Talking about metal will always be controversial, it is a musical scene that generates controversy due to the discursive language it handles; however, this is part of their nature. Throughout history, metal has shown that the strength of its music, as well as its variety of styles, plays a transcendental role that directly impacts the taste of its public. This diversity of rhythms and sub-genres have emerged with the need to continue exploring new musical fields within a genre nurtured in many ways. Each subgenre has a characteristic that differentiates it from each other, with different types of voices, drum rhythm and lyrical themes. As part of that artistic ramification that metal has undergone, without a doubt one of the most striking and sui generis movements that have been developed in that sense, is black metal.
He black metal It has had its origin in the 80's, with the album entitled exactly "black metal”From the English band Venom, although conceptually it was developed, in a second stage, specifically in Norway, covering all of Scandinavia during the 90's, together with Bathory who would sow an important seed implanting a religious satire as an emblem. It is not uncommon to mention that within the lyrical discourse of metal in general there has always been a certain degree of occultism, darkness, morbid and sensitive social issues such as politics, religion, war, repression, as well as the darkest repressed feelings of and for the human being . Basically it emerges as a social movement that tried to express its rejection of Christianity through a provocative concept: Satanism.
Standard-bearer for the so-called “Inner Circle"He took his anti-Christian speech to higher levels through extremist practices such as the burning of churches, which was frowned upon by the conservative press in Norway during the same decade of the 90's. Bands like Burzum, Mayhem, Darkthrone and Emperor They were in charge of promoting a nationalist message and attached to the cultural roots of the region, confronting Christianity as an invading religion that implanted a cult totally detached from Scandinavian ancestral beliefs. He corpse paint It was present, the leather jackets, studded boots and long hair represented the aesthetic identity that characterizes the members of the bands, in addition to stage names related to demons and occult characters.
One of the best-known cases, for which black metal became known as a "violent scene", is the murder of Euronymusguitarist of the band Mayhem in 1993 at the hands of Varg Vikernes, founder of Burzum. Versions about the event are numerous, so it is not intended to delve into the subject, however, it is still part of the many myths that surround Black metal.
But, not everything within the genre has been satanism, fire and curses. No. Naturally, each band has contributed special features to the sound and concept, printing their own label supported by the cultural features of each country, such as Sweden, which has represented a milestone in the development of the style; the themes have varied, adoration the landscapes that winter leaves after passing in forests, appropriating a cold and conceptual theme. Also, the presence of nature has been exalted as a symbol of life and constancy. Cosmic conceptions and ghostly appearances have become important in the evolution of the scene.
Inside the family tree black metalhead, different variants have been developed that are nourished by different instruments achieving special sounds as a unifying accompaniment that provide a structure and identity, thus depressive black metal, symphonic black metal, melodic black metal, ambient black metal, folk black metal and some combinations such as Black / Death metal. Crossing borders worldwide, the black metal phenomenon reached all over the world, from where bands have emerged from France, Finland, Turkey, Brazil, the United States, Mexico and much of South America.
Thus, there have also been cult bands like Gorgoroth, Taake, Mayhem, Watain, Nargaroth, Dark Funeral, Satyricon and Marduk among many others, which came to deliver a coup of authority, remaining today as true symbols of the genre, and which also keep ideology intact as well as the classic sound of the old school.
In the meantime, Gaahl would state in an interview: "You do not play Black metal if you are not a warrior ... Black Metal is a war against everything the world knows"… Loved and praised by many, hated, criticized and little known by others; Black metal constitutes, beyond music, a social paradigm that irreverently promotes what everyone knows and that nobody wants to hear. Daring to exalt in protest what few dare to express.
That mystical, blatant, arrogant and suspenseful genre that Infernusbassist Gorgoroth, I would call in an interview: "The art of Black metal"
In Mexico, this 2018 is shaping up to be the year of black metal with various live performances by bands like Cradle of filth, Nargaroth, Behexen, Marduk, Asagraum and Watain which will be presented at the Corona Hell and Heaven on Saturday May 5 at turn four of the Hermanos Rodríguez racetrack in Mexico City.
"God is within nature, and nature will always grow. That is the force of all life. Grow up. " –Gaahl.
[alert type = white] Text by Bob Rebollo | Summa Inferno [/ alert]