Is Black Metal Evil?

I am a black metal musician myself, with my bands Astrum, and Kosmokrater, and I do not see it as evil, but people can be, and I mean, people can just be bad people and do bad things. For the most part, black metal is occultic fantasy, I'd compare it's appeal like that to old horror movies. Magickal, occult, ideas of fantasy, Satan. But the style of black metal is very vast, bands like Immortal do not use Satan as it's topic, my last CD was about saucer craft of the Third Reich, and there are even Christian "black" metal bands, that use the same musical style but different lyrics. Also, a lot of black metal deals with the pagan way of pre-christian Europe. So, in many ways the images and lyrics may be "evil", it's largely a fun show. But then some people take it too far personally, but I think that is a very very small minority. I'd say rap is the evil thing, because it's bad criminal behaviour and a glorification of it in a relaistic way, and many people do try and embrace that lifestyle and we have murders everyday in the US of that image.

To me black metal is far to loud and lacks balance, it's an extreme of metal. Thrash metal is the one that I prefer and the one that rules today, check the big 4!!

Yeah, check the big 4, in 1984! They arn't so hot these days. I was into the 1st wave of black metal when it was emerging, Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Sodom, that's maybe the 4 main inventors of black metal. I was into death metal mainly when the 2nd wave of black metal hit, and when I got Darkthrone's Blaze, I didn't like it, it was so different, but now I love it! I had to make a slight adjustment. I love old Darkthrone, old Emperor, Satyricon, Carpathian Forest. But no, I don't think it's "evil", like Slayer isn't evil either.

Evil? Nope.

Lacking artistic merit? Yep.

Crap? Yep.

Mainly attracts attention seeking, sulky teenagers with communication issues with low self esteem? Probably.

Evil is a word that has gone out of date. I believe destructive, violent, chaotic or misguided are words better suited for modern people. Evil and heresy belongs in the medieval times.

So, is black metal destructive? Hardly. There was a point in time where black metal had a bad influence that made people burn churches, but that time has passed. Is black metal violent? Perhaps artistic expression needs to be violent at times, it is an outlet for some basic human emotions. Releasing those impulses through art and companionship is much better then keeping violent feelings bottled up. Is black metal chaotic? Art can be chaotic, but if you study the genre you will find patterns that repeats themselves. Is black metal misguided? Art is also about expression, and it seems like some of the ideas set forth by black metal says many important things.

I enjoy the genre. I am not sure if I prefer melodic or symphonic black metal. Also some of the borderline extreme metal pieces have their qualities. There is music I dislike. For instance pop-music telling children to dress like prostitutes. I actually think that some pop-music that tries to sell erotic messages to kids are destructive. Some rap-music idolizing criminals are also something I think is destructive. I don't think the industry has any bad intentions though, other then making sure to empty the parents wallets.

HAHAHAHA yeah, watch an old Immortal video and then realize how laughable this thread is!

Don't get me wrong, I love Immortal, very epic music, but far from evil. Black metal bands only play evil on stage nowadays and only a few ever burned churches or killed anyone. Now put on you're corpse pain an m/

P.S anyone bashing the musicianship DOES NOT have a clue about guitar or drums (primarily), time signatures, melody e.c.t Really...listen to some Wintersun and get enlightened. Actually, the modern equivalent I suppose is deathcore like The Black Dahlia Murder...also great musicianship since Ryan Knight got solo duties, but Nocturnal still has the best tunes! I play guitar myself with high a level of musicianship (Necrophagist solos e.c.t) so I know what I speak of.

Thank you for all your replies so far!

From what I have read it is more or less a big no from you all, black metal is not evil... which is great

I guess I started this thread to see if there would be any people who would, "bite" as it were and say that it was and then try and get my point across on how black metal, satanism and paganism have been misinterpreted and actively tarred with a negative image.

As I have said before, I am a guitarist for a fairly well known english black metal band, so for those who are wondering this thread wasn't an attempt to bash black metal in any way, far from it

But! what I would like to discuss is can certain notes/frequencies amplify certain energies, I am talking on a meta-physical level... I know that Binaural beats are effective in inducing mood states etc, but it would be of GREAT interest to me to fully understand the theory behind different frequencies and how they can induce different states etc.

I must say, I agree with what most of the posters have said in this thread. Black metal and death metal aren't evil. I'd say that the black/death metal scene is actually getting quite pretentious nowadays. If you don't listen to the most "underground" band than you aren't truly into it. That mind frame has driven me away from the scene in general and now I just listen from a distance. I still support many death/black metal artists, but I tend to stay away from live performances and message boards just because of the attitudes of the people into the music.

