogue tape instead of sequencers and computer loops. It makes everything little bit clumsy, yet dark, instead of being too mechanical. Probably have to spin some more tapes of these.. Also should maybe write about other experimental tapes of the label. It's never noise per se. I would suspect influences were from Abruptum, Burzum and various Black Legions experimental projects.

[eyestrain]

"Temple Forest" forever!