List of Norway Black Metal Band
137 bands
1349, a Black Metal band from Norway
8thSin, an Industrial band from Norway
Aeternus, a Black Metal band from Bergen, Norway
Age Of Silence, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Ancient, a Black Metal band from Norway
Anguish, a band from Norway (page not yet online)
Arcturus, a Black Metal band from Norway
Ark, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Artch, a Traditional Metal band from Norway
Asmegin, a Folk Metal band from Norway
Atrox, a Progressive Metal band from Trondheim, Norway
Audrey Horne, a Goth Rock/Metal band from Norway
Aura Noir, a Thrash Metal band from Norway
Battered, a Thrash Metal band from Haugesund, Norway
Beautiful Sin, a Power Metal band from Norway
Beyond Dawn, a band from Norway
Black Debbath, a Stoner Rock band from Oslo, Norway
Blood Red Throne, a Death Metal band from Kristiansand, Norway
Blood Tsunami, a Thrash Metal band from Oslo, Norway
Borknagar, a Black Metal band from Norway
Burzum, a Black Metal band from Norway
Cadaver, a Death Metal band from Norway
Cadaver Inc., a Death Metal, Black Metal band from Norway
Carpathian Forest, a Black Metal band from Sandnes, Norway
Carpathian Full Moon, a Doomdeath band from Norway
Chain Collector, a Melodic Death Metal band from Kristiansand, Norway
Chrome Division, a band from Norway
Chton, a Death Metal band from Norway
Circus Maximus, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Communic, a Power Metal, Progressive Metal band from Norway
Conception, a Traditional Metal band from Norway
Covenant, a Black Metal band from Norway
Crest Of Darkness, a Black Metal band from Norway
Cronian, a band from Bergen, Norway (page not yet online)
Cynicon, a Black Metal band from Norway
Darkthrone, a Black Metal band from Norway
Dead To This World, a Thrash Metal band from Bergen, Norway
Dimension F3H, a band from Norway (page not yet online)
Dimmu Borgir, a Black Metal band from Norway
Dismal Euphony, a Black Metal band from Norway
Disiplin, a Black Metal band from Norway
Dødheimsgard, a Black Metal band from Norway
Drawn, a band from Kristiansand, Norway
Einherjer, a Viking Metal band from Haugesund, Norway
Elite, a Black Metal band from Mo I Rana, Norway (page not yet online)
Emperor, a Black Metal band from Norway
Enslaved, a Black Metal, Viking Metal band from Haugesund, Norway
Enthral, a Black Metal band from Norway
Equinox, a Thrash Metal band from Fredrikstad, Norway
Extol, a Christian Metal, Death Metal band from Norway
Fleurety, a Black Metal band from Norway
Frantic Bleep, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Funeral, a Doom Metal band from Drammen, Norway
Gehenna, a Black Metal band from Norway
Godsend, a Doom Metal band from Norway
Gorgoroth, a Black Metal band from Norway
Green Carnation, a band from Norway
Griffin, a band from Norway
Grimfist, a Doom Metal, Thrash Metal band from Norway
Hades Almighty, a Black Metal band from Norway
I, a band from Norway
Ihsahn, a band from Norway
Immortal, a Black Metal band from Norway
In The Woods ..., a band from Norway
In Vain, a band from Kristiansand, Norway
Jorn, a band from Norway
Jotunspor, a Black Metal band from Norway
Kampfar, a Black Metal band from Fredrikstad, Norway
Keep Of Kalessin, a Black Metal band from Norway
Khold, a Black Metal band from Norway
The Kovenant, a Black Metal, Industrial band from Norway
Lengsel, a Black Metal band from Norway
Limbonic Art, a Black Metal band from Norway
Lumsk, a Folk Metal band from Norway
Lunaris, a Black Metal band from Norway
Madder Mortem, a Gothic Metal band from Norway
Malignant Eternal, a Black Metal, Industrial band from Bergen, Norway
Manes, a Black Metal, Eclectic Metal band from Norway
Manitou, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Mayhem, a Black Metal band from Norway
Mezzerschmitt, a Black Metal band from Norway
Mindgrinder, a Black Metal band from Norway (page not yet online)
Mundanus Imperium, a Traditional Metal band from Norway
Myrkskog, a Black Metal, Death Metal band from Vikersund, Norway
Nocturnal Breed, a Thrash Metal band from Norway
Obtained Enslavement, a Black Metal band from Norway
Octavia Sperati, a Gothic Metal band from Bergen, Norway
Old Funeral, a Death Metal band from Norway
Old Man's Child, a Melodic Death Metal band from Norway
