Rain today. Starting a story with the weather in generally a terrible idea, but this is not a story, it’s a record review. There’s no rules for record reviews. People don’t even read them most of the time. So you see there is no problem.
I think if you don’t like Immortal you don’t really like Black Metal. Maybe you like Mayhem better or Emperor or Darkthrone, I’ll give you that, but most of that stuff that is ambient and folky is not even Metal. It’s ok to not like Metal, I guess. It’s like if you only have the Rick Rubin Johnny Cash albums, you probably don’t really like country music. It’s fine. Or if the only rap albums you have are by Eminem and the Beastie Boys. Wait, then you are a racist, that’s not fine. I’m getting off track.
Two standout features of this album are the chaotic drumming and abrupt cutoffs of the songs. The drumming I love. Plenty of classic metal albums are pretty off the grid, but this was a new style at the time where the guitars and drums often are not at all locked together. The first reaction to this is that it’s humorously terrible, like the group’s appearance. But I got into it. I’m into their whole thing. Some people get into Black Metal and find themselves apologizing for Nazis and murderers—I like the getups, man. I’m taking my stand and that’s that. I’m thinking the ends of the songs sounded a lot better on tape back in the day, with the songs plopping nicely into a pillow of hiss. But as pristine digital files, it sounds broken, like the download transfer got cut off. Most of the lyrics are incomprehensible except for the title of the song, which is great, especially when you’ve got great song titles. One notable exception is the end of Moonrise Fields of Sorrow:
give unto meeee never-ending snowfallll
Yeah man, bring it on. I can deal with this nonsense forever. I just need the soundtrack and I’m good. It used to be more of a metaphor, seemingly endless precipitation merely a stand-in for a long period of depression. But despite many rational reasons, I have not been depressed lately, and merely have to contend with the 3-dimensional horrors of physical reality. Cursed Realms of the Winterdemons, if you will. No big deal. Seasons change, and with them new horrors. That’s maybe a little dramatic. I’m outside for part of the day every single day because it’s what you have to deal with dogs and that’s just what you have to do. Not really my choice, but I’m not getting my bike out anymore, so it’s good to have a reason to get out in the weather everyday. People around here seem to only go outside on purpose when it hits room temperature, and most are dumbfounded by a hello. Far grimmer than I. Anywho, I have taken great inspiration from the Black Metal Demonlords to think of extremity and discomfort in weather akin to the same in music: something to perhaps revel in and get into.
And it’s over in 36 minutes. Perfect. If I want more I put it on repeat but I try not to stay out that long. %
#1 by joetron2030 on 2014.06.20 - 10:55
Are you on Spotify? I don’t remember if you are or not. If you are, LMK and I’ll send you a link to a private playlist I made from Decibel’s top/best 100 black metal albums. It’s got as much of the list as I could find on the service (in descending order, 100-1) minus Burzum and any other explicitly racist artists (all at my discretion).
I was surprised at how much black metal was available on Spotify. Some of the more obscure early french stuff isn’t on the service.
#2 by Jim on 2014.06.20 - 20:07
Pretty sure I got you on Spotify. Haven’t used it since my laptop broke tho. I got the free version, so any kind of music trying to set a mood is interrupted by Outback Steakhouse ads or something, I’m not really into it. I go through the Decibel lists, but I haven’t got that Black Metal issue. (I’m putting more thought into this comment than the post.) I’m not that interested in it as a separate genre, I don’t really buy these dudes that are on a spiritual quest of evil or whatever.