Black Metal is reality…reality of what?

Black Metal is reality…reality of what?

Our lovely and respected Metal sound survived many evolutions over the years of the existence and bigger part of these evolutions made Metal stronger and stronger. It’s pointless to speak about all sub-genres here as all these stories were told for a million of times, or even more, heh.

What’s on my mind now is Black Metal. This, so called second wave of the style born at the beginning of 90’s and mostly connected with Scandinavian soil. What was all that about? What happened? Why?

I mean, if we are looking now in the past and these first steps of 95% of the bands there we will find just a bunch of very young kids (17-18 years old) trying to look very grim and evil and wile they ware learning how to play their instruments in the same time they were also already creating their very first demos, albums etc.. All these records were mostly badly played, naively and with strange production BUT, they broth some new and very gloomy spirit into extreme Metal, gave some new dimension and opened some undiscovered gates until then. Together with their music those kids also took some more serious steps and some of them did even stronger actions against religious authorities and burned their local churches or maybe killed their band’s mates for some reasons… Anyway, these stories are also very well known around and there are no needs to speak about that again, here…right?

What’s my point here? Well, I’d like to know who are those who choose Black Metal as very young ones and then after some years of being extreme and wild they simply changed their directions and became just another musician on the scene ready to swallow anything just to be popular and well quoted names. What happened to all those kids from the beginning, those rebels and soldiers of Satan? Sons of brave Viking past? Creatures of the night? What happened after they became older?

Is it really possible that all these “spirits” and “honors” were just a part of their late puberties and full-filled with testosterons so, right after they grew up and discovered some other interesting things to do, all that vanished like it never existed? Unfortunately, I think that’s very possible and that’s the way it is…

All these bands from the beginning (respect to small number of them who didn’t!) right after they

released their first albums immediately changed their directions, stared to be very cooperative with the shitty mainstream laws of music business and forgot their previous extreme oats and underground statements. They were ready to do anything just to become part of worldwide scene, fame and glory…

And that’s copy-paste model for almost entire Black Metal scene. Where ever it started it’s the same. No matter if it’s deeply connected with occult and satanic as in Scandinavia or brainless radical right wings on the East, we have the same model. Bands start, bands are rebels, bands are under “no compromise” banners, bands are their own and they don’t give the fuck! But then, once they are recognized by the scene and by the fans their troubles starts. Why troubles? Well, extreme occult and satanic is fine for small underground circles, but it’s totally not cool for the mainstream magazines, radios and TV’s. Right wings are fine in small hometown gigs and local supporters but it’s forbidden in the bigger pars of the World and you can’t go and play, promote and earn your money. So, what’s happening then? It’s easy to see for sure. Satanists over the night change their extreme looks, stage performances and occult themes wile right wings panicly try to deny their connections with politic, racism and other craps…But how come? I mean, it was so “true” and so “dedicated” and so….FUCK, it was bullshit!

It was pose, lame, weak and shelter for frustrated ones…It’s pity to realize, but….  I think that Metal never had style like Black Metal with all these pretending and poses inside of the genre. One genre and so many trends inside, trends without any foundations and quality, trends so worthless and stupid. Some bands with every single album change their ideology, statements and their “true” paths. Funniest is with those who stared as Satanists, then turned to Pagans after they red one or two books about history of their nations. But then, these Pagans somehow connect themselves with Nazis and over the night they jump into the right wing streams. Still, right wings means politic and other shits and suddenly your shows start to be attended by a huge bold guys ready to fight anyone or anything just for a wrong look so then, bands decide that’s not so cool and again they turn to something new or old…Dam it man, that’s really fake…fake to the bottom.

It’s very funny and somehow sad from the other side to take interviews of some bands and compare them with what they’ve told just a few years ago. Sometimes statements are so different that you really can’t be sure if that’s the same person speaking here, and then, there.

