There's nothing more idiotic and shameful than those uber-tr00-kvlt die hard black metal fans (for lack of a better name that describes them so fittingly). Yes, I consider myself to be a avid fan of black metal and very knowledgeable on the subject but I certainly dont pride myself in stupidity by constantly telling people what is and is not black metal...that is with the following exception in which I am supporting my argument that they are subject to their own hypocritical views and contradictory criticisms.
Its well know that Dimmu Borgir started off as a black metal band and progressively, they adapted more of an extreme metal sound. However, that is not to say they aren't black metal. Like almost all of the "elite" BM bands, they have undergone a change in sound, one that would not qualify as true black metal. Emperor did almost the same thing. "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" did have good sound production and featured more of an "extreme metal" sound that the band would later embrace as apposed to a straight black metal sound. Yes they did make a music video for "The Loss and Curse of Reverence. - However, because of Dimmu's increasing popularity, commercial appeal and evolving sound, tr00-kvlt-only BM fans have shunned Dimmu Borgir and chosen to disregard them as a black metal band.Thus, why should Emperor still be considered black metal if only their debut album offers a true sound, and if their latter style was not as true much like that of Dimmu Borgir?
Now I like Immortal and am not here to piss on them in any way - I am simply making a point. Immortal are considered to be true black metal by many. Why? They have never ever worn "corpse paint", rather it has always been "Demon War Paint" according to Abbath. Their image has often encompassed more of a wrestler approach than a than that of a traditional black metal band. Their lyrical themes are not the same ones commonly found amongst other true black metal bands. For example, they do not write about Pagan beliefs, Anti-Christian or even nature...instead they write about their own winter-fantasy-world, certainly not nature. The latter years of Immortal's existence gave way to a more "thrashier" sound. You could argue that they, like many elite BM bands changed direction and were once true black metal....However, Fenriz has said in interviews that drums are not an integral part of true black metal, instead they are just "supposed to be there." Fenriz. This is not the case with Immortal's "Battles in the North" album, not to mention they made two music videos for that album - yes, music videos. Therefore, one would be lead to believe that Immortal is not true black metal according to the accepted "rules" of black metal 101. Yet they are one of the pioneers of black metal and remain one of the few names accepted in the tr00 black metal ranks. I dont dispute this but you can see what I am getting at.
Truth be told, there are no rules to black metal despite popular belief of ignorant diehard BM fans. Bands that follow these "unwritten" guidelines and claim to be "tr00" are simply posers and don't seem to realize the underlying message of "be yourself"found commonly amongst the black metal elite. Its one thing to criticize bands like Darkthrone for not playing into their roots (sorry if they've decided to be themselves rather than cater to a bunch of idiotic fans) but coming from young know-it-all fans? Where were those fans 15 years ago? And most importantly, what gives them the right to tell the few (who only experienced the birth of black metal, defined the genre and took it to great new lengths) what is and is not black metal? Fuck that. True black metal died 10 years ago. Black Metal has changed, evolved and been re-written over the past decade. Get over it.
For these reasons it is most appropriate to eliminate such lame usage of the terms true/tr00 & kvlt black metal. Why not just accept the fact that there are different waves of black metal. The wave that gave black metal is foundation, the second wave that defined the genre, and the new wave that is of today.
This is simply my opinion, but feel free to agree or disagree.
