Unblack Metal

[SionsBrother]

Yeah, Antestor are killer! I especially like their first two (Martyrium and The Return of the Black Death) as they are with the main members. There were a lot of member changes and then they put out an EP called Det Tapte Liv and then a full length called The Forsaken. I have yet to really familiarize myself with these last two releases, but I hear that they are great, despite not quite being the same band.

I think some of their best stuff is off of The Forsaken, but earlier stuff like Return of the Black Death is definetely good too. I'm was also surprised to learn that Hellhammer from Mayhem was a session drummer for The Forsaken and Dep Tapte Live releases.

 

[Rabid Headbanger]

There is nothing stupider and more ludicris then the classification "unblack metal". Anyone who uses, says it or thinks it should be thrown off a cliff.

 

[AchrisK]

There is nothing stupider and more ludicris then the classification "unblack metal". Anyone who uses, says it or thinks it should be thrown off a cliff.

I can agree with that to an extent.

 

[anonymousnick2001]

I can agree with it wholeheartedly. Cliffs, anyone?

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

I like cliffs.

Anyway, yes that name is really fuckin' gay. It should just be called Christian Black Metal.

 

[Hatebreeder]

I like cliffs.

Anyway, yes that name is really fuckin' gay. It should just be called Christian Black Metal.

Or maybe just black metal, because the only distinct difference is in the lyrics and most subgenres are not defined by their lyrical content. I honestly hear little difference between the music of Antestor and many other black metal bands of their ilk, so why do we have to set them apart solely for their idealisms in their lyrics? We don't do it with any other bands.

 

[anonymousnick2001]

Well, yes, but since distinctions in ideology already exist, i.e. National Socialist BM, Viking BM, 'suicidal' BM, USBM, etc. Christian black metal seems an acceptable term. It identifies the ideological motive of the lyrics and the aesthetic nature of the actual music. And, of course, only the latter is what's important.

Fuck that long-ass post. I should just say "V's right" from now on. Saves more time about 86% of the time.

 

[AchrisK]

Or maybe just black metal, because the only distinct difference is in the lyrics and most subgenres are not defined by their lyrical content. I honestly hear little difference between the music of Antestor and many other black metal bands of their ilk, so why do we have to set them apart solely for their idealisms in their lyrics? We don't do it with any other bands.

I have always felt this way too, but there are a lot of "true" black metal fans that disagree. Just try to go into the "Black Metal" thread and mention Horde.

 

[anonymousnick2001]

Call it whatever you want, then.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Fuck "trve" BM fans...seriously. If you get THAT bothered just cuz some Christian band is making shit that sounds like Burzum, how the hell are you gonna put up with fighting real Christians all the time? Get yer priorities straight, kvlt BM Satanlackies!

 

[zoidberg]

grey metal. oooooo christgrinder 91210

 

[thisisaformicatable]

I think unblack metal is the most appropriate term, as calling it "Christian black" is inherently contradictory (the lack of blackness is what makes these bands stand apart). Unblack metal takes into consideration what the music is, not black but anti-black, unblack. Just calling it black metal does it a disservice by not recognizing it as a unique artistic movement, which it certainly is (and a notable one at that). It's similar to the way the term pagan metal is starting to catch on to describe other bands that use the black metal sound but have nothing "black" about their music.

 

[skeptik]

Unblack makes a hell of a lot more sense than "Christian Black." Not because it "bothers" me, but because it's utterly stupid and inherently contradictory. The origins of this particular form of Metal require an adherence to that history, the lineage from which Black Metal stems. This is why Christian Black Metal cannot, in fact, exist. Merely taking a Black Metal template and espousing a Christian doctrine with it does not make it Christian Black Metal, which is why the term Unblack Metal arose. If you're really bothered just cuz some guy calls a Christian band is making shit that sounds like Burzum, then call it Christian Extreme Metal.

 

[Ender Rises]

I thought White Metal was a good term.

 

[skeptik]

White Metal is a term applied to any Christian Metal though.

 

[Ender Rises]

o rly? OK. Well then, there you go.

 

[Carcassian]

Unblack makes a hell of a lot more sense than "Christian Black." Not because it "bothers" me, but because it's utterly stupid and inherently contradictory. The origins of this particular form of Metal require an adherence to that history, the lineage from which Black Metal stems. This is why Christian Black Metal cannot, in fact, exist. Merely taking a Black Metal template and espousing a Christian doctrine with it does not make it Christian Black Metal, which is why the term Unblack Metal arose. If you're really bothered just cuz some guy calls a Christian band is making shit that sounds like Burzum, then call it Christian Extreme Metal.

Not sure I generally agree. While my knowledge of Black Metal is mostly confined to "I don't like it", I would wager that any artificial laying of a set of arbitary rules requiring adherence to a "history" or set of values is a load of sweaty old bollocks. Venom, from whom the term itself is derived (and apologies to those of you who knew that i.e. everyone) never took their ideology seriously at all. I fail to see that if one can have so-called Viking Black metal why Christian Black Metal cannot in fact exist. There is more to Christianity than just going to church and having sex with altar boys; it has a history just as bloody (if not more so) than other religions.

Oh, and Antestor totally fucking rule.

 

[King Richard]

I'd be interested to see who actually knows what the word "Black" in black metal means other than "it was a venom song d00d."

 

[Carcassian]

I've always taken it to mean the same as the medievael use of the word "black", which is to say anything that is sinister, rotten, and mysterious. Unless I missed it, I didn't notice anything in the old testament which referred to black metal ?

 

[Rabid Headbanger]

I've always taken it to mean the same as the medievael use of the word "black", which is to say anything that is sinister, rotten, and mysterious. Unless I missed it, I didn't notice anything in the old testament which referred to black metal ?

"And Moses said "Fuck this shit. I'm going to listen to Burzum."