Please, don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge fan of all Metal genres and same it’s for Black Metal. I totally worship some bands and among my favorite ones are also Black Metal names as well. I've played and still play in some Black Metal bands. But these facts can’t be denied. Facts that Black Metal as genre is the biggest joke and biggest fake in Metal, globally speaking. Other genres also suffered from their weak “seasons” and trends but these were just phases and genres stayed strong, powerful, direct and unique. But when it comes to Black Metal, we really can’t say that as the biggest part of the bands are just a craps, pretenders and slaves of temporary trends and poses. What’s worst is the fact that even underground isn’t serious or independent anymore, but also massively infected with lame fakeness and those without attitude and honor.

We could now start hundred of different topics about the reasons for all that, but hey…that’s not the point here. Reasons are many, reasons are everywhere but the main fact is, Black Metal as sub-genre of entire Metal is and should remind fucking UNDERGROUND. Only there, without any boundaries and limitations Black Metal can be strong and powerful with all it’s magic. As long and you kids are trying to reach glory and money by playing Black Metal, you’re wrong and you will stay wrong…

My deepest respect goes to just a few bands which represent and defend Black Metal starting from the very beginning. I won’t name them here, I know who they are, and you…. I Don’t know, and I don’t care…

Music of the past...music of the future...

And here we go again. A short reminder on some amazing albums from the deepest past as well as some new ones. These are the most played records in the last few months here...

Acheron “Rites of the Black Mass” - LP vinyl

A real monument of extreme metal genre. Back then, when I played this one for the very first time I didn’t know what’s going on. What’s that now? Beside all standard and brutal recordings I’ve discovered in these days Rites of the Black Mass offered something different, something new, something really, really evil. You could clearly feel that Death Metal genre got new bastard son, the one that will change direction and take another step in the world of musical darkness. And, after all these years, still, when ever I play it feeling is the same…no matter if it’s middle of the sunny day, or winter night… everything become dark and grim until the end of the album…and some hours after…amazing creation!

Impaled Nazarene “Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz...” - LP vinyl

Oh yeah, when these perverted maniacs released their debut scene was is shock, real shock! Bigger part of the scene couldn’t stand it and all the press throw piles of shits on the band and their release. But, the record found its own path to the real sick souls and shortly after the album was released the band got true followers and worshipers. Tol Cormpt…can’t be explained by words, you have to play it and feel it. There is no other way! It’s so compact and so fulfilled with un-expectable moments, unpredictable overturns and mixes of brutality and perversion that words can’t catch it. Play it, let it swallow your mind…it’s very dangerous journey, without end… So pity the band wasn’t able to repeat it, or it’s not...No matter what, it’s still here as one of the most brutal records of Black Metal, and something that proudly defend extreme side of the music.

Impetigo “Ultimo Mondo Cannibale” - LP vinyl

Gore, audio bloody Gore! Until this damn album was released Gore was something that you expect to see on movies and that’s all. But then, just like that Impetigo smashed all barriers and hit the scene with their masterpiece. I don’t know how the hell they made it, but they made it big bloody time! It’s so strange to play the album and feel all these moments of wicked stinky gore brutality even better than you can feel it wile watching the movies. These maniacs managed to create atmosphere completely unreachable until then when it comes to metal albums. It was so real, so close… you could almost touch it, the atmosphere of death and frightening terror. Later after, many bands tried to play Gore but…no one, ever managed to come even close to Ultimo Mondo Cannibale…and as it looks like nowadays 24 years later, no one ever will!

Nuclear Death “Carrion for Worm” - LP vinyl

Bam! Well that’s like, the closest relative of Ultimo Mondo Cannibale album…if you know what I mean? I mean, that’s something, that very moment that group of individuals create and capture on one album. They were young, they were crazy and hungry for brutal Metal and they fucking did it. Oh yes, they did it! Carrion for Worm is all about uncontrolled bestial brutality. Everything here every second of the record hit you right in the head, cut you with sharp corroded razors and throw you away like a bunch of crap! No kidding people, that’s mostly how I feel during this album. Lori Bravo and gang created a real monster album back in 1991 and I truly can’t find suitable record to be compared with this one but Ultimo Mondo Cannibale. But still, in different way and the atmosphere of both albums is totally different, the approach is different but the effect is the same = grimness and evil in the music! In my opinion, Carrion for Worm eats for breakfast 95% of Black Metal albums ever recorded! And if we all know that the main person behind the band is a female, complete story gets really wicked way!

