heavy metal, extreme styles

[Azoth]

Re: heavy metal

Funny, I see this thread and what usename do I see Mjolnir. Fitting.

I'm older, yet I still love metal. Now refined, it's (underground, well crafted) Pure Black Metal.
Underground is the only place you'll find the real stuff. And the best comes from northwest europe... norway, sweden, poland and france. Why that is I don't know.

That's corpse paint, necro riffing or tremolo picking in harmonic minor, vampiric screeching vox, double bass rage and the traditional themes of myth and nature worship (among other things I'll let be). Structure and phrasing is unique as well.

Most of the bands in this genre are fairly uninspired. I go out of my way to search for the talent. And it's worth it due to the fact that some of these totally unknown bands are three times more talented that what corporate rock claims as godly.

Half the time you find something it's unavailable due to it's rarity. Thank god for the net.

One thing I've noticed with these rare types is that they usually have a major epic song or two which is far down the track list. Their "hit" might be track 11...
and these are long well though tout and inspired events, conducive to introspection if not out right astral travel.

An alarming thing I noticed is that there seems to be a confluence in their lyrics. Not all bands of course but the pattern I've been noticing - within the past decade - is lyrics about eugenics and Darwinian thinking.

We could go on about that but I'd rather give glory to these guys who deserve it...

Emperor. EvilFeast. Kataxia. Crimson Moon. Argar. some Dark Funeral and Hecate Enthroned... there's more.

I was a born again so am a bit weary of the supposed contraindications of the energies. But I actually heard a sermon where the pastor dismissed the whole thing, which was refreshing.
Of course, we don't rule out those energy findings with plants etc. But we're human, with at least some discernment and or judgmental filtering ability.

But I balance this with stuff like Jefferey Thompson's brainwave entrainment cd's, Iasos' "Interdimensional Music" and so forth. And um, some Dead Can Dance...

I've a black Gibson SG and spend much time honing my tremolos and sweeps. Trying to sing/screech and play at the same time and it ain't easy. Tips welcome.

I truly love the melodies or phrasings of black metal. Not too many bends!
And anyone who tries to play rock based leads over brutal metal needs a slap.

Um what else? Well, this is how I got turned onto runes and Norse myth. Friggin Norske black metal.

For me, it's like a religion. Or like a devotional worship of nature and ancestral streams etc. Much of the good black metal is centered around isolationism, individualism and tree worship. Nice and heathenish....

Rap. I think that's more about rhyme and meter than music. I can't stand it.

Conversely, I search around for tracks that supposedly help one's brain waves or tune one into higher consciousness etc. I find these to be useless. so it seems to balance out, if you get me.

Well, any recommendations!? What have I missed?

 

[abstract]

Conversely, I search around for tracks that supposedly help one's brain waves or tune one into higher consciousness etc. I find these to be useless. so it seems to balance out, if you get me.

Well, any recommendations!? What have I missed?

Have you tried the EE program? :D

An alarming thing I noticed is that there seems to be a confluence in their lyrics. Not all bands of course but the pattern I've been noticing - within the past decade - is lyrics about eugenics and Darwinian thinking

Black metal seems like a playground for psychopaths...

 

[Azoth]

"Have you tried the EE program?"

I'm downloading it now. Probably take two days with my connection.

"Black metal seems like a playground for psychopaths..."

And that line seems like stereotyping and or a meme...
Sounds like my old pastor tho, everyone's a psycho. This same pastor said folks who read too much are psychos.

Did you arrive at that conclusion beforehand or was it something I typed?
The lyrics? Doesn't matter.

 

[abstract]

And that line seems like stereotyping and or a meme...
Sounds like my old pastor tho, everyone's a psycho. This same pastor said folks who read too much are psychos.

Did you arrive at that conclusion beforehand or was it something I typed?
The lyrics? Doesn't matter.

May I ask if you have read anything about psychopathy and ponerology? It's a huge problem. I'm not saying all black metal has psychopathic band members, maybe not even sociopathic. But as something that would be attractive to a deviant personality? Absolutely.

