Black Metal.

[ProphetofHatred]

This

 

[divine_torture]

They put out a new album I think last month. I haven't heard it, but everything they've put out thus far has been good.

 

[divine_torture]

I'm listening to Mayhem-Esoteric Warfare again. I'm enjoying it much more on this spin. The first time I was a little underwhelmed. It seemed too stiff and lifeless. This time I knew what to expect so am giving it a more careful listen, and it is definitely stiff, and it's not working for the whole feeling. The whole album is amazing in it's dark and gritty dissonance, but it still feels a bit claustrophobic in delivery.

Regardless, it's still pretty fucking good.

 

[The Butt]

I thought it was very disjointed tbh.

 

[divine_torture]

I can see why one would think that. I think it tries to be disjointed, but everyone is so good at their respective instrument that it loses that loose edge it needs.

 

[*eyehategod*]

Band: Violet Cold
Album: Void (Single)
Year: 2014
Country: Azerbaijan
Genre: Sludge / Black Metal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgBhoRBUDqU&list=UU9eaEoR9HKDRckgScy6i59g

 

[Pitiless Wanderer]

New Mayhem is pretty meh in my opinion. Except for the sick vocals. Just fucking alien.

Can anyone post a quick list of the best black metal albums so far of 2014?

 

[divine_torture]

Darkspace, Thantifaxath, Lantlos, Agalloch, Sargeist, just off the top of my head

 

[divine_torture]

Are Skogen any good. Their newest keeps catching my eye but I've never heard anything they've done

 

[dwellerINTHEdark]

I like them quite a bit. Should do the trick if you like that atmospheric stuff.

 

[Draehl]

Skogen is awesome.

I finally gave Gris a listen. I like instrumental parts of it, but the dude's voice is just too over the top screechy for me. I want to like it, but it just grates on my nerves.

 

[divine_torture]

I like them quite a bit. Should do the trick if you like that atmospheric stuff.

I do. Thanks.

Skogen is awesome.

I finally gave Gris a listen. I like instrumental parts of it, but the dude's voice is just too over the top screechy for me. I want to like it, but it just grates on my nerves.

Gris is phenomenal. That's one of the rare times I truly enjoy those kind of vocals. I think it really works.

 

[MasterOLightning]

That Agalloch album from this year sucks.

 

[ProphetofHatred]

That Agalloch album from this year sucks.

Yeah, major letdown

 

[Pitiless Wanderer]

Thirded. Horrendous album and totally uninspired.

 

[divine_torture]

Wtf? It's not as good as AATG, sure. But it's still really good.

 

[Nephilim96]

The Serpent and the Sphere is not great, but it's not "horrendous".

 

[MasterOLightning]

It's not as good as any of their albums. It's not even a "bad by their standards" kind of thing. It's like a 4/10. Even the decent moments on the album are a melange of things they did better previously. There's a total lack of vocal or guitar hooks, overreliance on instrumental passages, and a production style that lacks character and places "heaviness" at the front of the mix, which doesn't suit the band.

Seeing them play live on this tour did nothing to help. Getting the blah instrumental finale instead of In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion was a big letdown.

It's not horrendous in that it's not unlistenable. But there's nothing of significance in any of the songs to encourage repeat listens, which is sort of amazing for a band with such a good track record up to that point.

 

[Spiderchrist]

Need some help finding some crusty/grindy Black Metal. I haven't sat down and listened to Black Metal in months :O

 

[MasterOLightning]

Bone Awl.

No one talks about Bone Awl, and they probably never became as big as they should have due to a lack of proper album release, but this stuff is incredibly satisfying. Bone Awl is in my top 3 live black metal bands. A live band can't possibly sound as raw as those recordings do, so an unexpected level of melodicism comes through. It's as headbangy as anything I've seen.