The Black Heart Rebellion “Har Nevo” - mp3

Eh, another one just on the damn mp3, so it’s as always…who ever want to trade it with me, drop me a line J . And now about the music. Very authentic band based in Belgium. It’s their third full length and I didn’t check any of previous releases, just Har Nevo and it got me indeed. Very well balanced ambient meets post-punk and even doom, dark streams. Well, yes nowadays it sounds like total trend and something very usual around. But no, I totally don’t follow these trends of new depressive sounds and these guys are the same as I can hear. Har Nevo is hermetically sealed album with necessary dose of creepy atmosphere that will capture you and force you to play it all over again. Not for everyday listening, not for everyone but, definitely for those who are seeking for quality and real art!

Deicide “Deicide” - LP vinyl

Fuck yeah! A milestone of extreme Metal, that’s what this album is! At least for me of course. Again, one of these albums that poisoned my blood when I was just a very young dickhead and stayed inside me for all these years of my Metal journey. Direct, raw, sharp, powerful, dynamic, provoking, evil, brutal fucking Death Metal. That’s how it should be described in every catalog. Glen Benton, who ever he was before and who ever he is nowadays can proudly say every day of his life, FUCK dam it, yes, damn yes I’m the one who created album that changed Metal music for ever in many different ways. And yes, he is! Play Deicide maniacs, play it and we all together can just moaning around as nowadays Death Metal can’t offer us such a fucking outstanding album…

Pungent Stench “Been Caught Buttering” - LP vinyl

And here we go, next stop Vienna. One of the most beautiful cities of the old continent. Amazing culture, high class restaurants, clubs and glorious architecture but also, home and shelter of definitely the sickest and most bizarre band around. Pungent Stench, all the time underrated band, gave some new dimensions of shock and perversion to our lovely sounds. What they offered to the scene was definitely too much for a big part of typical Metal followers and really just a few managed to understand and swallow all these filthy notes they played. They never followed any trends, they created trends instead! If you play any of their albums you will never find any similarities with other bands, you also can’t say clearly is it Death Metal or something totally different, something…something! I’ve choose Been Caught Buttering as that’s how I discovered the band, but the story is the same for any of their first 3 albums. Everything is strangely spooky about their records, artworks, themes, sounds…everything is so different and so smelly and sticky. Pure necro atmosphere is what they spread, real necro! All the other albums they recorded later after up to me shouldn’t be in the same discography as the band changed very much. I’m not saying these are shitty records, no not at all, but it’s totally different from what they said with their first 3 stories. 

Dismember “Line An Ever Flowing Stream” - LP vinyl

Swedish Death Metal! I don’t want to spend more words here as really, what should I say about this debut album of Dismember? What? Just a perfect example how European Death Metal should sound all the time! That’s fucking it!

                                                      

 

Entombed “Wolverine Blues” - LP vinyl

Many fans of the band would probably say, what the hell why this one? Heh, but wait! That’s my list of the albums played here lately so…I like Entombed very much, I deeply respect the band and I can’t say clearly which of their first 3 records I like the most. First is I think the same as Dismember’s debut and if there will be competition for the best Swedish Death Metal album these two records MUST share the first position, no other way! Second is also brilliant album, dirty and raw to the core. But, third one is something different and something that same as some other albums on this list, changed extreme Metal for ever. Back then they came with Death ‘n’ Roll mark and well, that’s what it was. But up to me, that’s pure extreme Metal sound without any stylish pressure and trendy goals. They just pushed out a huge album, album so strong and even today it’s still fresh and up to date, even today! Many fans, bands, mags said that they wimped out with this record, but hey! Where are all of these haters now? And where is the band now? Haters, most probably left the scene shit load of years ago as usual…and the band, oh man, the band still kink the damn ass and I’m so happy as in a month we are organizing their show together with Grave in Belgrade and that is going to be real Metal fiesta!

