Black Metal.
- Thread starter ROBL2500
- Start date
Hubster
...
Some good points here.
Norway has definitely lost it's crown as the Black Metal capital, in terms of the Black Metal recordings which come out of Norway today. However, I would say that in terms of Black Metal culture itself, Norway is still the mecca.
France on it's own beats most areas of Europe or indeed the world for modern black metal imo. Eastern Europe does churn out some excellent stuff though -
France is definitely up there, but I don't know if I could place it that high. I think to be more accurate, certain areas of the world have definitely developed strengths in various characteristics of Black Metal:
- France has developed a thick, cold sound, with a forced cut-down on melodic song-writing. They have a more researched aspect to their results and focus more on religious aspects of Black Metal philosophy.
- Eastern Europe (mainly Slavic EU) has developed a more razor sharp, tinny sound, with emphasis of speed and snarled vocal styles. More importantly, they also serve as masters for raw and hateful Black Metal, and also National Socialist Black Metal. The thin winds and cutting cold come through their music perfectly.
- central EU and central Asia are without doubt the kings of Pagan Black Metal. With their histories of Catholic assimilation, these geographical areas of mountainous beauty still have many memories of their spiritual past. This shows strongly in their Black Metal which takes not only influence from poetry and folk tales, but also utilises gypsy music, non Western scales, and also ethnic singing styles as well as instruments directly into songs
- America: no one expected the US to provide any kind of decent input into Black Metal, given its reputation for providing the planet with more capitalist garbage than you can throw a RIAA employee at. Nevetheless, America is home to minimalist Black Metal, some of which borders on noise. With little to no Pagan past in it's history (excluding the Sioux), the Black Metal of the US concentrates on modern culture's effect on individual lives: depression, anxiety, suicide, loneliness and so on.
So, unless someone disagrees with this, I think it's fair to say that different regions in the world now have some great characteristics for Black Metal. Screw the people who say Black Metal is dead, as we can see it's definitely not - the only part of Black Metal which is dead is the Norsk focus. That much is clear.
V.V.V.V.V.
Houses Ov Mercury
Hubster
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unknown
fuck ftagn
george = pwned
and, hubster, those seemed like some spot on descriptions of regional black metal. cheers!
and, hubster, those seemed like some spot on descriptions of regional black metal. cheers!
Cofee_Annihilator
Casse-tête
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=84899576
There is some fucking awesome band on that.
There is some fucking awesome band on that.
I do place a bands lyrical subject in high regard, especially in a genre such as black metal. Just trying to help
Krigloch the Furious
Pants full of poo
Hubster
...
I don't know of any...
If there are, it's more likely to be less Pagan related as it is National Socialist Black Metal, but bordering more on RAC / Oi style stuff (I say this because I know there are a number of bands from the US in the style, musically and politically, more than anywhere else).
(At the risk of offending Americans, but not meant to) I don't think I can imagine Pagan styles coming from the US anyway, as the only ethnicity that can claim such an origin in the US are the Sioux Indians. All other races are immigrated, so I can't see American ("historically" land)-based Paganism existing. The nation is too new, excluding the Sioux of course...
If there are, it's more likely to be less Pagan related as it is National Socialist Black Metal, but bordering more on RAC / Oi style stuff (I say this because I know there are a number of bands from the US in the style, musically and politically, more than anywhere else).
(At the risk of offending Americans, but not meant to) I don't think I can imagine Pagan styles coming from the US anyway, as the only ethnicity that can claim such an origin in the US are the Sioux Indians. All other races are immigrated, so I can't see American ("historically" land)-based Paganism existing. The nation is too new, excluding the Sioux of course...
cookiecutter
Proceed to Ultraslamming
I think this is a good appraisal of the scenes. My favorite is definitely USA. I am a patriotic metal fan
. I like the minimalism often found within. Black metal with a lot of stuff going on usually repulses me, especially if it has to do with keyboards. My favorite USBM band is Nachtmystium, whose newest album is rapidly becoming on of my favorites of all time.
Krigloch the Furious
Pants full of poo
well you can still write pagan metal if you are from America.
Its not like if you are an American you can only be a christian.
Its not like if you are an American you can only be a christian.
Under The Oak
Ens Causa Sui
Hubster
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I'm not referring to Christians... Just non-indigenous Americans, which is just about everyone who isn't Sioux Indian. No offence meant, but it's just a factual observation, as the entire point of Pagan Black Metal is "celebration" or expression of indigenous culture from the country of origin. Thus, unless Sioux, Pagan Black Metal of an American origin is ... well, a bit of a contradiction (unless the person writing it has only settled in America, but has moved from their home country). I hope I'm explaining my point properly, not trying to upset you here Krig mate
Hubster
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Matt
Active Member
Krigloch the Furious
Pants full of poo
yeah I get what you're saying. but a greek, or an english, or a french..... guy living in America can still write about paganism of his ancestors.
Hubster
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^ Yeah, that I can agree on (I was trying to say that before, but it didn't some across well).
Why? It's just the truth man. There's only one indigenous race in the US, all the rest are immigrants. How can an immigrant write Pagan Black Metal in the US about the American land itself, if they are not indigenous? That's like me writing Koori Black Metal, yet I'm an Australian by immigration, and Indian by bloodline! It's a stupid idea! I would be better off writing about bloodline's Paganism, is that is what I am.
Like Krig has suggested, if you have foreign ancestry, then it makes sense for, say for example, US Pagan Black Metal written by someone who has Hungarian roots, written about Hungarian Paganism. You can't write about American Paganism otherwise.
Why? It's just the truth man. There's only one indigenous race in the US, all the rest are immigrants. How can an immigrant write Pagan Black Metal in the US about the American land itself, if they are not indigenous? That's like me writing Koori Black Metal, yet I'm an Australian by immigration, and Indian by bloodline! It's a stupid idea! I would be better off writing about bloodline's Paganism, is that is what I am.
Like Krig has suggested, if you have foreign ancestry, then it makes sense for, say for example, US Pagan Black Metal written by someone who has Hungarian roots, written about Hungarian Paganism. You can't write about American Paganism otherwise.
unknown
fuck ftagn
people can write about whatever the hell they want. it's whatever connects with the songwriter and/or the listener. we have bands in greece writing about celtic stuff (Airged L'Amh), so why can't americans write about vikings?
Hubster
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(*sigh* I knew this would get people upset.)
It's like me writing Viking Metal: I'm Indian! It's ridiculous, me claiming connection to a culture which has nothing to do with my heritage. It's like trying to be something you're not.
Newer countries like the US and Australia are the only ones which would run into this kind of problem. Older countries with ancient Pagan heritage would not. It's not authentic, not real if it comes from a culture other than that of the origin. For authencity of expression, a Norseman should write Norsk Black Metal, not Asian or something, and vice versa. Otherwise, the higher purpose of Pagan Black Metal becomes disrupted, distorted.
It's like me writing Viking Metal: I'm Indian! It's ridiculous, me claiming connection to a culture which has nothing to do with my heritage. It's like trying to be something you're not.
Newer countries like the US and Australia are the only ones which would run into this kind of problem. Older countries with ancient Pagan heritage would not. It's not authentic, not real if it comes from a culture other than that of the origin. For authencity of expression, a Norseman should write Norsk Black Metal, not Asian or something, and vice versa. Otherwise, the higher purpose of Pagan Black Metal becomes disrupted, distorted.
Krigloch the Furious
Pants full of poo
lol, im not upset.
and if I wanna write about Native American paganism I can. cuz im 1/16th Cheyenne. 
and if I wanna write about Native American paganism I can. cuz im 1/16th Cheyenne.
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