I love heavy music though, I'm actually the one who started the thread, if you didn't already know. :D

 

[shijing]

The lyrics? Doesn't matter.

Azoth, are you suggesting that the lyrics don't matter as long as you like the music?

 

[Beau]

"Black metal seems like a playground for psychopaths..."

And that line seems like stereotyping and or a meme...
Sounds like my old pastor tho, everyone's a psycho. This same pastor said folks who read too much are psychos.

Did you arrive at that conclusion beforehand or was it something I typed?
The lyrics? Doesn't matter.

It's possible it's a stereotype. It's also possible that it's a conclusion based on available evidence by Abstract. I would agree with his observation. And notice, he never said everyone's a psycho, he said seems like a playground for psychopaths. That's a far cry from "they're all psychos!!" Looks like you are taking a black and white approach to this discussion.

And, I would say the lyrics definitely matter. The audio and visual impressions we ingest are just as important as the food and air.

 

[Azoth]

I get the picture indeed. It doesn't matter cause of what's already been written here at this site.

 

[abstract]

get the picture indeed. It doesn't matter cause of what's already been written here at this site.

Do i detect sarcasm? No one said we were forbidden from the discussion, i can see that you feel like we have "blocked" you, is that right?
or am i waaaaaay off?

 

[Azoth]

Posted too soon. Ok, as far as the vox in this genre, you Have to read the lyrics in the liners (if you give a hoot, I don't really). Otherwise there's no way of understanding them. They're in the languages of said countries. Plus the fact that it's high pitched screeching with distortion.

Of course, we take a person at a time. MY OLD PASTOR SAID
"everyone's a psycho". Fact is, I hear this thrown around a bit too much. We're all contending with the system. The real psychos are the elites and their cohorts.
Power seekers. Not Fred the guitarist, who works to pay off other's debts.

I've perused cassiopaea.org off and on since '97.

I don't know if I've a deviant personality or not. Not sure where I fit in the (complied/expounded) scheme presented here at this site. And I'd rather talk about this actually. It's partly why I'm here again.

Now the fans of black metal are regular folk. As to say the wannabe gangsta of rap. They questionable image you mentioned is from the corporates who Tell (signed/commercial) bands what to do. It goes right back to the elites and their trickle down cohorts. It's not a "grass roots" thing anymore. Nothing is these days.
"Culture is given to us."


But any way you slice it... there's Nothing wrong with the technique of tremolo picking. Nothing wrong with a double bass set, high pitched vox...
Lyrics ...every band is different - some sing about mind expansion (you really have to be astute here and cover your bases otherwise it flies back in your face). Corpse paint; theater.

I feel like I'm defending the genre. Ha.

 

[Laura]

Of course, we take a person at a time. MY OLD PASTOR SAID
"everyone's a psycho". Fact is, I hear this thrown around a bit too much. We're all contending with the system. The real psychos are the elites and their cohorts.

Notice that the remark was made in direct response to your remark:

An alarming thing I noticed is that there seems to be a confluence in their lyrics. Not all bands of course but the pattern I've been noticing - within the past decade - is lyrics about eugenics and Darwinian thinking

Black metal seems like a playground for psychopaths...

In short, you commented about eugenics and Darwinian thinking as being "alarming" and Abstract more or less agreed with you and added to the "conversation."

Then, above you say:

We're all contending with the system. The real psychos are the elites and their cohorts.

And I suppose you do know that the elites are all about "eugenics and Darwinian thinking," right?
That was the context that was supposed to be understood.

So, I don't get all that you came back with... maybe you can explain why you are as prickly as a cactus?

 

[Adaryn]

Not everyone who plays or likes Black Metal is a psycho, obviously, but to me this genre is finely in tune with psychopathic / pathological idea(l)s.