Discharge “Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing” - LP vinyl

Punk gave us many great albums and bands, that’s true…But this record, that’s something way different. I even can’t clearly explain what I feel during this album but it’s also always the same feeling. Unbreakable wall of sound, let’s say it’s something like that. It’s like somebody throw you in the corner and punch you all the time without stop and you simply can’t defend yourself but try to survive until the end of this agony. Songs are so aggressive with strange brutal atmosphere and jet with catchy parts and let’s say melodies.

Merciless attack on all your brain sells, attack on your existence. Dam it, I lost my tracks here.. words are loosing their meaning here again…you must feel it. Those familiar with the album probably knows what I wanted to say, and those who never played this one, do it! You will better understand the meaning of extreme in music…

Ulver “Kveldssanger” - LP vinyl

Among all these raw and brutal monuments of Metal music in the last few months I also played this amazing record. Finally managed to find one of these rare bootlegs and I’m happy as a child as now, I can play it from the almighty vinyl J . Yes, yes I know it’s mastered from the CD and blah, blah but fuck, playing something from vinyl is magical, and no maters it’s copied from the CD, now vinyl is doing its spells here and giving totally new dimension to every single note. Ulver is, without doubt, very unique band and their records are always something new and different from what they created before. For me, this album is a perfect example how wide open Black Metal is as genre. Yes, I call it Black Metal and Black Metal it is. Back then, in total hysteria of Black Metal, raw and grim sounds Ulver came out with this album, just like that. No riffs, no distortions, no screaming vocals or fast drums. No nothing like that, and still it’s darker and grimmer than a big part of Black Metal records back then, and today. Strong clean voices full of gloomy energy followed by acoustic instruments. And that’s all, enough if you truly feel the music. Enough to create superior darkness in music.

Who is hiding behind?

In my journey from being pathetic kid that started with discovering metal music and underground in general all long to the nowadays when I can work with some of my heroes from the past, there were so many moments to enjoy in, but also so many to be absolutely pissed of by people I met, people behind the music I worship. I was always asking myself, what the hell happen to musicians and artists after they reach some “higher” levels of popularity and when they stop to pay attention on the most important segment of their career, their fans!? Music is damn art and musicians as artists should really pay respect to their fans and worshipers as they are these who make their tunes alive and keep them and spread them as legacy or heritage. When the artist stop to feel it’s own art as pure joy and freedom and become jerk who is thinking that he is the king of the world and that all the others must lick his ass? They are all the same at the very beginning in small clubs with just a few fans in front of the stage. They will stay and talk with their fans until the next day and share drinks with them and mostly acting friendly and normal in general as it should be of course. But then, once they become popular and there are more and more fans on their shows musicians change totally and start to be brainless rock divas with “I don’t give the fuck” attitude. Why’s that so? Was all this at the beginning also fake and pose? Was it just feeding of their ego and status? I mean, of course there

is no chance that they can spend all the time of their lives talking and seating with their fans but hey?! Some basic acts of respect are always enough and believe me, more than enough as fans will know how to praise it! Oh yes, they will know and they will do it big time! You poor divas (if any of them ever end up reading these lines I simply must write some lines in direct addressing) so easily forgot where did you came from, what were your first steps? It’s totally not strange that 95% of you end up as miserable lonely creatures at the end of your lives…How can you be so disrespectable to these who like your art? How’s that possible, maybe you’re absolutely fake and even don’t believe in what you’re creating? In the last 10 years I’ve witnessed so many times scenes where fans are meeting their lovely musicians and it was always sad to see their disappointment after some cunts fuck them off as the damn worms, but from the other side it was sooo great to see real men acting as a huge stars what they actually are, and their approach to the fans

