What makes black metal so different from other metal?
The difference between black metal and other styles of metal should be apparent upon listening; one play of Helloween?s Keeper Of The Seven Keys side by side with Bathorys The Return should be enough to suggest that they are worlds apart. However, black metal owes a substantial part of its origins to inspiration that was derived from those other genres. As a result, black metal is closely related to several other sub-genres, and occasionally differs only in key areas. However, it should be emphasized that there?s no clear instrumental obligation that all black metal bands must follow; it?s such a widely varied genre aesthetically, with one band sounding almost nothing like the next, that some other factor must be found that easily defines all of these bands as ?black metal?: that factor, as has already partially been explained, is ideology.
The differences between black metal and the four other major genres of heavy metal are detailed as follows, and please note that when writing about other styles of music, generalizations are necessary, and there may always be exceptions to the rule:
Power Metal: Black metal is the least related to power metal in terms of expression. Power metal is very cleanly produced, utilizes traditional singing, is often written with catchy hooks and standard song structures, and is generally played to be extremely ear friendly to almost any audience. Power metal is typically more concerned with catering to its fanbase, and it traditionally values professional showmanship both instrumentally and onstage, a dedication that can reach almost arena-rock levels. Bands who play power metal music may or may not be concerned with any kind of message, metaphysics, or ideological intent. Rather, power metal is more focused on finetuning its aesthetic prowess. However, unlike power metal, black metal can easily exist without these aspects. Often unconcerned with creating a sound that?s pleasing to the ear, but rather a sound that adequately reflects its thematic mood and tone, many black metal musicians often employ extremely raw or unconventional production values; listeners who are only accustomed to power metal frequently dismiss the black metal they hear as just noise upon first listening. Musicians who write black metal, especially during and after the second wave, are fond of shunning typical AB-AB verse-chorus song structures in favor of a more narrative style of songwriting: the songs are composed of phrases that build on each other and move forward, until they unify into larger structures on their own, revealing a more complete context. Additionally, black metal bands rarely feel the need to play live, and sometimes couldnt do so even if they wanted to, being made up of only one or two members. Finally, once again black metal works from an underlying worldview; power metal doesn?t demand an ideological focus at all similar to black metal?s.
Thrash Metal: Thrash is certainly more related to black metal than power metal is. Bands from both genres usually share a few goals with their music, namely, aggression, speed, and a vicious, violent attitude. Quite a few black metal bands find their roots in thrash, sometimes so much that the line between the two genres can be blurred: Australias Destroyer 666 for example, is called thrash metal as often as they are called black metal, and many groups from black metals first wave, like Sarcofago, Tormentor, Possessed, and even Bathory, owe much of their influence to thrash metal music. The main difference boils down to expressive intent. While thrash bands are usually politically expressive and are often even anti-Christian, like with power metal, such a worldview might not be the supreme motivation for their expression, unlike black metal. Thrash is more about simply creating energetic, fist-driving metal, and thats where aesthetic attention takes control in the music; thrash is no stranger to conventional songwriting and guitar-driven virtuosity. Conversely, a great deal of black metal takes a more attentive, atmospheric stance with its music, and might not be concerned in rousing the listener into a frenzy with its energy.
Death Metal: Black metal and death metal are normally referred to as sister genres because they apparently have so much in common, but in actuality, many of the innovative musicians of black metal?s second wave developed their own styles and techniques specifically out of disgust for the populist shift in death metal at the time; frequently, their intentions seemed to counteract death metal directly. Death metal is ideologically driven, just like black metal, however, its worldview is a bit different. Death metal finds value in chaos, cataclysm, and death (both physical and spiritual, thus the term death metal,) and so reflects that value in its music. Like black metal, it confronts the listener with its values to create atmosphere by establishing an unsettling, harsh, yet immersive musical environment. However, death metal represents a level of negativity beyond what black metal offers: black metal can often leave the listener with some enchantment or illumination. Death metal, on the other hand, can be obscenely oppressive and brutal, and usually offers only bleakness in its wake; its apocalyptic art, frequently revealing some form of ultimate doom or underlying hopelessness to the listener. While death metal regularly attacks Christianity, it is in no way obligated to promote a replacement ideology, unlike black metal; it?s simply a reaction against Christian society in an attempt to unveil the masked chaos inherent within. Additionally, death metal evolved its own distinct aesthetic; death metal bands have certain musical traits in common, such as the roared/growled vocal delivery and chromatic riffwork. Black metal on the other hand isnt restricted by any aesthetic adherence, just an ideological one (thus, there can be two bands that sound almost nothing alike, yet they can both be black metal.)
Doom Metal: Black metal, death metal, and doom metal are all examples of negative art, and so are all related at least on some level. Doom metals aim is to lull the listener into its own feelings of cheerlessness, gloom, and melancholy, and it accomplishes that goal with its sometimes painfully slow, bass-driven, weight-heavy style. Black metal often invokes those same emotions in the audience, and utilizes tools very similar to many doom metal bands, such as a desolate or cold guitar tone and a focus on minimalism. Doom metals mindset is quite broad: its communicative purpose is to reveal the doom of lifean unavoidable fate or destiny, or a ruinous and tragic endto the audience. As a result, doom metal bands can pick and choose from any ideology that fits their purpose. Like black metal, doom metal usually holds an infatuation with the occult and the supernatural, using them as a means to their expressive end. However, doom metal bands are not anti-Christian by default; on the contrary, the occasional doom band can actually hint towards being pro-Christian. Obviously, that stance is quite opposite to the beliefs inherent in black metal.
