Quote from: holy ghost on June 26, 2016, 01:40:22 AM
I'm pretty hard pressed to think of many black metal bands (in the "traditional, second wave") style that do anything for me in the last decade. Ill Omen for sure, but overall anything interesting is mixing in the sort of unhinged, chaotic vibe like Teitanblood, Antediluvian, Irkallian Oracle, Weregoat, etc (usually annoyingly classified as bestial, war or cavernous). I'm not interested in "progressive" black metal either because well, that just has no appeal to me. Basically I'm sticking with the classics and the odd new thing I hear that strikes my fancy. But anything that sounds like a fourth rate Emperor or Burzum clone in 2016 can eat it. Although total respect to the classics themselves and anyone rocking a band that sounds like Bathory, Kreator, Sodom or Hellhammer. Like fuckin' Deathhammer. That band totally gets it.
I'm probably more put out by the keyboard black metal elitists, most of whom are probably under 23. I'm basically sick of hearing about hipsters, falses, social justice warriors, women, vegans, Americans, people who wear hats, people who wear sneakers, etc. The 90's was not some "safe space" from the likes of outsiders even though the "stomp the faces of posers" elite romanticize it that way. Basically I'm sick of complaining and hearing people complain about things that have no bearing on their lives. See and look I'm complaining about complaining!! You can't win. Well I'm off to live in a hut in the woods..... Goodbye forever......
Your mostly right, bands that typically try to capture the second wave feeling typically do nothing for me, the late 90's early 2000's were the fucking worst period for this style of black metal where it seems like everyone decided to ditch the shitty vampiric goth trend and then jumped back on the darkthrone/burzum clone wagon...until Watain and Funeral Mist came along. Kind of fascinating how there is an ebb and flow to styles, artistic approaches, or 'trends' as most keyboard warriors call it.
Having said that, and as interesting as it can be in a way, it doesn't bother me at all though. In fact, a small part of me smiles whenever I see people get upset or get all riled up about the things you mentioned like sjws, vegans, Watain, Americans, hipsters or whatever. Also I'm glad that being American and being interested in black metal by default pisses people off, since I am a Yank myself, and especially considering the genre was partially born here with Von, Profanatica, Necrovore and Absu making it all the more pathetic. It shows that most people involved in subculture and especially metal subculture, are actually sheltered, comfortable, spoiled little pigs with too much free time on their hands who actually enjoy whining, complaining, and spouting bullshit on the internet to feed their egos more then genuinely exploring or listening to music. Sounds like an exact mirror of mainstream society with an emphasis on whining, style and superficial bullshit over substance, dignity, and fanaticism.
It has absolutely no affect or baring on my life as I try to survive day to day other then reminding me that there are people out there who do nothing with their lives/free time other then consume, bitch, and sit on their computers which is reassuring to me that people are exactly what I expect them to be, worthless and banal.
Back on topic, there are a few bands still playing in the second wave style that I think are worth noting that play black metal in the Scandinavian/French/Greek/90's Finnish style like Satanic Warmaster, all the Ancient Records bands, Void Meditation Cult, Necromantic Worship, all the Black Circle bands from Portugal, Funeral Mist, Cultes Des Ghoules, Panphage, Katharsis (apparently dead now)etc. There is always exceptions.