and moments they spent together! I won’t mention here any of jerks and cunts, they don’t deserve to be written in these lines but, what I want to mention are some of these, real artists and big mans that left impression on me as they totally deserve it! I want to dedicate this post to some of musicians who definitely deserve add ARTIST and STAR as they know how to wear it proudly without loosing of their identity and pride. Eternal hails to: Sodom, Kreator, DRI, UDO, Moonspell, Hobbs Angel Of Death, Death Angel, Discharge, Exploited, Cathedral, Napalm Death, Hypocrisy, Dissection (RIP), Desaster, Bombarder, Root, Rotting Christ, Inquisition, Immolation, My Dying Bride, Tiamat, and many others that totally made my day, or days once in this life we all live. Thank you maniacs, that’s what we all live for. Stay the same, stay YOU \m/

Communication failed...

How many of you ever bought some underground publication and red it?  And how many of you did it in the last , let’s say five years? I still try to keep my eyes open on printed ‘zines and support them when ever it’s possible as these were the only medias back then when I’ve started to be active in the underground. I still remember the time when all of us waited desperately for some 'zine to be finally out after many delays  and still, once it’s out and you got it and it’s full with interviews and reviews that are done one-two years before the ‘zine is out you’re still happy as a child with the chocolate, because you are able to reach all the information and feel the atmosphere of the scene. Zines offered us entire universe of possibilities with many new contacts of bands, labels, distros, 'zines…mainly, as I already said  'zines were the only chance to be familiar with the underground and damn, we praised that chance deeply! After ‘zine finally arrived in your hand then you start with reading, grab your notebook (unplugged ones fuckers, not laptop) and write all interesting address of potential contacts so later you can write the letters (yes again, real ones that you have to send over the postal system) and then you wait for the answers. Man, that magical moment when the package arrive from someone, somewhere. That was real feeling and moment to remember. And then, again with the letter you got usually came tones of flayers and possibilities to find some new contacts, bands, zines, distros…And how come that back then everything was more effective and direct than nowadays when we have that so called faster way of communication? 

Today you send an email and wait for the answer longer than it was before with sending normal letters.. I’m not about to start here some topic about internet and all these craps, no not at all. I don’t want to talk about people becoming hyper lazy and pathologically not interested in anything that isn’t in front o their noses. People that became stupid and zombiefied by mass medias and capitalistic shit-lives…I just wanted to remind you all that there are still some nice and dedicated publications out there in the forgotten underground world. Publications that keep these old spirits of the scene where all the laws are about respect and honor. Zines still work for the underground, for scene. No matter if you are Metal, Punk, Core…fan remember that underground scene of your subculture isn’t just on the internet and in the mainstream magazines. It’s somewhere deeper as well, among small circles of passionate freaks who support music (and not just the music!) they like! More like, reading zines you have bigger chances to find out real situation on the scene as underground editors don’t lick anyone asses, they don’t write reviews for money and don’t follow any fake trends or push a couple of famous bands. They simply worship their lovely music genre and they don’t give the fuck! 

Those supporters use internet of course, they communicate every day with many bands, fans and all the others, but also they build something like product of all these communications and that’s what’s different. Their works you can’t just check somewhere around the internet, check and forgot as 99% of other information here.  Their work you need to find, order and get! And believe me, big part of them will not even charge you for their publications, they are always happy to trade it against something you have! Yes, can you believe? There are still people in this damn fucked up corrupted and capitalistic World that are not interested in filthy money, but in real honorable way of exchanging goods. Try it people, you even don’t need to dig so deeper and you are going to find circles I’m talking about here. I will not suggest you any single zine, this is not promotion of anyone…simply, try it yourself that’s the quest and adventure you need to start! Respect old values and ways, don’t forget that people lived ten, twenty, fifty and countless years ago ;)