As you may remember from reading Part 1 (if you haven't, you should), Black Metal has earned quit the name for itself (including its misrepresentation in the news media). So, what's all the hubbub about Satan in heavy metal, anyways? The Devil's Music? I thought that was Rock 'n' Roll. Black Metal has, in effect, cast a dark light on the rest of heavy metal, especially the various sub-genres of extreme metal. This has caused a general stereotyping of a much larger, more varied style of music, of which Black Metal is a few generations removed.
Also, as we can see, this stereotyping has almost been worn as a brand of honor for many Black Metal bands. There are likely more "Satanic" BM bands than non, although I cannot say for sure if that is true. There are also bands with more of a folkish bent, Pagan BM bands, (sadly) NS Black Metal, even BM bands that are basically environmentalists. The one thing they all have in common would be misanthropy. Their great equalizer, almost all Black Metal proper contains elements of this in their feel/overall message, if not their lyrics directly. This creates a true equality in the way they see the world, in an odd sense. That being the idea that all humans are equally contemptable, ergo their lack of a need to stereotype others. Why bother lumping people into groups when we're all down here in the dirt, anyways? While I cannot speak for every BM musician, I do believe that this may be a logical leap in stereotyping when combined with the fundamentals of misanthropy itself. Ave Satanas.
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Well, as with anything, creating sub-genres helps a listener focus on things they really like...
ReplyDeleteMoreover, most of the nazi bands come from Germany and Poland, where those views are banned outright.
"There exist no death metal bands today. There are only a handful of (mostly great) bands (in case someone hasn't got it right - black metal has nothing to do with the music itself, both Blasphemy and Mercyful Fate are black metal, it's the LYRICS, and they must be SATANIC. If not, it is NOT black metal) and what we choose to call LIFE METAL bands. Take a band like Therion. Their music is quite ok, it's actually one of the best Swedish bands (even though that doesn't say much), but their lyrics STINK. They are about society and pollution, what the fuck has that got to do with DEATH? If a band cultivates and worships death, then it's death metal, no matter what KIND of metal it is. If a band cultivates and worships Satan, it's black metal. And by saying 'cultivating death' I don't think about thinking it's funny, or being into gore. I'm thinking about being able to KILL just because they HATE LIFE. It's people who enjoy to see wars because a lot of people get killed. How many bands think that way? Not many. I can`t think of one." - Euronymous
He also mentions at other times how Immortal were not Black Metal since they were not Satanic :[
If Euro said it, it was Satanspel
Yeah, but Varg killed him, so his point is now moot.
ReplyDeleteI'll cede the point, partially P: Without Euronymous, the scene might not have come about again and Black Metal would have died with Bathory, Hellhammer/CF, and Samael...
ReplyDeleteProbably. Either way, Black Metal, like punk, was kind of made to be in a constant state of self-destruction. I doubt it'll ever go away, though.
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