What black metal means to you

Black metal is probably one of the most misunderstood subgenres of heavy metal.
People who hear it for the first time will probably describe it as "a wall of noise" and "playing as fast as you can" and "screaming incohorently".
The satanic lyrics and corpsepaint are also often questioned, and the controversy of the mid-nineties events in Norway makes people wonder what exactly it's all about.

So, to those of you who listen to black metal, what exactly does it mean to you?

First off, there's the conclusion that you can't be a true satanist, since Satan is a tool invented by the christians to scare their followers and make them live according to their rules, or face the consequences (eternal suffering, damnation, etc.)
I agree on this point of view, and while there are some black metal bands who actually are satanic, the majority of them are probably not.
I think a lot of the satanic lyrics are mostly used as a kind of mockery and provocation of the christians.
Every christian would be offended by black metal, yet they make music about the darkest and most morbid stuff, and the christians actually invented it themselves.
The imagery of corpsepaint and props at gigs only strengthens the vileness they're trying to convey, while the crucifictions, goat heads stuck on poles, fire, hell, etc. all have roots in what is essentially the christians' worst fear, yet they created it themselves.

The imagery and stuff also adds to what is, to me, one of the most important aspects of black metal: atmosphere.
Somehow, listening to black metal (and really listening, not just putting it on as background music while you do other stuff) can really take your mind into another world, which is something not too many musical genres can do.
Some bands even take it to an extreme and draw in influences from dark ambient or neoclassical to enhance their atmosphere.

Some black metal bands do not talk about satanism or christiany, but go for an even darker subject: death, nihilism, misanthropy, and the meaninglessness of life.
These lyrics are often quite deep and easier to relate to from your own experiences than the satanic lyrics.
And genres like DSBM (among other black metal genres) are depicting suffering in its most extreme musical form with tortured screams, sad wails, haunting riffs and droning guitars/drums.

And in terms of music, if you can look past this initial "wall of noise", you can actually find some very complex and technical song structures and amazing riffs.
Wether you like it or not, black metal is actually one of the broader genres within heavy metal once you "get it", even though a lot of ignorant or narrowminded people tend to dismiss it.

Soooo, what are your views on black metal?
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"And in terms of music, if you can look past this initial "wall of noise", you can actually find some very complex and technical song structures and amazing riffs."

Depends of bands this! cuz usually its easy to find this on guitar... Well for me at least.. structure can be same for many tracks too but just different frets. But i wont deny its not amazing cuz for some it's amazing. Smile

But indeed that genre been so misunderstood and thats prolly why that second wave...cuz the misunderstanding & instruments/technics used etc..
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Into Battle We Ride With Gods By Our Side
We're Strong And Not Afraid To Die \m/
MET MET MET MET MET MET !!! .......................YAY!

Joined : 28 Nov 2007 Posts : 89

I agree with you, cuber.

Personally, I like black metal, but, exactly what you're saying, not since a long time. A few years ago, when I did listen to metal, I didn't like black metal. I thought the music was a "wall of noise" with awful voices, stupid rythm, messy and bandmembers with stupid corpsepaint and weird gigs and whatever.
I don't know why, probably because other people kept recommending me black metal stuff, I began to like the music. It's just that you've to listen it not with a narrow mind and not just as some background music, as you said.

Now black metal has become one of my favorite genres and my interest is growing more and more. Last week I read an article about black metal, christianity and Varg Vikernes and Euronymous etc., that was very interesting.

Black metal still is about the music, but it's more. Like the corpse paint and the satanism. As I said, I thought that was stupid, but it isn't. I don't know why, but it adds a lot. Somehow it creates a sort of little world, only the listeners know of and understand. The atmosphere, like you said. Just go as a fan to a black metal gig and you know what I mean. The black metal gigs where I've been have made such an impact on me.

Hmm, my post is also messy Razz

Well, what I want to say at last, is about the conclusion about satanists. I'm honest as I say I don't like christianity (and most other religions, but since christianity is the biggest religion here...). But I think satanism is bullshit too. Satan is invented buy the christians, so if you think the religion of the christians is bullshit, you can't be satanistic.
But, again as you said,in black metal it's about the idea of being anti-christ, and Satan adds to that.

This time really at last, Possessed By Satan by Gorgoroth is the most great and beautiful song ever made.

Joined : 28 Nov 2007 Posts : 89

*edit*

Inge dont change topic or create new one please.
_________________
Into Battle We Ride With Gods By Our Side
We're Strong And Not Afraid To Die \m/
MET MET MET MET MET MET !!! .......................YAY!

not sure, if this statement is in the right place here... Neutral

but i know the problem especially from black metal scene.

its the stupid discussion about trOObe and seel-out. and the genre correctness.
like "nono, band x did never genre b, its b.1.5., but since 2002 they do c.1.2. but i hate them anyway, they are gay and no trOObez."
its so silly and so sad. that was exactly the reason i decided to leave the whole metal scene. its just boring and pisses me off.
but i see, nothing has changed. cry

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Kultur ist, wenn man aus dem Schädel seines Feindes eine hübsche Trinkschale macht.
Zivilisation ist, wenn man dafür ins Gefängnis kommt.

Joined : 28 Nov 2007 Posts : 89

@ Dragonhead, Sorry, I'll delete the post.

@ Forumtroll, where's your post a reaction on? I don't understand it, not what you say, but why you say this in here.

at inge hm ok..

at forumtroll, u left the whole metal scene? 0_o
_________________
Into Battle We Ride With Gods By Our Side
We're Strong And Not Afraid To Die \m/
MET MET MET MET MET MET !!! .......................YAY!

Joined : 28 Nov 2007 Posts : 89

well, inge, but i see this as a blackmetal problem. no other metal genre handles this question that way.
and i thought you wanted to talk about black metal. scratch

its a kind of fascism. some people might think that black metal is about fascism. but once upon a time, when black metal began as a contra against the fascistics in monotheistic religions, especially christianity, wasnt it?
it was about "freedom of the souls to choose".
but with guys like vikernes it became "troobe or not troobe" (sry, but true.)
so wheres the difference between blackmetal and fundamentalistic religion now?
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Kultur ist, wenn man aus dem Schädel seines Feindes eine hübsche Trinkschale macht.
Zivilisation ist, wenn man dafür ins Gefängnis kommt.

vikernes that shithead... sorry but true lol
_________________
Into Battle We Ride With Gods By Our Side
We're Strong And Not Afraid To Die \m/
MET MET MET MET MET MET !!! .......................YAY!