BLACK METAL

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

Currently slightly obsessed with Evilfeast. Never checked them out before because... 'evilfeast'. But the epicness has me hooked.

Yeah, isn't that odd? I've encountered rare cases of noise acts named something like "fucknoizosblam" that still sound surprisingly good, but even so Evilfeast might be the most extreme case of divergence between band moniker (which is outright shit) and music (which is awesome) I've ever encountered. My one hypothesis is that they/he started out like a nonsense/almost-joke project, and grew from there. There are a few rather well known BM bands that took that route.

[Euro Trash Bazooka]

Currently slightly obsessed with Evilfeast. Never checked them out before because... 'evilfeast'. But the epicness has me hooked.

Yeah, isn't that odd? I've encountered rare cases of noise acts named something like "fucknoizosblam" that still sound surprisingly good, but even so Evilfeast might be the most extreme case of divergence between band moniker (which is outright shit) and music (which is awesome) I've ever encountered. My one hypothesis is that they/he started out like a nonsense/almost-joke project, and grew from there. There are a few rather well known BM bands that took that route.

Imho, I don't honestly know whether one can truly make an accurate judgement about this. Nothing sounds like a joke when it comes to Evilfeast, even the first demo was solid and conceptually close to what he still does now. Same with say... Hate Forest or Nokturnal Mortum if we stay in the East. And closer to us, for instance, Xenophobic Ejaculation or Zyklon SS are utterly stupid names but hardly anyone within the noise/industrial/PE scene questions the 30-somethings behind the projects, you know what I mean? They never started as joke bands, and everyone knows it. It's just a matter of personal taste for the creator of the project and how someone from the outside perceives it, I think?

[Andrew McIntosh]

Black Metal, for the most part, is an irony-free zone. That has advantages and disadvantages, but Black Metal still demands you either take or leave it. Personally, I cherry pick - I'll listen to Immortal 'till the cows come home but I'll ignore their music videos, for example.

[Euro Trash Bazooka]

Black Metal, for the most part, is an irony-free zone. That has advantages and disadvantages, but Black Metal still demands you either take or leave it. Personally, I cherry pick - I'll listen to Immortal 'till the cows come home but I'll ignore their music videos, for example.

Hah, I actually BLASTED "At The Heart Of Winter" two days ago... I think Immortal is an exception to the rule, not in the way that they are a joke band, as they're definitely not (have you seen Abbath's video interviews, or videos of Abbath's guitar lessons?), just that they're an anomaly within the BM scene in my humble opinion. From "ATHOW" onwards, they succeeded in being a freaking rock band playing the most brutal music for festivals. I love the early material because it truly is amazing black metal, and personal as well, but I also love their post "ATHOW" material because it just rocks so much harder than most BM bands. Immortal had (have?) the attitude and the riffs, and are tailored for festivals, but I feel like even the "Fuck Christ" tour videos already show that. 98% of BM or DM bands aren't that way and are a real embarassement to see on stage. I can't wait for the death of "rituals" and boring/static bands, and the end of bands that wish to live the "metal dream" (big scenes, big lights, big shows) but suck because the only reasons behind their moderate success can be explained by virtual circle jerks of basement dwellers who spend too much time on forums, a few good riffs and an odd but fitting production. And yet they don't realise they can't convey any of it in a regular live context. The decline of Western civilization is definitely not for them.

Sorry, I got carried away. I just love Immortal and hate the current BM scene.

[Scat-O-Logy]

Black Metal, for the most part, is an irony-free zone. That has advantages and disadvantages, but Black Metal still demands you either take or leave it. Personally, I cherry pick - I'll listen to Immortal 'till the cows come home but I'll ignore their music videos, for example.

Hah, I actually BLASTED "At The Heart Of Winter" two days ago... I think Immortal is an exception to the rule, not in the way that they are a joke band, as they're definitely not (have you seen Abbath's video interviews, or videos of Abbath's guitar lessons?), just that they're an anomaly within the BM scene in my humble opinion. From "ATHOW" onwards, they succeeded in being a freaking rock band playing the most brutal music for festivals. I love the early material because it truly is amazing black metal, and personal as well, but I also love their post "ATHOW" material because it just rocks so much harder than most BM bands. Immortal had (have?) the attitude and the riffs, and are tailored for festivals, but I feel like even the "Fuck Christ" tour videos already show that. 98% of BM or DM bands aren't that way and are a real embarassement to see on stage. I can't wait for the death of "rituals" and boring/static bands, and the end of bands that wish to live the "metal dream" (big scenes, big lights, big shows) but suck because the only reasons behind their moderate success can be explained by virtual circle jerks of basement dwellers who spend too much time on forums, a few good riffs and an odd but fitting production. And yet they don't realise they can't convey any of it in a regular live context.

Black metal "gigs" are a terrible idea for the most part. If the setting is right, then I can see it working but for example big outdoor stages in the middle of clear day takes away from the whole experience. I'd rather see black metal bands performing in a basement in front of small circle jerk audience but obviously that doesn't meet the criteria for professional musicians that are looking to make a living from their music. For me personally "professional musician" and "black metal" doesn't really go hand in hand. Then again, can't blame them for taking advantage of the music market.

I'll take this: https://youtu.be/0PfeW47ft_o over this https://youtu.be/FMncM_qT4hw any day.

