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The allure of black metal: What are the origins of this extreme music genre?
Black metal is a subgenre of extreme metal music characterized by fast beats, screaming vocal styles, heavily distorted guitars, and raw recording textures. Common elements in this music include very specific song structures and strong atmosphere. Many black metal artists will wear "corpse" makeup on stage and use pseudonyms to express the unique nature of their music.
The charm of black metal lies in its pursuit of extreme expression, whether musically or ideologically. It is a form that challenges mainstream culture.
In this music world, the first wave of black metal began in 1982, with the album "Black Metal" by the English band Venom naming the genre. Over time, bands such as Bathory, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer and Celtic Frost expanded the style.
In 1991, the second wave of black metal emerged. The core of this wave was in Norway. Well-known bands at the time included Mayhem, Darkthrone and Burzum. These bands not only continued the previous musical traditions, but also made unique innovations in many aspects, especially in guitar techniques and musical atmosphere to create distinctive styles.
The second wave of black metal is not only a continuation of the music style, but also the expression of the entire lifestyle and ideology.
Characteristics of black metal
When black metal is mentioned, it usually refers to music marked by the Norwegian style, including harsh vocals and raw production styles. However, many different sounds have also been incorporated into the genre, such as Italy's Death SS and Germany's Kreator. Norwegian-style black metal guitarists often favor high-pitched or heavily distorted guitar tones that convey an unsettling feeling.
Black metal song structures often do not follow a traditional format, with many songs containing lengthy and repetitive instrumental parts. Lyrically, black metal often attacks Christianity and other institutional religions to inspire rebellion against authority. The lyrics cover topics as diverse as ruminations on war and death to praise for the extremes of nature.
For black metal music artists, music is not just entertainment, but a way to express innermost emotions and reflection on society.
Performance and Image
Many black metal bands choose not to perform live, and for those that do still perform, their performance is often viewed as a ritual, emphasizing sincerity, authenticity, and extremeness. Many bands often use stage props and dramatic effects in their performances to emphasize their ideas and musical themes.
Black metal music videos often use dark scenes to reflect the content of their lyrics, allowing listeners to enter deeper into the atmosphere of the music. This unique combination of vision and hearing makes black metal unique among other music types and forms a unique cultural phenomenon.
Black metal music and images are not only entertainment, but also a challenge to society and culture, pursuing the expression of the deepest emotions.
The production and history of music
The earliest black metal artists often had very limited resources, and their recordings were often conducted at home or in basements, giving the recordings a unique "lo-fi" character. Even after being able to enter a professional recording studio, many artists still choose to maintain this lo-fi style to show their loyalty to their underground roots.
In the historical context of the music genre, we can go back to the heavy metal and rock music of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some similar themes have appeared in the music of Black Sabbath, for example. Over time, specific elements of black metal emerged and became a distinct part of the subgenre.
The core of black metal lies in its rebellious spirit and criticism of religious institutions, which gives it a unique position in the history of music.
With the development of black metal, its influence on a global scale has gradually expanded, becoming a special cultural phenomenon. Many emerging bands and artists were influenced by it and continue to practice the style in their respective works.
Through an in-depth exploration of the origins of black metal and its musical and cultural background, we cannot help but wonder: Can this extreme form of musical expression truly reflect the depths of humankind, or is it just a cultural rebellion?