Emperor (which you mention) seem to be "charming folks", in any case :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_(band)

In the summer of 1992, a series of events were set in motion by the black metal inner circle. Samoth, along with various other black metallers, set out to burn down the ancient churches of Norway.[2] Also in 1992, Faust lived in Lillehammer, and in the newly-constructed Olympic park a homosexual man named Magne Andreassen approached him and suggested that they take a walk in the nearby forest. Faust agreed, and once in the forest, the man began to make strong sexual advances towards him. Faust then stabbed the man to death, kicking him in the head afterwards to ensure that he was dead.[3][4] He was not convicted until two years later. The day after Faust committed the murder, he went with Euronymous of Mayhem and Varg Vikernes of Burzum to burn the Holmenkollen Church in Oslo. In the summer of 1993, the band began working on their first full-length record. Emperor toured with British group Cradle of Filth, and after this tour the band ceased wearing corpse paint; they stated that it was becoming a trend and losing its original significance and symbolism. In the autumn of that year, the police began to investigate the murder of Euronymous of Mayhem, naming Varg Vikernes (of Burzum) as a suspect; this investigation eventually led to the incarceration of Samoth for arson, and of Faust for the murder of Magne Andreassen.

 

[John G]

Yikes, certainly don't want Emperor as your representative for metal, maybe something more Love Metal, they at least have a nice symbol described as a yin-yangish one representing the confusion between love and hate/fear.

 

[Adaryn]

Yikes, certainly don't want Emperor as your representative for metal, maybe something more Love Metal, they at least have a nice symbol described as a yin-yangish one representing the confusion between love and hate/fear.

Ah yes, "HIM", I have their first (I think) album. Love metal describes them pretty well I find the music cute but a bit silly, sort of like metal for teenage groupies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIM_(Finnish_band)

 

[John G]

Yikes, certainly don't want Emperor as your representative for metal, maybe something more Love Metal, they at least have a nice symbol described as a yin-yangish one representing the confusion between love and hate/fear.

Ah yes, "HIM", I have their first (I think) album. Love metal describes them pretty well I find the music cute but a bit silly, sort of like metal for teenage groupies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIM_(Finnish_band)

That doesn't surprise me, his symbol (or should I say HIM's symbol) is more popular for a skateboarder (mentioned at your link) who has a silly TV show. I read a comment somewhere from someone who said they like it when HIM does covers and that's actually the only place I've come across HIM (Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper and Neil Diamond's Solitary Man).

 

[un chien anadolu]

I personally am dealing with various kinds of rock music (including heavy metal) as a performer and listener for eons. So I wouldn't label any music genre negative or positive. I also listened to black metal to some degree (never been a fan though, just checked).

The general texture and roots of rock music-including various types of metal- is based on the protest and rebellion against the social and political status quo of the world. This is a good thing and may be a start for awakening for some people (but only a start) . And also this is the main difference (besides technical musical structures) from the so called pop-music IMO. I can name many heavy metal bands&songs which are referring and protesting themes like child abuse, stupidity of interreligious wars, phony democracies etc. etc. But that's it. No solution offering. But this is also OK because I think it is not the objective or responsibility of any music genre to offer solutions. The purpose may be to awake and inspire the emotions for those who may find solutions.

But i should say there is something different in black metal (and some other similar genres too) : aside from not offering a solution it also inoculates secretly a feeling of hopelessness of the individual and a passive depression. I know this is a subjective statement but based mostly on my observations on many fans of this genre. It doesn't mean that black metal mostly triggers extreme emotions like brutalism or suicidal feelings (although sometimes it surely does) but IMO it leads many to a nihilistic hopelessness (and mostly teenagers)


and not to mention :
1-the vandalism which shows itself in church burning
2-that one of the most popular performers (one-man band called burzum) of black metal is a psychopathic murderer and produces his records in his cell.
3-that some of the black metal bands are racist.

PS: There are two main waves of black metal. The first one is from 80's and includes bands like Venom, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost etc. The second wave is from 90's up today and includes mostly but not only north European bands. So my comments, observations above are mostly related to the 2nd wave.

PS2: sorry for my bad English.