Remember when burning down churches in Norway was bad and black metallers were labeled satanists? Well apparently, all is forgiven and the Norwegian government is looking to black metal to become its "brand." I guess the country finally figured out that black metal is their nation's top export over what.....herring? Read this interesting story here.
INTERVIEW: Carpathian Forest prepare for exclusive Maryland Deathfest show
Carpathian Forest embodies everything I love about black metal --grim but beautiful, atmospheric melodies, songs with misanthropic themes and socially biting, often disturbing lyrics. Yet the group couches this "strange old brew" of ideas into infectious rock and roll rhythms that make me want to get up and dance. They also are not afraid to …
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Arckanum to release Fenriz Kindir in May
Swedish black metal project Arckanum will be putting out a new album called Fenriz Kindir (that is, Fenriz's Children) on May 14 with Season of Mist.Fenriz Kindir coming soon from ArckanumCheck out this intense album art! According to band founder Shamaatae, "This album is a dedication to the flaming giant-wolf, son of Loki; created from the Chaos-fires of …
Full stream of Vreid – Welcome Farewell
Vreid, the Norwegian black and roll band that arose from the ashes of Windr in 2004, have a new record, Welcome Farewell, set for North American release March 5, 2013. Their blend of black metal, punky thrash and straightforward rock and roll combined with captivating song writing and lyrics puts them into my "what's not …
REVIEW: The Almighty Propagator of Doom and Despair, plus philosophizing with Ptahil
I like to imagine that somewhere in northeastern Indiana there lies a portal to the Underworld where the members of the Ptahil have set up camp to receive messages directly from their Dark Lord. I am probably not too far off, based on the content of their most recent recording.Ptahil, which in gnostic mysticism can …
REVIEW: Embers and Revelations, plus Weapon’s Monarch speaks
Weapon What do you get when you cross the anti-religious themes of true black metal with the death metal aesthetics of Bolt Thrower and tinge it with the cultural undertones of Bangladesh? You get Weapon. (And yes, the name is trademarked; legally there can be only one.)The first time I heard Canada’s blackened death metal …
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Video captures YAITW in reflective moment
I was browsing YouTube recently in search of videos by the American blackened crust band Young And In The Way, or YAITW for short, when I stumbled across this mini-pic posted nearly a year ago. I can't believe I have not seen it until now.Young And In The Way. Photo by Mary SpiroThe film is …
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Marduk brings black metal juggernaut to Empire
Marduk and friends played Empire in Springfield, Virginia on February 20. Here are my general impressions of this crushing juggernaut of sound that is probably coming to a town near you.First off, it was grim and frostbitten outside and waiting in line for even two minutes was excruciating. I got in line at about 5:45 …
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Botanist: he drums for the trees
Botanist, everything you need for a one-man, eco-terrorist performance.I am a firm believer in having no rules in most anything, especially music. Black metal may be one of the most rigidly defined subgenres, and its fan base can be rife with elitist assholes (of which I can be one), but black metal is still the …
Nachzehrer: wicked good black metal from Boston
This week I decided to spend my local show dollars on a black metal show at The Sidebar Tavern, featuring Boston band Nachzehrer. I did not know too much about this band but had listened to them a bit after stumbling across a news item some weeks ago about the singer in the band being …
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