To the people who say that black/death metal takes no talent to play, you are clearly not listening to the music. The guitarists, drummers and bassists of those bands are some of the best musicians I have seen. Their abilities to play their respective instruments is amazing.

Also, to those of you who are in black/death metal bands, would you be kind enough to link to your websites and/or a place to hear your music? I would greatly appreciate it!

reply to post by Resentedhalo08


Oh yeah, Behemoth is also 1 of my fave's, I think their from Poland. They have the look and sound that I like, the only thing is that their kinda trendy like Cradle of Filth, but I think Cradle has Hot females, if you have seen any of their vids

reply to post by Resentedhalo08


Is Wagner evil?? Wasn't that the Nazi's composer of choice? Frankly I cannot find any music evil. I only know music I like and that which I do not like.

As a metal fan, and a former member of a metal band, I must say that no, black metal is not evil.

The Catholic Church is certainly evil in my humble opinion, and any group of organization that works to bring it down is fine with me.

Originally posted by DroppinSuga
I must say, I agree with what most of the posters have said in this thread. Black metal and death metal aren't evil. I'd say that the black/death metal scene is actually getting quite pretentious nowadays. If you don't listen to the most "underground" band than you aren't truly into it. That mind frame has driven me away from the scene in general and now I just listen from a distance. I still support many death/black metal artists, but I tend to stay away from live performances and message boards just because of the attitudes of the people into the music

I agree, metal heads in general are among some of the most snobby when it comes to music, especially when it comes to black metal as a lot of "purists" want stuff to sound like true norweigian black metal and when some bands who have played that and then depart from that that's where a lot of snobbiness etc can come in.

To the people who say that black/death metal takes no talent to play, you are clearly not listening to the music. The guitarists, drummers and bassists of those bands are some of the best musicians I have seen. Their abilities to play their respective instruments is amazing.

Yes I totally agree, it takes a lot of talent to play and in my opinion a lot of time to develop that talent, which is a constant and on going process.

Also, to those of you who are in black/death metal bands, would you be kind enough to link to your websites and/or a place to hear your music? I would greatly appreciate it!

I'm sorry that I won't be linking my band, as I like to keep this ATS profile private and not keep getting pestered by people. However feel free to speculate on my identity I won't however be disclosing any information

Originally posted by NonKonphormist
Evil? Nope.

Lacking artistic merit? Yep.

Crap? Yep.

Mainly attracts attention seeking, sulky teenagers with communication issues with low self esteem? Probably.

I'm sorry but I have to totally disagree with you, it takes a lot of time and energy to get to the skill level that this kind of music requires, it's taken me many years to get where I am

reply to post by Resentedhalo08


HA! You are truly evil than! Can I atleast get a hint?

reply to post by Resentedhalo08


2nd that

To any-one:
Dint Dimmu Borgir a while back do a human sacrifice with a dude from another dark metal band, or was that another dark metal band?

Originally posted by DroppinSuga
reply to post by Resentedhalo08

 

HA! You are truly evil than! Can I atleast get a hint?

Sorry no, I really don't want this thread turning into something other than what the OP is about, if I was to say who I am then it would become a meet and greet, of which I have no desire for on here.

Do you think that frequencies can induce different mood states etc? As that would be something I'd love for my band to start to experiment with!

reply to post by VenomVile.6


An actual human sacrafice? Hmmmm coming from Dimmu Borgir I would doubt that personally as that would no doubt get into the mainstream knowledge and would in effect get them arrested.

But prehaps another black metal band may of, but in my opinion it is more likely to be a rumour put out thre by the said band themslves to enhance their, "mistique".

sure why not? just as evil as white metal, or brown metal, or red etal or yellow metal or heavy metal... pointless question imho.
;p
cant find a better topic?

reply to post by Resentedhalo08


Alright, I respect that.

You should look into Binurial beats. They are said to effect a persons mood. They could easily be put into the background of the music. NewAgeMan has posted a few tracks with binurial beats in the background and I regularly use them in meditation.

Originally posted by DroppinSuga
reply to post by Resentedhalo08

 

Alright, I respect that.

You should look into Binurial beats. They are said to effect a persons mood. They could easily be put into the background of the music. NewAgeMan has posted a few tracks with binurial beats in the background and I regularly use them in meditation.

edit on 22-1-2011 by DroppinSuga because: typo

Yeah I've already looked into Binaural beats, I need to look deeper I think into the "Science" behind it and more into harmonic resonance etc, as it would be VERY interesting to experiment with some new stuff.