I love it. I listen to a lot of different genres of music, but black metal still captivates me like no other. A complicated genre though, so the floodgates are open! I'll try and keep them closed a bit.Nefastos wrote:I have listened a great deal of black metal this autumn. Actually, it would be interest to hear the other brethren (and our guests') thoughts about that music genre
Black metal was my first introduction to Satanism back when I was younger. I think maybe this is a similar experience for a lot of people, so that is a positive. That said, despite my love for the music I found that most bands' lyrics left a lot to be desired - nothing more than 'evil' for the sake of evil, and juvenile rebellion, which has it's place to be sure - but this actually kept any interest in Satanism I had at that time from growing.
I think that black metal attracts a lot of outcasts together (positive) but also due to the darkness of it's nature, a lot of people prone to violence and extremity for the sake of those qualities in themselves as well (which can make for some great music though). In general people involved in black metal seem to be more serious and hold strong convictions, regardless of how they approach it or where they're coming from, so that is admirable and keeps my interest in the music even though at times it may be ideologically lacking (some more than others). But it does seem that over the last 10-15 years of the genre there has been a greater shift towards more spiritual, intelligent and thoughtful lyrics in a lot of bands which I think is great (and a few of these bands have come out of Finland, hm). This played a a part in my reevaluation of my intitial thoughts on Satanism.
I think black metal is the perfect vehicle to explore darkness, otherness and mysteries. Musically, I love how it can be anywhere from simpistic, raw and primal to complex, chaotic and elegant - and in both sides of the coin, among all the filth and darkness there is usually some light that manages to shine through in the form of a beautiful, triumphant melody which elevates the soul. That's kind of how I see the SoA philosophy, as a strong melody that won't leave my head.
This is interesting to me, as I had originally thought SoA to be seperate from metal until I started noticing some of your lyrics pop up in some records I own. It still feels that way to me for some reason, unlike something like Current 218 which for better or worse seems irrevocably linked to metal.Nefastos wrote:It seems to be a common misunderstanding that even the Star of Azazel was born from black metal circles, even though the SoA philosophy was formulated first and then I started to work in the black metal scene, because it gave a rare possibility to work with people already interested in Satanic concepts.
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I've also been listening to a lot of black metal lately. I tend not to during the summer, but as soon as the rains come, it's back in full force. Also a lot of old Katatonia (Dance of December Souls), still lot's of modern classical (Gorecki's 3rd -Symphony of Sorrowful Songs and John Luther Adams - Light That Fills The World), and the new Deathspell Omega album is stunning.