Pagan's Mind, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Peccatum, a band from Norway
Ragnarok, a Black Metal band from Norway
Ram-Zet, a band from Norway
Red Harvest, an Industrial band from Norway
Sahg, a Doom Metal band from Norway
Satyricon, a Black Metal band from Norway
Scariot, a Traditional Metal band from Kristiansand, Norway
Scum, a band from Norway
Sea Of Dreams, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
The Sins Of Thy Beloved, a Gothic Metal band from Norway
Sirenia, a Gothic Metal band from Norway
Skitliv, a band from Norway
Solefald, a Black Metal band from Norway
Sorg, a Gothic Metal band from Norway (page not yet online)
Sort Vokter, a Black Metal band from Norway
Source Of Tide, a Black Metal band from Norway
Spiral Architect, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Stonegard, an Alternative Metal band from Oslo, Norway
Subliritum, a Black Metal band from Norway
Susperia, a Black Metal band from Norway
Syrach, a Doomdeath band from Norway
Taake, a Black Metal band from Norway (page not yet online)
Theatre Of Tragedy, a Gothic Metal band from Norway
The 3rd And The Mortal, a band from Norway
Thorns, a Black Metal band from Norway
Thulsa Doom, a Stoner Rock band from Oslo, Norway
Thundra, a Black Metal, Viking Metal band from Norway
Tidfall, a Black Metal band from Norway
TNT, a Hard Rock band from Norway (page not yet online)
Trail Of Tears, a Gothic Metal band from Norway
Trinacria, a band from Norway
Tristania, a Gothic Metal band from Norway
Troll, a Black Metal band from Norway
Tulus, a Black Metal band from Norway
Twin Obscenity, a band from Norway (page not yet online)
Twisted Into Form, a Progressive Metal band from Oslo, Norway
Ulver, a Black Metal, Eclectic Metal band from Norway
V:28, a Black Metal, Industrial band from Norway
Valhall, a Doom Metal band from Norway
Ved Buens Ende, a Black Metal band from Norway
Virus, a Eclectic Metal band from Norway
Vreid, a Black Metal band from Norway
We, a Stoner Rock band from Oslo, Norway
Windir, a Viking Metal, Black Metal band from Sogndal, Norway
Winds, a Progressive Metal band from Norway
Zerozonic, a band from Kristiansand, Norway
Zyklon, a Black Metal band from Norway
True Norwegian Black Metal Part 1 of 5
True Norwegian Black Metal Part 2 of 5
True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 3 of 5
True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 4 of 5
True Norwegian Black Metal - Part 5 of 5
*Last Part of Ghost Story*
Ghost Story Page last
This is the unretouched digital photo at a "quarter" of the original size. So we actually have a huge photo of it. But it would be too large to put on the web. It was taken in a NEF format which is the sharpest and most detailed you can get out of the D100.
Notice, there is also something strange on Vlad's jeans and part of the camera case, which did not appear on the other photos. What was flying by our camera in that fraction of a second when the flash went off? Two ghosts? None of us saw anything fly by the camera, nor was there a feeling in the air that anything weird was going on. We were all just laying there relaxing, and checking out the stars.
Later in the room, we looked at the pictures again, and even zoomed in on the lines. And we were like, "Wow, what is it?"
Sergei says, "See, I told you I got a picture of a ghost." Vlad and I knew it was strange, because the Nikon D 100 has never mess up any of our pictures.
Oh, by the way, did we mention that there is a large cemetery on the property right next to "Our Father's House" ?
Is Moodus, CT really haunted? What could those lines be? We still have no clue what is in the picture. Click for a larger version.
Ghost Photo, Moodus CT
Update: We received an e-mail, and it was explained to us that it appears we have caught a picture of something that is called, rods. Here's what Glen's e-mail says: "When I saw the photo, it reminded me of a phenomenon I heard about a few years back, called Rods. It's kind of hard to explain, they're these things that appear in still frames. It's unsure if they are living or dead, but they travel so fast that they are virtually invisible, unless a still frame appears, or video is slowed down. I found you a web address: http://www.opendb.com/sol/seq.htm When the creepiness dies down, write me back. Glen G." Thanks Glen for this info!