[NaturalOrthodoxy]

I'll take this: https://youtu.be/0PfeW47ft_o over this https://youtu.be/FMncM_qT4hw any day.

I knew this was gonna be Peste Noire before clicking! These new live shows are fucking weird, as is the whole "glitzy"/polished NSBM thing at the moment (Asgardsrei etc)

[urall]

Black Metal, for the most part, is an irony-free zone. That has advantages and disadvantages, but Black Metal still demands you either take or leave it. Personally, I cherry pick - I'll listen to Immortal 'till the cows come home but I'll ignore their music videos, for example.

Hah, I actually BLASTED "At The Heart Of Winter" two days ago... I think Immortal is an exception to the rule, not in the way that they are a joke band, as they're definitely not (have you seen Abbath's video interviews, or videos of Abbath's guitar lessons?), just that they're an anomaly within the BM scene in my humble opinion. From "ATHOW" onwards, they succeeded in being a freaking rock band playing the most brutal music for festivals. I love the early material because it truly is amazing black metal, and personal as well, but I also love their post "ATHOW" material because it just rocks so much harder than most BM bands. Immortal had (have?) the attitude and the riffs, and are tailored for festivals, but I feel like even the "Fuck Christ" tour videos already show that. 98% of BM or DM bands aren't that way and are a real embarassement to see on stage. I can't wait for the death of "rituals" and boring/static bands, and the end of bands that wish to live the "metal dream" (big scenes, big lights, big shows) but suck because the only reasons behind their moderate success can be explained by virtual circle jerks of basement dwellers who spend too much time on forums, a few good riffs and an odd but fitting production. And yet they don't realise they can't convey any of it in a regular live context. The decline of Western civilization is definitely not for them.

Sorry, I got carried away. I just love Immortal and hate the current BM scene.

Don't know if it's irony-free. I have the feeling that lots of 'raw' black metal bands these days are taking the piss. But there are lots of good bands doing this don't get me wrong.

Well, i admit that it's stupid to skip a band for their name only. But there's so much stuff out there that you need to filter on something i guess.

[Ashmonger]

Well, i admit that it's stupid to skip a band for their name only. But there's so much stuff out there that you need to filter on something i guess.

I said about exactly the same to somebody about King Dude last weekend. (Of course, since then there's another good reason not to check his music out.)
I think I listened to something from Evilfeast a while ago, but wasn't into it.

Right now, I'm impressed with the Icelandic Thule band. Anthology 1995-1997 has just been re-released by White Wolf prod. Have to snag a copy.

[Euro Trash Bazooka]

Black metal "gigs" are a terrible idea for the most part. If the setting is right, then I can see it working but for example big outdoor stages in the middle of clear day takes away from the whole experience. I'd rather see black metal bands performing in a basement in front of small circle jerk audience but obviously that doesn't meet the criteria for professional musicians that are looking to make a living from their music. For me personally "professional musician" and "black metal" doesn't really go hand in hand. Then again, can't blame them for taking advantage of the music market.

I'll take this: https://youtu.be/0PfeW47ft_o over this https://youtu.be/FMncM_qT4hw any day.

Black metal gigs in basements are the best, or in the woods, or things like that. You need proximity with the crowd, sweat, roughness of the sound and showing that you don't cheat to manage to convince the crowd. But I think there's a massive hypocrisy thing that's always been going in the extreme metal scene and it's not going to change. It's funny you mention Peste Noire. Famine is the epitome of that attitude, although I guess that since he began playing gigs more regularly he's more honest about it.

[Andrew McIntosh]

I knew this was gonna be Peste Noire before clicking! These new live shows are fucking weird, as is the whole "glitzy"/polished NSBM thing at the moment (Asgardsrei etc)

More potential to sell more consumer goods. That's what it's all about.

[Scat-O-Logy]

I knew this was gonna be Peste Noire before clicking! These new live shows are fucking weird, as is the whole "glitzy"/polished NSBM thing at the moment (Asgardsrei etc)

More potential to sell more consumer goods. That's what it's all about.

They are collecting money for a good cause... That I can respect. Wasn't hatin' on KPN, all their albums are flawless.

[Andrew McIntosh]

They are collecting money for a good cause... That I can respect. Wasn't hatin' on KPN, all their albums are flawless.

Ah yes, "the cause". Hip capitalists of all varieties love "the cause". A dash of political flavour adds spice to the purchase. And why not?  If it makes the purchaser feel good, that's the experience they're paying for. Left, Right, or chicken wing, it's all, as everyone says nowadays, good.

Don't get me wrong. People will spend money on what they want. The only real cause is feeling good about things, so if it makes you feel good, do it.

[absurdexposition]

Revenge last night at La National in Montreal were great as always.

[NaturalOrthodoxy]

Ungfell - Tôtbringære

Random bandcamp find https://ungfell.bandcamp.com/album/t-tbring-re

Scratches the itch for fans of early Peste Noire. Some tracks are actually pretty shameless rip offs, not to mention the logo/artwork. That said it's really enjoyable, melancholic/romantic and rural black metal with very medieval riffs. I've read a few people in this thread and elsewhere say they could do without the wackiness and "polished" nature of recent KPN so this will certainly appease those tastes.

[Deadpriest]

Black metal I can get on board with:

https://awwfn.bandcamp.com/track/black-metal