My black metal moods... Shining

One of the bands that I’ve listened to since I got familiar with black metal is a band that openly promotes self harm and suicide in every possible way. Hell, they even handed out razor blades at one of their previous concerts. This band is surrounded by strangeness and controversy... Shining is next on my list of topics to discuss.

Okay so this band is a bit different from what I've described here before.... This band incorporates doom metal elements in their music. Their music contains depressive undertones, which include personal and suicide-themed lyrics. It also shows during the performances and in the last - uncensored - video of Shining where Kvarforth likes to mutilate himself while he's performing. The lyrics are often in Swedish, which gives an eerie feel to the tracks.

I got to know this band through the albums Klagopsalmer and Halmstad and also familiarized myself with the older releases. My all time favorite Shining tracks are Ohm (Sommar Mit Siv), Neka Morgondagen, Fullständigt Jävla Död Inuti, Krossade Drömmar Och Brutna Löften (which is an instrumental track), Attiosextusenfyrahundra (which was derived from Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata),The Eerie Cold, Plågoande O'Helga Plågoande.

Then it was time for Shining to record new stuff.... In the meantime I saw Shining perform live in De Kade in Zaandam in March, and I was impressed. Kvarforth didn't do incredibly weird stuff on stage, even though he did put out some cigarettes on his bare chest every now and then. What can I say, the guy is into pain... Whatever his drive is, the music in my opinion is awesome.

Quote from Wiki :

"Musically, Shining went from more or less straight black metal with doom influences on their earlier work to a more progressive extreme metal sound with extensive use of clean guitars, guitar solos, different vocal styles and often tempo shifts and odd time signatures. Some webzines called them the "Opeth of black metal". "

The new album Född Förlorare was released around a month ago, and it's a bit different from the previous releases. Sometimes there's a poppy tone to Född Förlorare, but the message is clear nonetheless. It's again full of darkness and despair.

Whatever it was that drew me to Shining in the first place is still there: the insane singer, the great guitar solo's, the darkness and despair in the lyrics ... It's one of their best albums in my opinion... And whenever they come 'round to The Netherlands again, I will surely go see them again !

My black metal moods... Enslaved

Before introducing you to this band - which is one of my black metal favorites - let me quickly tell you that I've only been familiarized with the black metal genre for 8 months now and therefore I am still discovering things with each passing day...

Within black metal there's a lot of diversity in styles. For instance...

Take a black metal/progressive metal band, which has come into existence 20 years ago, with an excellent live performance, continuously changing styles, evolving and experimenting with each new release. This is Enslaved for ya.

I got acquainted with Enslaved through the 2010 album Axioma Ethica Odini which really blew my mind. I loved all the tracks of this album right away. Now black metal fans will tell you that this Enslaved album is not 'true' black metal, but it doesn't sound less spectacular because of that. On the contrary.

I then set my sights on finding the other albums, and listened to them. Out of the older tracks a few stand out and are just simply unforgettable. And I don't mean that song. Among those unforgettable Enslaved tracks are Wotan, As Fire Swept Clean The Earth, Slaget I Skogen Brotenfor, Path To Vanir, The Watcher, which are my favorites. There are some albums and EP's that I haven't heard yet, which I am still curious about.

I've seen this band live in April and they truly rocked. The setlist was mostly of the Axioma Ethica Odini album, with some older work, and it just sounded amazing.

As I am telling you about this great, diverse band I am checking out the newest Enslaved EP called The Sleeping Gods which could be downloaded for free through the website of Scion A/V. The Enslaved style has yet again undergone changes and it sounds very different in some parts, in other parts there's recognizable sounds.

The conclusion: Enslaved might be different than the 'true' black metal, the band's been around for 20 years which stands for quite a lot. Their newest EP rocks (even though it takes some getting used to). Enslaved truly rocks !

My black metal moods... Negură Bunget

This is black metal from Romania... I've seen them live as support act for Enslaved in April and I must say they were amazing. They performed with very little space on stage but managed to sound exactly as on the album. I'm talking about Negură Bunget.
The name of the band, which stands for "Dark Foggy Forest", kind of hints the topic of the lyrics. The drummer once said in a 2004 interview:

"Negură Bunget is a black fog coming from a deep dark dense forest. The name tries to picture somehow the kind of atmosphere, both musical and spiritual we'd want to create through our music. It has also an esoteric nature, standing for the inexpressible parts of our ideology. The two words are also from the Tracic substrate of the Romanian language (the oldest one, containing about 90 words) as the interest for our local history and spirituality is something of crucial importance and meaning for us as a band."

I've only listened to the Vîrstele Pamîntului album and I must say that it really struck a nerve that made me want to listen to more of this interesting band. For 'true' black metal fans it might be a bit awkward to listen to, but I consider my metal taste to be limitless and I like to tackle new stuff all the time. What you find in this album instrument wise are pipes, traditional percussion, guitars, some psychedelic elements. At one point even Indian sounds, a flute and even horns come into play in this intrinsic music. The whole album is folk parts giving way to black metal and blending together superbly.