9/07/05 - We recently received another email that said, "No, these are not rods, the shape of them is wrong!"
This is the unretouched digital photo at a "quarter" of the original size. So we actually have a huge photo of it. But it would be too large to put on the web. It was taken in a NEF format which is the sharpest and most detailed you can get out of the D100.
Notice, there is also something strange on Vlad's jeans and part of the camera case, which did not appear on the other photos. What was flying by our camera in that fraction of a second when the flash went off? Two ghosts? None of us saw anything fly by the camera, nor was there a feeling in the air that anything weird was going on. We were all just laying there relaxing, and checking out the stars.
Later in the room, we looked at the pictures again, and even zoomed in on the lines. And we were like, "Wow, what is it?"
Sergei says, "See, I told you I got a picture of a ghost." Vlad and I knew it was strange, because the Nikon D 100 has never mess up any of our pictures.
Oh, by the way, did we mention that there is a large cemetery on the property right next to "Our Father's House" ?
Is Moodus, CT really haunted? What could those lines be? We still have no clue what is in the picture. Click for a larger version.
Ghost Photo, Moodus CT
Update: We received an e-mail, and it was explained to us that it appears we have caught a picture of something that is called, rods. Here's what Glen's e-mail says: "When I saw the photo, it reminded me of a phenomenon I heard about a few years back, called Rods. It's kind of hard to explain, they're these things that appear in still frames. It's unsure if they are living or dead, but they travel so fast that they are virtually invisible, unless a still frame appears, or video is slowed down. I found you a web address: http://www.opendb.com/sol/seq.htm When the creepiness dies down, write me back. Glen G." Thanks Glen for this info!
9/07/05 - We recently received another email that said, "No, these are not rods, the shape of them is wrong!"
Metal Detecting Story continues..
We've Got Company
After our photo session, it was getting totally dark. We had already buried some coins in the field to do some practicing with our detectors, and now we realized that it was already too dark to even find what we planted.
We all sat down in the field and was laughing and talking about all the silver coins we would find the next day, including the ones we just lost.
Then Carol started making jokes about taking a picture of all of us laying in the grass, to show how "worn out" we were from metal detecting all day long. So we spread out on the grass, and Sergei offered to take the picture.
After the flash went off, we all yelled at Sergei,"Did it turn out?"
He looked at the monitor on the camera, and said,
"There's a line going through it,"
We all yelled, "Well, take another one!"
Waiting foor the photoThe Second Photo
When Sergei said that there was a line going through it, Vlad thought it sounded weird so he got up to go check the monitor, and see if the camera was functioning properly, which it was, and then he laid back down.
Sergei told us, "It's a ghost." And we were all like, "Yeah, right, Sergei, just take another picture."
So this next photo is Sergei's "retake," and as you can see, it turned out the way we expected it to, and there are no lines.
Looking at these pictures of us laying in the field.
seems funny to us now. We look like some aliens landed in the field, and zapped us with their laser guns while we were metal detecting.
Relaxing in the fieldThe Third Photo
Sergei took a third picture, within a matter of seconds, just to be on the safe side. Here is the photo he took, and it doesn't have any lines in it either.
On the next page, we'll take a closer look at the lines. As you will see, it is not just one line, but two lines and they cross each other several times.
It was suggested that maybe it was two bugs flying by. No, we don't think so. And besides, the bug season has already been over for awhile.
If you know anything about taking photos, you know how fast a flash goes off especially when it's dark.
After our photo session, it was getting totally dark. We had already buried some coins in the field to do some practicing with our detectors, and now we realized that it was already too dark to even find what we planted.
We all sat down in the field and was laughing and talking about all the silver coins we would find the next day, including the ones we just lost.
Then Carol started making jokes about taking a picture of all of us laying in the grass, to show how "worn out" we were from metal detecting all day long. So we spread out on the grass, and Sergei offered to take the picture.
After the flash went off, we all yelled at Sergei,"Did it turn out?"
He looked at the monitor on the camera, and said,
"There's a line going through it,"
We all yelled, "Well, take another one!"
Waiting foor the photoThe Second Photo
When Sergei said that there was a line going through it, Vlad thought it sounded weird so he got up to go check the monitor, and see if the camera was functioning properly, which it was, and then he laid back down.
