Great that the discussion took off so well! I've been quite busy this weekend (although good busy: eating, drinking and band rehearsals), and now there's quite a few posts I want to comment on.
Blood in Our Wells is one of my all-time favorites. It came out just in time for my breakup from a quite a harmful relationship. Songs like "Solitude" really gave me strength through despair. It wasn't only a few times when I was totally collapsed under the weight of the song, but in the midst of all that I found some strange comfort and power. I still have shivers down my spine every time I hear it.
Otherwise, this time I have to completely disagree with you : ) First of all, I don't see much resemblance in the way Drudkh and Mgla operate, other than that they play black metal. Drudkh relies more on the atmosphere and repetitiveness. Sure, Mgla also has elements of these things, but I think they create their moods with different tools, melodies being the key in their songs. I think Mgla's songwriting, execution and lyrics breathe such pure emotion that they outshine almost all of their rivals. I'm not usually that much into lyrics, but this band's an exception. Their lyrics feel like they have much more depth to them than many of the other bands around. I read a interview not long ago at No Clean Singing (http://www.nocleansinging.com/2016/03/15...view-mgla/), in which M stated that they
I also greatly enjoy the fact that Mgla plays "just" black metal, and does it so damn well. It seems like nowadays every band should be post-this or avant-garde that. I'm not saying that there wouldn't be bands who succeed in creating something unique, but there's also a lot of bands, which sound like... well, like they would try to sound like something special.
Skagos is pretty cool, and Agalloch, though something I wouldn't define solely as black metal, is probably one of my top 5 bands. The problem with Cascadian/post-black metal to me is that it tends stumble on its own atmosphere and build-ups. At some point the songs cease to be songs and they just end up floating in air aimlessly. I like well crafted build-ups and atmospheres, but I like riffs, too. Luckily, there's a lot of bands who execute the atmospheric approach really well, like aforementioned Drudkh. I also just have to throw Gris into this conversation. Beautiful music and skilled musicians. Think of Godspeed You! Black Emperor playing black metal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWUr3JWi9ZM
Haha, totally! It's a never-ending cycle! But on the other hand, I simply love finding new bands and stuff to listen to. I just can't understand people who are like "I haven't listened to anything new since year X". I couldn't live without new music.
Listened to A Forest of Stars a while back. Sounded interesting, I may have to look into it more. At first, Misthyrming sounded really great, but after a few listens it didn't quite stick with me after all. Basically same with Abyssion. I got Luonnon harmonia ja vihreä liekki LP 'cause I really digged the first preview track, but the album on the whole turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. Lychgate's album was simply great! Dragged Into Sunlight and Gnaw Their Tongues are interesting bands in a way, but something about them bugs me a bit. Seeing some live video from Dragged Into Sunlight gave me a... I don't know if dishonest is the right words, but I'm not a native English speaker, so can't think of anything else. Will have to check out Atrorum and Porta Nigra!
Regarding some other bands mentioned in the discussion: Outre, which came out at the start of the thread, I had spotted them on some of the top lists of 2015, but hadn't yet gave them a listen. Did now, thanks to this thread. While the elements kind of seemed to be there, it felt like it was missing something. Don't know if that was the subconscious comparison to DsO, but it just left me wanting something more. But Zhrine. Damn, how have I missed that? Really cool sounding, dark black/death. Reminded me a bit of Blood of Kingu. Definitely have to listen to this more! And I just have to say, I can't understand the hype around Batushka. I've tried to listen to it a couple of times, but I find it really boring : D
(04-09-2016, 04:01 PM)Blood Music Wrote: 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 is one of my all-time favorites. It came out just in time for my breakup from a quite a harmful relationship. Songs like "Solitude" really gave me strength through despair. It wasn't only a few times when I was totally collapsed under the weight of the song, but in the midst of all that I found some strange comfort and power. I still have shivers down my spine every time I hear it.