My favorite songs on this album are by far Pãmînt and Dacia Hiperboreanã. The rest of the album lingers in the same mindset and carries you deep into the Romanian forests.

I share the same verdict to this album as posted on the review on Encyclopaedia Metallum:

"This is a great album, and Negură Bunget has sold me on their album-oriented approach to folk black metal."

I'm very much looking forward to hearing other Negură Bunget stuff!

My black metal moods... Fen

Before becoming familiar with Alghazanth, I ran into a black metal/shoegaze band in the same month, which I liked instantly. It defined itself by using other sounds in their music, unlike the 'true' black metal bands. I reviewed this for a Dutch black metal blog I was on at that time, and Fen left an impression on me that still lasts to this very day.

An expression of loss and melancholic yearning, the primary goal with Fen is to draw the listener into a windswept and desolate landscape, bereft of hope.

The Fen sound is very diverse, sometimes it reminds me of Enslaved in a way. The very quote I found on www.cackblabbath.co.uk says it all:

"When Fen’s previous album, The Malediction Fields, came out the band were heralded as “a UK rival to the throne of bands like Enslaved and Primordial”. With Epoch Fen have certainly lived up to that high praise and delivered on the promise shown by their previous release. It’s out next February and will surely feature in several top 2o lists at the end of 2011."

I've listened to various albums of Fen and I must say their style varies with each album, with each song. Even their split with De Arma is really worth checking out. Certainly a recommended band in my opinion!

My black metal moods... Alghazanth

A couple of months ago, it was February I believe, I was introduced to Alghazanth by an acquaintance of mine, one of the many black metal bands I listen to nowadays. Now when I listen to black metal, I don't consider myself known with all the technical terms like blast beats and such, I just like it if it gives me a certain feeling, inspiration for things I write. A certain form of darkness to engulf one's self in, if you will. Vinum Intus (which should mean something like Wine Within) does this for me. Typical for this black metal genre is that in my opinion it oozes desperation and suffering. This album is none different.

This album is filled with melodic black, sometimes it's accompanied by choirs and melodies and acoustic and piano parts. My favorite track of this album by far is "For Thirteen Moons". The rest of the album really makes this band interesting for me, and I will certainly check out more of their music. If you're looking for interesting black to listen to, I surely recommend this album.

A n ice cover image description on Encyclopaedia Metallum:

"Unsung Finnish black metal veterans Alghazanth have once again gone with a simplistic black/white cover image, long on metaphor, to adorn their 6th full-length Vinum Intus. It's quite striking really, from the single tree on the horizon to the turbulent well of souls, sewn out heart and beckoning grasp of the kneeling woman. It is on this image that my gaze lingered as I sought my way through the audio content..."

And about the album, in the same review:

"Vinum Intus (which I translate to something like the 'Wine Within'), is a 'pretty' album, glistening with sorrows and regrets against the overbearing rasp of front man Mikko Kotamäki, and if you give yourself able chance to lose yourself to its charms, then it's not a terrible way to spend a winter afternoon. "

Universe in a ball !!!

My metalheadness doesn't only evolve around metal in it's darkest, bleakest form, even though I can entertain myself very well with black metal or death metal... Even though people are sometimes inclined to think it is.

Whenever I feel like listening to nutty, fun music which makes me smile, and is not dark / black metal by any means whatsoever, I play any random album of this artist.

He is literally the craziest singer in the world, in a good way that is... I've seen him live in all his madness on March 16th 2011... Never in my life have I seen an artist perform with such drive, enthusiasm and passion for music as with Devin Townsend.

When I first got introduced to Devin Townsend's madness I started with the album Addicted! which I loved right away. Favorites are the title track, Universe in a ball!, Bend it like Bender!, Supercrush! and Hyperdrive!. The rest of the album is also really good but these songs really stand out in my opinion.

Then ....
Then I got familiar with this green little devil ... Ziltoid The Omniscient. This album is really a musical, unique in it's sort, telling about Ziltoid who sets out to destroy Earth after not getting the cup of coffee he wanted. Hilarious lyrics, storyline and of course Devin as Ziltoid make the craziness complete. Just listen to this album once, you'll be impressed. From what I read there will be a sequel to this Ziltoid story, I'm looking forward to it.

Recently the new Deconstruction album leaked on Youtube and I had a chance to hear it. This album yet again shows us just how crazy and goofy Devin Townsend is, with songs that have a little like 'The Mighty Masturbator' it's kinda hard to not think that. The album really sounded awesome and I can't wait for the official release.

Aside of Deconstruction there's another album, coming out simultaneously, called Ghost. I don't know if this image here is the real cover but it looks cool nonetheless.

Devin Townsend gave me a new insight to metal, that it can be fun and entertaining. I know he was in the band Strapping Young Lad before. I still have to check that out sometime. For now I'll just play some DT again...

UNIVERSE IN A BALL!!!!