Sergei told us, "It's a ghost." And we were all like, "Yeah, right, Sergei, just take another picture."
So this next photo is Sergei's "retake," and as you can see, it turned out the way we expected it to, and there are no lines.
Looking at these pictures of us laying in the field.
seems funny to us now. We look like some aliens landed in the field, and zapped us with their laser guns while we were metal detecting.
Relaxing in the fieldThe Third Photo
Sergei took a third picture, within a matter of seconds, just to be on the safe side. Here is the photo he took, and it doesn't have any lines in it either.
On the next page, we'll take a closer look at the lines. As you will see, it is not just one line, but two lines and they cross each other several times.
It was suggested that maybe it was two bugs flying by. No, we don't think so. And besides, the bug season has already been over for awhile.
If you know anything about taking photos, you know how fast a flash goes off especially when it's dark.
Metal Detecting Ghost Story
Arriving at Moodus, CT
In the middle of October we were invited to go to a Metal Detecting "Competition" Hunt being held in Moodus, CT The "National Metal Detecting League" was hosting this event, and it was to be held at Catholic Retreat Center in Moodus called "Our Father's House." This was a two day event.
We had heard that Moodus, CT is haunted. By haunted, I mean that residents of Moodus had reported strange noises and rumblings occasionally to the authorities, and it was explained as being "wind rushing through the trees" or "wind in the caves." We were curious yet excited, because we had never been to Moodus before, and always wanted to go visit.
We arrived at the camp, late Friday night, and there was no one around to be found. Knocking on a couple of the cottage doors, we fortunately found a member of the staff that directed us to the cottages where other metal detectorists were staying.
The Next Day
In the morning, it was cold and clear like any other Fall day would be. We headed to the cafeteria for a good breakfast and to get the agenda for the day. The agenda consisted of an all day "what you find is what you get" open hunt. We were allowed to hunt anywhere on the property we wanted, even in the woods. But we were all to report back to the meeting hall at 3:30 to see what everyone had found.
"Our Father's House" Spiritual Retreat Center sits on 62 acres, and the property dates from the early 1800's. There is a big farm field in back of the cottages, and then acres of woods. We detected all day, and not finding much, returned to the meeting hall at the specified time. Other people had found some cool stuff, a couple of rings, old coins, and an assortment of rusty farm equipment.
Vlad and I moved our belongings into the cottage we were suppose to be in, and became friends with a couple from Albany, New York staying in an adjoining room.
We all met together for lunch, shared some stories, and had a chance to meet everybody else. Then everyone left to go do some more hunting.
Later we returned to the cafeteria for supper. And I would like to add, that the chef and staff were very hospitable, the rooms were cozy, and they presented us with a variety of delicious meals.
After Supper
Fantastic SunsetAt the supper table, Sergei and his girlfriend Shelly our new metal detecting friends, suggested that the four of us go out to the large field behind the cottages to practice detecting silver coins for the "Silver Hunt" the next day, and take some pictures. We all thought it was a great idea. So we quickly grabbed our metal detectors and cameras and left.
We knew we didn't have much time before it got dark. The sunset looked like it was going to be awesome.
The old farmer's field hasn't been plowed for years. There is a nice thick cushion of grass that is kept well maintained. We tucked some silver coins into the grass so we could practice detecting them, and adjust our detectors.
Vlad used his "Nikon D 100" to grab some photos of the sunset.
Cottages in the darkDarkness Falls
I asked Vlad if he had taken any photos of the place we we were staying. I inparticularly was referring to the large "lighted" cross in the courtyard. We all, of course, had been too busy metal detecting to be taking any pictures, so he took several for me at this time.
This one of the cottages turned out to be the best. And you can see how quickly it's becoming dark.
Most of the other hunters had returned to their cottages for the night, or they were sitting on the porches sharing their treasure hunting stories. Some of them were still out metal detecting under the streetlights.
It was such a comfortably warm evening, we couldn't resist staying outside, and the four of us wound up being the only ones that headed for the field.
The groupThe Photo Session
The sunset kept getting better and more colorful by the second. Someone suggested that we better start taking some pictures of ourselves before it gets too dark. After taking a couple of photos, Vlad decided to enable the flash so you could see our faces rather than silhouettes against the bright colorful sunset. He laid his camera on a rock and set the timer, but in this photo, he didn't make it back to our position until after the flash went off. You can see the results of using the flash in the lower portion of the photo.
