March 29, 2024

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The Guide to Understanding Black Metal

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In comparison to other genres of music, metal is one of the hardest genres to acquire the taste for. As if lighter genres of metal weren’t already too heavy and extreme for many listeners, a portion of metal takes the most severe aspects of the already daring music to the outermost possibilities of modern music. Many sub-genres of extreme metal not only sound extreme, but also appear extreme in both lyrical content, theatrics, and more. Death metal on one hand is known for speeds incomprehensible to the average listener, vocals that sound as if someone put a microphone next to the opening gates of Hell, and grotesque lyrical matter that graphically elaborate on subject matters such as cannibalism, dissection, etc. However, many death metal and artists are clear and concise that the lyrics aren’t meant to be taken literally and promote any of the extreme acts and that the sub-genre is often lyrically compared to the subject matter in horror movies. Nonetheless, there lies a sub-genre even more dark and ominous than death metal. One that is notorious for highly controversial theatrics, satanic and anti-christian imagery, and a heavily disputed history dealing with murder, arsons, and more.  As if these weren’t enough reasons to potentially question the sub-genre, it is also a taste that is quite hard to acquire for many. However, behind all of the stereotypes and misconceptions lies a captivating genre. Lets take a look into acquiring the taste for one of the worlds most controversial, dark, and misunderstood genres: black metal.

I’ve always been a die-hard metal fan that loved a large array of genres. From progressive metal, to death metal, and everything in between. After my exploration through many of these genres there was one that never made sense to me. That was black metal. I kept returning to many releases from classic bands and they just didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t understand the corpse paint appearance, the very poor production quality, or anything else really for that matter. Regardless of all these attempts, I still somehow knew there was some part of the picture I just hadn’t figured out yet. I knew there was value in this genre. I just could not see it at that very moment. Fast forward a year later and now black metal is one of my two favorite genres. Black metal is a part of what I’m listening to everyday of the week. I’m constantly searching for black metal cds and records to add to my collection. I’ve spent hours upon hours studying black metal’s history,watching documentaries, and just absorbing as much information about this genre that I can. I realized over the course of my developed fascination that black metal is a very difficult genre to understand. I’ve compromised a list to help you discover what black metal really is about and understand the art behind black metal. This list is primarily going to be music based. If you want to understand more of the history of black metal, I highly recommend doing some research in your spare time or watching the documentaries “Until The Light Takes Us” and “Black Metal Satanica”.

One thing I do want to cover real quick before starting the list is something that I learned that is one of the most important factors that got me into black metal. Not so much the more easier accessed releases, but more so the raw recordings of black metal is not very understood about what the music is intended to achieve. A lot of listeners will go into black metal thinking it is something like death metal. It is supposed to be filled with speed and excitement and make you so psyched that you want to go jump in a mosh pit or headbang. This is where everyone goes wrong. Black metal is all about creating an atmosphere. The atmosphere could be anything from a frigid winter blizzard to a forest in the autumn. Developing this kind of taste isn’t necessarily for everyone but it certainly plays a heavy role in at least a little bit of all black metal. So with that said, lets start first with some great places to start being exposed to the elements of black metal!

Part One: The Accessible

This is where I would recommend starting if you are completely new to black metal and can’t understand bands that have the lo-fi production and other traits common with black metal bands. A lot of these albums aren’t even full on black metal but have a heavy influence from the genre. Also, all of these bands (excluding the first) have a more black influenced back-catalog or even completely black metal releases making them easy bands to steadily work back through their music and make it easy to be accustomed to more inaccessible releases.

1. Carnifex – “Hell Chose Me”

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Although this album is primarily known for being in the deathcore realm, there is an undeniable influence from black metal strung throughout this album. From the imagery to the guitar and drum techniques implemented, “Hell Chose Me” is a great position to start being exposed to black metal elements. 

2. Behemoth – “The Satanist”

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Behemoth is a great area for any death metal fan to ease their way into the black metal realm. Any place between this album and “Demigod” are accessible and the further back you go in the Behemoth discography gradually gets more black. The earliest Behemoth records don’t even have any death metal influence at all!

3. Goatwhore – “Constricting Rage of the Merciless”

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Goatwhore is a combination of mostly black and thrash metal with a little bit of death in there as well. They employ countless catchy riffs and also put on a killer live show.

4. Cradle of Filth – “Midian”

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At this point in the list is where we come into some heavily debated genre classifications by fans. Cradle of Filth certainly had a very symphonic black metal approach in their earlier releases. However, they have recently made a more mainstream approach resulting in debate as if Cradle of Filth is really black metal or not. “Midian” is a great in between album of the two Cradle of Filth approaches and is in my opinion one of their best albums.

5. Dimmu Borgir – “Death Cult Armageddon”

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Dimmu Borgir has a similar situation to Cradle of Filth in terms of material and debate. Again this is a point in their discography where it has a more accessible sound but still has a lot of black elements in it.

