Black Metal

[Blood Music]

I find nothing 'offensive' nor thought-provoking about the band. Nothing in the production, songwriting, performance. That is what I mean by something is missing. Sounds ridiculous, but it is precisely how I would picture a black metal band put together by guys in suits to appeal to a black metal crowd. Heard their albums and seen them live, I get the same feeling from everything.

I know that isn't the case, but that's why it does nothing for me.

I feel like this album already did everything Mgła is trying to do and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnyyfvDwX8

[kadaver]

How amazing is this track? This was so great to witness live.

[Doogz]

How amazing is this track? This was so great to witness live.

Just had the 2LP of this turn up this morning!!! Looking forward to giving it a blast when the kids are asleep later. :-)

[Iced Guardian]

I loved the last Mgla album. Don't know why really. It's not adding anything unique to the scene or anything, but it is just really well crafted with some great hooks. It was a favourite of mine from '15 that's for sure.

What I love about black metal is it's interestingly a very rigid (tr00, kvlt etc.) but at the same time, it's so diverse! You can have straight up BM but then BM with flutes and banjos and both cases it works.

I really like what's happening in the US black metal scene (and spilling into parts of my country Canada). That "Cascadian Black Metal" pioneered by bands like Panopticon (another favourite from 2015), Agalloch and Wolves In The Throne Room (plus non US bands like Fen Drudkh etc.). 

A lot of new(ish) bands are being influenced by that sound and making some great stuff. Bands like:
Alda 
Woman Is The Earth
Skagos (from Canada)

The list goes on and on. Problem is so many just release cassettes!

Also closely connected to that sound is what's happening with "post-black metal". Germany's making some brilliant stuff in this vein.

Der Weg Einer Freiheit (their album "Stellar" was a top 5 for me in 2015)
Agrypnie
Imperium Dekadenz
Todtgelichter (I don't normally like clean female singing but this song got me interested)

Finally, need to give a shout out to Fuath. Great new project from the man behind Saor who are also worthy of checking out if you like atmospheric BM that covers lots of ground, or like Panopticon.

[Doogz]

I feel like this album already did everything Mgła is trying to do and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnyyfvDwX8

THANK YOU!!! I've been trying to work out what it is about Mgla that doesn't quite add up... yup, Drudkh did it already. :-)

Don't get me wrong, it's very good stuff. Much like recent stuff out of Iceland, there's a lot of raving about Solstafir, Mispyrming et al, they all deserve the critical acclaim, it just doesn't hit the spot for me though. Just a matter of taste I guess.

I also never really "got" Mayhem, Immortal, Marduk, Watain and their ilk. I have a new appreciation of their music thanks to Dayal Pattersons recent series of Black Metal books, but they just don't grab me.

I guess I'm into the more progressive end of the black metal spectrum. Bands like Enslaved, Emperor, Blut Aus Nord, Code, Primordial, Negura Bunget, Fen, Drudkh, Agalloch (do they even count as black metal?)... more recently Akhlys, Batushku, Ninkharsag, and Zhrine stand out for me.

[Iced Guardian]

Doogz, did you check out (or are you already familiar) with some of the bands I posted above? Feels like if you're reference who you're referencing they're up your alley.

And Solstafir, while absolutely amazing, haven't been black metal for a long time. I love Sigur Ros, so a more guitar driven and heavy Sigur Ros is a-OK for me!

Mispyrming I havne't really cracked yet, but Zhrine I was thoroughly impressed with (and posted about in another thread)

[Doogz]

Doogz, did you check out (or are you already familiar) with some of the bands I posted above? Feels like if you're reference who you're referencing they're up your alley.

Not yet, but I shall be giving them a blast over the coming week.

So much listening... so little time... :-)

[winterburner]

Yes, Black metal thread! Was the most popular at another forum I'm a part of but that has quieted down lately.

I find nothing 'offensive' nor thought-provoking about the band.  Nothing in the production, songwriting, performance.  That is what I mean by something is missing.  Sounds ridiculous, but it is precisely how I would picture a black metal band put together by guys in suits to appeal to a black metal crowd.  Heard their albums and seen them live, I get the same feeling from everything.

I know that isn't the case, but that's why it does nothing for me.

I feel like this album already did everything Mgła is trying to do and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnyyfvDwX8

Blood in Our Wells – absolute classic.

Kinda feel similarly about Mgła – well written and well executed black metal, yet lacking anything particularly interesting. It's like Taake in a way, great but very basic, forgettable black metal. Even though, I would say Taake has more spirit to its music. Yet, it's the kind of music I sometimes want to listen to, particularly when I don't really want to pay attention to what's playing and just need some good background noise. I have a few Mgła vinyl, including the newest one. It's not like I don't like them, I do.

[Iced Guardian]

Doogz, did you check out (or are you already familiar) with some of the bands I posted above? Feels like if you're reference who you're referencing they're up your alley.

Not yet, but I shall be giving them a blast over the coming week.

So much listening... so little time... :-)

Oh I hear ya. I'm always hesitant to share too much because it becomes overwhelming, but I just can't stop!

Every time I go into a thread like this I get lost in black holes of bands. Looking them up on Metal-Archives then seeing "similar artists" and related music in YouTube. 

It's never ending. But so amazing.

[kadaver]

I feel like this album already did everything Mgła is trying to do and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnyyfvDwX8

Listened to this before, great sound! I've put off listening to this band before now, mainly because I'm a stubborn fuck, haha.

I feel like this album already did everything Mgła is trying to do and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnyyfvDwX8

THANK YOU!!! I've been trying to work out what it is about Mgla that doesn't quite add up... yup, Drudkh did it already. :-)

Don't get me wrong, it's very good stuff. Much like recent stuff out of Iceland, there's a lot of raving about Solstafir, Mispyrming et al, they all deserve the critical acclaim, it just doesn't hit the spot for me though. Just a matter of taste I guess.

I also never really "got" Mayhem, Immortal, Marduk, Watain and their ilk. I have a new appreciation of their music thanks to Dayal Pattersons recent series of Black Metal books, but they just don't grab me.

I guess I'm into the more progressive end of the black metal spectrum. Bands like Enslaved, Emperor, Blut Aus Nord, Code, Primordial, Negura Bunget, Fen, Drudkh, Agalloch (do they even count as black metal?)... more recently Akhlys, Batushku, Ninkharsag, and Zhrine stand out for me.

Yeah, I suppose it's a matter of taste. To be fair, sometimes I dismiss albums and bands before I really give them a proper try. Then I come back and hit myself over the head for not recognizing their brilliance from the get-go. Seems to have happened with a lot of my favorites. I guess it also depends on my mood at the time. Although if I hear something unusual in their music I'll usually try to remember to 'save it for later'. I never really got into Mayhem, Marduk or Watain. Like you, I prefer the more experimental, progressive or avant-garde side of black metal. One of my first experiences with (enjoying) black metal was Diabolical Masquerade's "Nightwork". Have you tried A Forest of Stars? Think that would fit in that list of bands.