We kept taking pictures until the sun went down.
Left to Right: Carol, Vlad, Shelly, and Sergei
Just to clarify things, before we go to the next page, the camera that we used is a digital SLR and not a film camera.
In the middle of October we were invited to go to a Metal Detecting "Competition" Hunt being held in Moodus, CT The "National Metal Detecting League" was hosting this event, and it was to be held at Catholic Retreat Center in Moodus called "Our Father's House." This was a two day event.
We had heard that Moodus, CT is haunted. By haunted, I mean that residents of Moodus had reported strange noises and rumblings occasionally to the authorities, and it was explained as being "wind rushing through the trees" or "wind in the caves." We were curious yet excited, because we had never been to Moodus before, and always wanted to go visit.
We arrived at the camp, late Friday night, and there was no one around to be found. Knocking on a couple of the cottage doors, we fortunately found a member of the staff that directed us to the cottages where other metal detectorists were staying.
The Next Day
In the morning, it was cold and clear like any other Fall day would be. We headed to the cafeteria for a good breakfast and to get the agenda for the day. The agenda consisted of an all day "what you find is what you get" open hunt. We were allowed to hunt anywhere on the property we wanted, even in the woods. But we were all to report back to the meeting hall at 3:30 to see what everyone had found.
"Our Father's House" Spiritual Retreat Center sits on 62 acres, and the property dates from the early 1800's. There is a big farm field in back of the cottages, and then acres of woods. We detected all day, and not finding much, returned to the meeting hall at the specified time. Other people had found some cool stuff, a couple of rings, old coins, and an assortment of rusty farm equipment.
Vlad and I moved our belongings into the cottage we were suppose to be in, and became friends with a couple from Albany, New York staying in an adjoining room.
We all met together for lunch, shared some stories, and had a chance to meet everybody else. Then everyone left to go do some more hunting.
Later we returned to the cafeteria for supper. And I would like to add, that the chef and staff were very hospitable, the rooms were cozy, and they presented us with a variety of delicious meals.
After Supper
Fantastic SunsetAt the supper table, Sergei and his girlfriend Shelly our new metal detecting friends, suggested that the four of us go out to the large field behind the cottages to practice detecting silver coins for the "Silver Hunt" the next day, and take some pictures. We all thought it was a great idea. So we quickly grabbed our metal detectors and cameras and left.
We knew we didn't have much time before it got dark. The sunset looked like it was going to be awesome.
The old farmer's field hasn't been plowed for years. There is a nice thick cushion of grass that is kept well maintained. We tucked some silver coins into the grass so we could practice detecting them, and adjust our detectors.
Vlad used his "Nikon D 100" to grab some photos of the sunset.
Cottages in the darkDarkness Falls
I asked Vlad if he had taken any photos of the place we we were staying. I inparticularly was referring to the large "lighted" cross in the courtyard. We all, of course, had been too busy metal detecting to be taking any pictures, so he took several for me at this time.
This one of the cottages turned out to be the best. And you can see how quickly it's becoming dark.
Most of the other hunters had returned to their cottages for the night, or they were sitting on the porches sharing their treasure hunting stories. Some of them were still out metal detecting under the streetlights.
It was such a comfortably warm evening, we couldn't resist staying outside, and the four of us wound up being the only ones that headed for the field.
The groupThe Photo Session
The sunset kept getting better and more colorful by the second. Someone suggested that we better start taking some pictures of ourselves before it gets too dark. After taking a couple of photos, Vlad decided to enable the flash so you could see our faces rather than silhouettes against the bright colorful sunset. He laid his camera on a rock and set the timer, but in this photo, he didn't make it back to our position until after the flash went off. You can see the results of using the flash in the lower portion of the photo.
We kept taking pictures until the sun went down.
Left to Right: Carol, Vlad, Shelly, and Sergei
Just to clarify things, before we go to the next page, the camera that we used is a digital SLR and not a film camera.
BLACK METAL
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, double-kick drumming, and unconventional song structure.
During the 1980s, certain thrash metal bands established a prototype for black metal. This so-called "first wave" included bands such as Venom, Bathory, Hellhammer and Celtic Frost.[1] A "second wave" emerged in the early 1990s, which consisted primarily of Norwegian bands such as Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Immortal and Emperor. This scene developed the black metal style into a distinct genre.