Part Two: The Modern Releases 

This area of the list is going to cover modern releases in black metal and that are mostly identified today as black metal. However, these do not have extremely lo-fi recordings and other traits that may turn off the listener when they are just starting to understand black metal.

1. Agalloch “Ashes Against the Grain”

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Agalloch is a black metal group from the U.S. While U.S. black metal is debated as well due to being known for its experimentation with the black metal formula, this is still a highly addictive album. Everything this band has put out has a great combination of black, folk, doom, etc. “Falling Snow” from this album is surely a track to get stuck in your head.

2. Carach Angren – “Where the Corpses Sink Forever”

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Carach Angen is my favorite modern band in the symphonic black metal area. These guys are extremely talented and use absolutely haunting atmospheres. Not to mention they seem to have really good theatrics with their well-executed stage attire.

3. Belphegor – “Conjuring the Dead”

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Belphegor is actually in a similar boat to Behemoth. However, I do think Belphegor has a more blackened and extreme approach to their music than Behemoth hence why I put them in this section and not the first. Belphegor has a really solid discography although I will say that they tend to be a blast-fest when it comes to the drum department. You can check out my entire review for this album specifically here.

4. Watain – “Lawless Darkness”

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“Lawless Darkness” is in my opinion, the best modern black metal release. Even though the album is quite lengthy and clocks in a little short from 75 minutes, there isn’t a single track of filler. Great songs from start to end including unforgettable songs such as “Malfeitor” and “Reaping Darkness”.

5. Deafheaven – “Sunbather”

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Deafheaven’s second release may actually stray more from the black metal formula than the others in the section of this list. I had a hard time deciding if they’d belong in this section or the first. I decided to put it in this for a couple reasons. First is that even if they don’t have the harsh and cold atmosphere typically associated with black metal, they do have an atmosphere created. The album is meant to be listened from start to end as well and has instrumental pieces here and there to help the album flow as if its one giant song which is very common in black metal. Also, the production in terms of the guitar tone sounds a little fuzzy and creates a wall of noise kind of effect. I think because of this it is a good stepping-stone to the more lo-fi recordings of the last part of the list.

Part Three: The Classics

Here we are at the biggest jump. Once you find your way into understanding these albums, its pretty easy to go anywhere in the black metal realm and have a decent understanding of what it is all about. These albums are classics that helped make the genre what it is today and are absolute masterpieces from start to end. Make sure these end up in your collection.

1. Burzum – “Filosofem”

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One of Varg Vikernes’ most critically acclaimed works. It is truly amazing at how much of a vast atmospheric world can be created by a one man project. Every one of Burzum’s earlier works are masterpieces. However, the reason I chose “Filosofem” is the addicting ambient elements in songs such as “Dunkelheit” which make it slightly easier to get used to the lo-fi production.

2. Emperor – “In the Nightside Eclipse”

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Emperor’s debut is heavily credited with being the source of the entire symphonic black metal approach. This album has the attributes of all the second wave black metal releases but due to these symphonic elements, fans of bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Carach Angren, etc might have an easier time understanding this record. However, others have found it harder to become accustomed to due to so many elements appearing at one time.

3. Mayhem – “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”

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As one of the most iconic albums of black metal history, Mayhem’s debut full-length captured an atmosphere like none other. Although the controversial history surrounding the release of this album may be a factor in the popularity of “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”, the album consists of highly memorable songs. If black metal had an anthem, “Freezing Moon” would be the obvious choice.

4. Satyricon – “Dark Medievil Times”

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Yet another classic Norwegian masterpiece. Satyricon’s debut has the most raw recordings of their discography. Although Satyricon are known to create more accessible music down the road, they are still widely recognized as a critical driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. Not to mention, the keys have a lovely touch to the overall quality of “Dark Medieval Times”.

5. Darkthrone – “Transylvanian Hunger”

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Darkthrone are arguably the most important band to emerge in the black metal scene, with the band’s second full length album “A Blaze in the Northern Sky” straying from death metal and venturing into what would become the second wave of black metal. Both “A Blaze in the Northern Sky” and “Under A Funeral Moon” being just as important as “Transylvanian Hunger, I was left with a very hard decision to make. However, “Transylvanian Hunger” is the album that really made this entire area of black metal click with me. The album’s title track is so unbelievably catchy, listeners will have no choice to go back for more and more. However, all three of the so called “unholy trinity” are perfections that any black metal fan should own.

 

Overall, black metal is a really fascinating genre to get into. Although black metal is really hard to understand from the outside, it makes a lot of sense on the inside. As many of the albums I covered, I am completely aware there were countless other albums and artists that I was not able to cover. Black metal is an extremely vast genre that has grown to come from all parts of the world and it can go as far as each country having a different approach to the formula. There are plenty of incredible releases out there so go ahead and start exploring! Happy listening!

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