Otherwise, this time I have to completely disagree with you : ) First of all, I don't see much resemblance in the way Drudkh and Mgla operate, other than that they play black metal. Drudkh relies more on the atmosphere and repetitiveness. Sure, Mgla also has elements of these things, but I think they create their moods with different tools, melodies being the key in their songs. I think Mgla's songwriting, execution and lyrics breathe such pure emotion that they outshine almost all of their rivals. I'm not usually that much into lyrics, but this band's an exception. Their lyrics feel like they have much more depth to them than many of the other bands around. I read a interview not long ago at No Clean Singing (http://www.nocleansinging.com/2016/03/15...view-mgla/), in which M stated that they
I also greatly enjoy the fact that Mgla plays "just" black metal, and does it so damn well. It seems like nowadays every band should be post-this or avant-garde that. I'm not saying that there wouldn't be bands who succeed in creating something unique, but there's also a lot of bands, which sound like... well, like they would try to sound like something special.
(04-09-2016, 07:39 PM)Iced Guardian Wrote: 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)
Skagos is pretty cool, and Agalloch, though something I wouldn't define solely as black metal, is probably one of my top 5 bands. The problem with Cascadian/post-black metal to me is that it tends stumble on its own atmosphere and build-ups. At some point the songs cease to be songs and they just end up floating in air aimlessly. I like well crafted build-ups and atmospheres, but I like riffs, too. Luckily, there's a lot of bands who execute the atmospheric approach really well, like aforementioned Drudkh. I also just have to throw Gris into this conversation. Beautiful music and skilled musicians. Think of Godspeed You! Black Emperor playing black metal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWUr3JWi9ZM
(04-09-2016, 08:20 PM)Doogz Wrote:(04-09-2016, 08:13 PM)Iced Guardian Wrote: 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.
Haha, totally! It's a never-ending cycle! But on the other hand, I simply love finding new bands and stuff to listen to. I just can't understand people who are like "I haven't listened to anything new since year X". I couldn't live without new music.
(04-09-2016, 03:15 PM)kadaver Wrote: Ah, I feel so stupid for not going to NBM... that lineup was amazing and it's not even an hour away from where I live.
Some of my favorites last year:
A Forest of Stars — Beware The Sword You Cannot See - my favorite black metal related release of last year
Misþyrming — Söngvar elds og óreiðu - supreme Icelandic black metal
Atrorum — structurae - wacky German avant-garde black metal
Porta Nigra — Kaiserschnitt decadent German avant-garde black metal
Lychgate — An Antidote for the Glass Pill avant-garde black + organs
Dragged Into Sunlight / Gnaw Their Tongues — N.V. concentrated evil?
Abyssion — Luonnon harmonia ja vihreä liekki - psychedelic black metal from the Finnish Wastement collective, sharing (live?) members with notable artists Oranssi Pazuzu and Dark Buddha Rising
Listened to A Forest of Stars a while back. Sounded interesting, I may have to look into it more. At first, Misthyrming sounded really great, but after a few listens it didn't quite stick with me after all. Basically same with Abyssion. I got Luonnon harmonia ja vihreä liekki LP 'cause I really digged the first preview track, but the album on the whole turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. Lychgate's album was simply great! Dragged Into Sunlight and Gnaw Their Tongues are interesting bands in a way, but something about them bugs me a bit. Seeing some live video from Dragged Into Sunlight gave me a... I don't know if dishonest is the right words, but I'm not a native English speaker, so can't think of anything else. Will have to check out Atrorum and Porta Nigra!
Regarding some other bands mentioned in the discussion: Outre, which came out at the start of the thread, I had spotted them on some of the top lists of 2015, but hadn't yet gave them a listen. Did now, thanks to this thread. While the elements kind of seemed to be there, it felt like it was missing something. Don't know if that was the subconscious comparison to DsO, but it just left me wanting something more. But Zhrine. Damn, how have I missed that? Really cool sounding, dark black/death. Reminded me a bit of Blood of Kingu. Definitely have to listen to this more! And I just have to say, I can't understand the hype around Batushka. I've tried to listen to it a couple of times, but I find it really boring : D
Loputon Suo - A dark and melodic black/death metal band from Finland.
https://loputonsuo.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/loputon.suo/
https://loputonsuo.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/loputon.suo/