Black metal has been met with considerable hostility from mainstream culture, mainly due to the misanthropic and anti-Christian ideology of many artists. Additionally, some musicians have been associated with church burnings, murder or National Socialism. For these reasons and others, black metal is often viewed as an underground form of music.
-------------------
Instrumentation
Black metal guitarists usually favour high-treble guitar tones and abundant distortion.[2] Typically, the guitar is played with much usage of fast tremolo picking.[2][3][4] When composing music, guitarists often use scales, intervals and chord progressions that produce the most dissonant, fearful and ominous sounds. Guitar solos and low guitar tunings are a rarity in black metal.[4]
The bass guitar is rarely used to perform independent melodies. It is not uncommon for the bass guitar to be inaudible[4] or to homophonically follow the bass lines of the electric guitar. Typically, drumming is fast-paced and performed using double-bass and/or blast beat techniques; however, it is not unusual for drummers to employ more simplistic techniques.
Black metal compositions commonly deviate from conventional song structure and are often devoid of clear verse-chorus sections. Instead, many black metal songs contain extended and repetitive instrumental sections.
Vocals and lyrics
Traditional black metal vocals are in the form of high-pitched shrieks, screams and snarls.[2][4] This vocal style sharply contrasts with the low-pitched growls of death metal. The majority of black metal vocalists are male, although there are a few notable exceptions – for example Cadaveria and Astarte.
The most common and founding lyrical theme is opposition to Christianity[4] and other organized religions (described by some as Right-Hand Path religions). As part of this, many artists write lyrics that could be seen to promote atheism, antitheism, paganism and Satanism.[5] Other themes that are commonly explored include depression, nihilism, misanthropy[5] and death. However, some black metal artists write lyrics that are inspired by winter, nature, mythology, folklore and fantasy narratives.
[edit] Production
Low-cost production quality began as a must for pioneering black metal artists with low budgets.[2] However, even when they were able to increase their production quality, many artists intentionally recorded in a low fidelity style.[4][5] The reason for this was to remain true to the genre's underground roots and to make the music sound more "cold".[5] One of the better-known examples of this production is the album Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone, a band who "represent the DIY aspect of black metal" according to Johnathan Selzer of Terrorizer magazine.[5] Many have noted that, originally, black metal was not designed to attract listeners.[5] Vocalist Gaahl claimed that during its early years, "black metal was never meant to reach an audience, it was purely for our own satisfaction".[3]
Imagery and performances
Unlike artists of other genres, many black metal artists do not perform concerts. Bands that choose to perform concerts often make use of stage props and theatrics. Mayhem and Gorgoroth among other bands are noted for their controversial stage performances; which have featured impaled animal heads, mock crucifixions, medieval weaponry, and band members doused in animal blood.[6]
Black metal artists typically appear dressed in black with combat boots, bullet belts, spiked wristbands,[5] and inverted crosses/inverted pentagrams to reinforce their anti-Christian or anti-religious stance.[1] However, they are most often identified by their usage of corpse paint – black and white makeup (sometimes detailed with real or fake blood), which is used to simulate a corpse-like appearance.
In the early 1990s, most pioneering black metal artists used very simplistic black-and-white imagery on their record covers.[7] Some believe this was a reaction against death metal bands, who at that time had begun to use brightly coloured album artwork.[7] Most underground black metal artists have continued this style. Bands that do not use this style usually have album covers that are either atmospheric or provocative; some feature natural or fantastical landscapes (for example Burzum's Filosofem and Emperor's In The Nightside Eclipse) while others are violent, perverted and iconoclastic
During the 1980s, certain thrash metal bands established a prototype for black metal. This so-called "first wave" included bands such as Venom, Bathory, Hellhammer and Celtic Frost.[1] A "second wave" emerged in the early 1990s, which consisted primarily of Norwegian bands such as Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Immortal and Emperor. This scene developed the black metal style into a distinct genre.
Black metal has been met with considerable hostility from mainstream culture, mainly due to the misanthropic and anti-Christian ideology of many artists. Additionally, some musicians have been associated with church burnings, murder or National Socialism. For these reasons and others, black metal is often viewed as an underground form of music.
-------------------
Instrumentation
Black metal guitarists usually favour high-treble guitar tones and abundant distortion.[2] Typically, the guitar is played with much usage of fast tremolo picking.[2][3][4] When composing music, guitarists often use scales, intervals and chord progressions that produce the most dissonant, fearful and ominous sounds. Guitar solos and low guitar tunings are a rarity in black metal.[4]
The bass guitar is rarely used to perform independent melodies. It is not uncommon for the bass guitar to be inaudible[4] or to homophonically follow the bass lines of the electric guitar. Typically, drumming is fast-paced and performed using double-bass and/or blast beat techniques; however, it is not unusual for drummers to employ more simplistic techniques.
Black metal compositions commonly deviate from conventional song structure and are often devoid of clear verse-chorus sections. Instead, many black metal songs contain extended and repetitive instrumental sections.
Vocals and lyrics
Traditional black metal vocals are in the form of high-pitched shrieks, screams and snarls.[2][4] This vocal style sharply contrasts with the low-pitched growls of death metal. The majority of black metal vocalists are male, although there are a few notable exceptions – for example Cadaveria and Astarte.
The most common and founding lyrical theme is opposition to Christianity[4] and other organized religions (described by some as Right-Hand Path religions). As part of this, many artists write lyrics that could be seen to promote atheism, antitheism, paganism and Satanism.[5] Other themes that are commonly explored include depression, nihilism, misanthropy[5] and death. However, some black metal artists write lyrics that are inspired by winter, nature, mythology, folklore and fantasy narratives.
[edit] Production
Low-cost production quality began as a must for pioneering black metal artists with low budgets.[2] However, even when they were able to increase their production quality, many artists intentionally recorded in a low fidelity style.[4][5] The reason for this was to remain true to the genre's underground roots and to make the music sound more "cold".[5] One of the better-known examples of this production is the album Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone, a band who "represent the DIY aspect of black metal" according to Johnathan Selzer of Terrorizer magazine.[5] Many have noted that, originally, black metal was not designed to attract listeners.[5] Vocalist Gaahl claimed that during its early years, "black metal was never meant to reach an audience, it was purely for our own satisfaction".[3]
Imagery and performances
Unlike artists of other genres, many black metal artists do not perform concerts. Bands that choose to perform concerts often make use of stage props and theatrics. Mayhem and Gorgoroth among other bands are noted for their controversial stage performances; which have featured impaled animal heads, mock crucifixions, medieval weaponry, and band members doused in animal blood.[6]
Black metal artists typically appear dressed in black with combat boots, bullet belts, spiked wristbands,[5] and inverted crosses/inverted pentagrams to reinforce their anti-Christian or anti-religious stance.[1] However, they are most often identified by their usage of corpse paint – black and white makeup (sometimes detailed with real or fake blood), which is used to simulate a corpse-like appearance.
In the early 1990s, most pioneering black metal artists used very simplistic black-and-white imagery on their record covers.[7] Some believe this was a reaction against death metal bands, who at that time had begun to use brightly coloured album artwork.[7] Most underground black metal artists have continued this style. Bands that do not use this style usually have album covers that are either atmospheric or provocative; some feature natural or fantastical landscapes (for example Burzum's Filosofem and Emperor's In The Nightside Eclipse) while others are violent, perverted and iconoclastic
the story begins....
In his smart and self-assured debut, My Life in Heavy Metal, Steve Almond breathes fresh life into the oft-explored territory of young love and longing. The 12 stories in this pulsating collection are populated with hookups, drunken kisses, failed passes, and souring relationships. And though it's an aggressively sexual affair (when it comes to getting it on in the bedroom--or on the bathroom sink, for that matter--Almond doesn't believe in fading to black), at its core it's a collection with heart. His characters stumble unrehearsed through the choreography of modern love, wearing their sloppy passions on their rumpled sleeves, aching to connect.
The memorable title story introduces David, an El Paso music critic on the "late-eighties hair bands" circuit who cheats on his longtime college girlfriend with an unassuming YMCA lifeguard. "Because we were a morning paper, I had to bang out my copy by midnight. I operated on a template involving an initial bad pun, a lengthy playlist--adjective, adjective, song title--and a description of the lead singer's hair." Almond hilariously captures the flirty, stylized banter and drinks-after-work breeziness of office life in "Geek Player, Love Slayer." He spins this bittersweet story from a female, first-person perspective as a thirtysomething reporter at an alternative weekly finds an unlikely obsession in the oddly alluring Lance, the paper's overconfident systems administrator ("How did Computer Guy become the Lifeguard of the decade?"). In another standout story, "How to Love a Republican," a doomed cross-party affair plays out against the 2000 presidential election.
Readers should take note of this solid debut and stay on the lookout for more from Almond--he's a sharp and surprisingly sensitive writer with plenty of stories to tell.
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This collection of 12 short stories is populated by some interesting characters in problematic situations and some not-so-interesting ones in situations familiar enough to be trite. The title story is an example of the latter, with its lackluster pop music critic caught in bed with a new conquest by his college lover. More successful is "Among the Ik," in which aging Professor Rodgers, uneasy with his adult children, recalls a bizarre experience from his early life in academia. Telling about it tests his coming to terms with widowhood; even a second reading of this poignant story is rewarding. "Geek Player, Love Slayer" is an update on the old-fashioned office romance and features a female reporter with a raunchy vocabulary that belies her 33 years. She engages in "lurid banter with Computer Boy" Lance, who can talk to machines. "How to Love a Republican" is thoroughly entertaining, with a James Carvill wannabe meeting his young Mary Matalin when they are in New Hampshire doing "issue work." The aftermath of the election dooms the romance, but the story is a humorous success. The narrator of "The Body in Extremis" is a 34-year-old composition teacher (Almond teaches creative writing at Boston College and Emerson College), who has an "essential problem": "Sexual ideation dominated my thoughts," he declares. This final story casts a narcissistic shadow over the preceding fiction, but there's enough intelligence, angst and humor woven through the collection to please the young audience at which it is aimed. Agent, Amy Williams of ICM. (Apr.)Forecast: This collection has a high entertainment quotient, as signaled by the title, previous publication of some of the stories in Playboy and Zoetrope, and Almond's smooth-flowing prose. Expect a few extra browser hits.
The memorable title story introduces David, an El Paso music critic on the "late-eighties hair bands" circuit who cheats on his longtime college girlfriend with an unassuming YMCA lifeguard. "Because we were a morning paper, I had to bang out my copy by midnight. I operated on a template involving an initial bad pun, a lengthy playlist--adjective, adjective, song title--and a description of the lead singer's hair." Almond hilariously captures the flirty, stylized banter and drinks-after-work breeziness of office life in "Geek Player, Love Slayer." He spins this bittersweet story from a female, first-person perspective as a thirtysomething reporter at an alternative weekly finds an unlikely obsession in the oddly alluring Lance, the paper's overconfident systems administrator ("How did Computer Guy become the Lifeguard of the decade?"). In another standout story, "How to Love a Republican," a doomed cross-party affair plays out against the 2000 presidential election.
Readers should take note of this solid debut and stay on the lookout for more from Almond--he's a sharp and surprisingly sensitive writer with plenty of stories to tell.
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This collection of 12 short stories is populated by some interesting characters in problematic situations and some not-so-interesting ones in situations familiar enough to be trite. The title story is an example of the latter, with its lackluster pop music critic caught in bed with a new conquest by his college lover. More successful is "Among the Ik," in which aging Professor Rodgers, uneasy with his adult children, recalls a bizarre experience from his early life in academia. Telling about it tests his coming to terms with widowhood; even a second reading of this poignant story is rewarding. "Geek Player, Love Slayer" is an update on the old-fashioned office romance and features a female reporter with a raunchy vocabulary that belies her 33 years. She engages in "lurid banter with Computer Boy" Lance, who can talk to machines. "How to Love a Republican" is thoroughly entertaining, with a James Carvill wannabe meeting his young Mary Matalin when they are in New Hampshire doing "issue work." The aftermath of the election dooms the romance, but the story is a humorous success. The narrator of "The Body in Extremis" is a 34-year-old composition teacher (Almond teaches creative writing at Boston College and Emerson College), who has an "essential problem": "Sexual ideation dominated my thoughts," he declares. This final story casts a narcissistic shadow over the preceding fiction, but there's enough intelligence, angst and humor woven through the collection to please the young audience at which it is aimed. Agent, Amy Williams of ICM. (Apr.)Forecast: This collection has a high entertainment quotient, as signaled by the title, previous publication of some of the stories in Playboy and Zoetrope, and Almond's smooth-flowing prose. Expect a few extra browser hits.
