Black metal is an extreme heavy metal subgenre. It is typically abrasive and characterized by the use of fast tempos, high-pitched electric guitars often played with tremolo picking, high-pitched shrieking vocals, and unconventional song structures. Venom are a heavy metal band, formed in late 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. ... Black Metal is the second album by Venom, and the origin of the term black metal. It was released in 1982. ... The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (frequently abbreviated as NWOBHM or N.W.O.B.H.M.) emerged in the late 1970s and reached mainstream attention in the late 1970s, in the United Kingdom, as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as... Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal that spawned in the early 1980s and was the direct musical progenitor of thrash metal[1] [2]. When Speed metal first emerged as a genre, it innovatively increased the tempo of the music template set forth by Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... An electric guitar An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Melodic black metal is a sub-genre of black metal. ... Viking metal is a term used in reference to heavy metal music with a dramatic emphasis on Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the life and times of Northern and Central Europeans prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia. ... Unblack metal (also known as Christian black metal) is the Christian variant of black metal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Blackened death metal also called death/black metal or black/death metal (depending on which styles is dominant) is a fusion genre of extreme metal utilising elements of death metal and black metal with bands usually hailing from Europe. ... Symphonic Black Metal is a fusion genre, combining elements of black metal and symphonic metal. ... Black Ambient is a musickal forma and direction that is at oft times most difficult to define, a job made harder by those that would profess to be a part of this particular milieu associated by the sparsest of characteristics. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Extreme metal is an umbrella term, somewhat loosely defined, for a variety of heavy metal subgenres developed since the 1980s. ... This is a list of black metal bands, with the flag of the country of origin in front of the bandname. ... The Black Metal Inner Circle was a group comprising members of the second wave of Norwegian black metal. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Extreme metal is an umbrella term, somewhat loosely defined, for a variety of heavy metal subgenres developed since the 1980s. ... Tremolo picking or double picking describes the musical technique of picking on a guitar or other string instrument in which a single note is played repeatedly in quick succession. ...

The first bands to pioneer the style were mostly thrash metal bands that formed the prototype for black metal in the early 1980s; they are referred to collectively as the First Wave, and consist of a few bands, such as Venom, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost and Bathory.^[1] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a Second Wave emerged, primarily of Norwegian bands like Burzum, Mayhem, Emperor and Darkthrone. Although there is no well-defined Third Wave, modern black metal bands have incorporated new musical and lyrical trends into their music. Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ... Venom are a heavy metal band, formed in late 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. ... Mercyful Fate is an influential Danish heavy metal group who are often cited among the influences in the black metal, thrash metal, power metal, and progressive metal genres. ... Celtic Frost are a black metalthrash metal band from Zürich, Switzerland, known for their influence on the extreme metal and gothic metal genres. ... Bathory was a highly influential Swedish thrash metal/black metal/viking metal band, and were regarded as one of the forefathers of black metal and founder of viking metal. ... Burzum began in 1991 as a prominent and influential Norwegian black metal act by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... An emperorrefers to Nick Herringshaw, a title, empress may only indicate the wife of an emperor (empress consort. ... Darkthrone is a prominent Norwegian black metal band formed in 1987. ...

Black metal has been met with considerable hostility from mainstream culture, mainly because of the misanthropic and Anti-Christian attitude of many bands. This iconoclastic ideology is typical of black metal bands. Additionally, a few black metal bands have been associated with church burnings, murder, and/or National Socialism ^[2]. Black metal is generally seen as an underground form of music, in part because it does not appeal to mainstream tastes and because its musicians often choose to remain obscure. Misanthrope redirects here. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... The term National socialism has been used in self-description by a number of unrelated political movements. ... Underground music is music which has developed a cult following, independent of commercial success. ...

Characteristics

Instrumentation and structure

While black metal musicians are bound by some common traits, the genre can contain a variety of characteristics. Electric guitars are played with distortion at a fast tempo, often using tremolo picking. In the world of guitar music and guitar amplification, distortion is actively sought, evaluated, and appreciatively discussed in its endless flavors. ... For other uses, see Tempo (disambiguation). ... Tremolo picking or double picking describes the musical technique of picking on a guitar or other string instrument in which a single note is played repeatedly in quick succession. ...

Prominent low or mid-range frequencies are typically absent or undervalued, resulting in a metallic or "scooped" tone, but a few bands use maxed middle frequencies. There is a frequent use of chromatics shifted up and down by semitones from a central tonic to create an uneasy atmosphere (commonly featuring the tritone interval). Pendulum strumming may be applied to fully voiced chords (usually minor, sometimes diminished) in a denser portion of a piece, and there may be an altering of already established scales for a more dissonant, "evil" sound. Additionally, guitar solos are rarely performed. Drumming is also fast-paced, and is often performed using double bass, blast beat, and D-beat techniques. Some bands, often solo artists, rely on drum machines instead of a human drummer. The chromatic scale is a scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone or half step apart. ... The tonic is the first note of a musical scale, and in the tonal method of music composition it is extremely important. ... For other uses, see Tritone (disambiguation). ... A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. ... Blast beats are the torrents of alternating snare and bass drums which increase the speed, density, and percussiveness of death metal, black metal and grindcore. ... D-beat is a drum beat, specifically a fast rock beat unique to hardcore punk, especially in its UK and European variants. ... A Boss DR-202 Drum Machine Drum machines are sequencers with a synthesizer, sampler, and/or a sample playback (rompler) component that is tailored to imitate the sounds of drums and other percussion instruments. ...

Song structures are unconventional, devoid of typical verse/chorus segments, and contain extended or repetitive instrumental passages with very fast-paced rhythms, often exceeding the speed of many other genres of music. Black metal rhythms are often simplistic, though some bands employ complex rhythmic sections. Occasionally, electronic keyboards are used. The harpsichord, violin, organ, and choir settings are most common, which provides an orchestral or cathedral-like sound. Some bands use keyboards very frequently, as either a background instrument or the basis of their entire sound (see symphonic black metal). Certain bands, such as Dimmu Borgir, have recorded with full symphony orchestras. An electronic keyboard. ... Symphonic Black Metal is a fusion genre, combining elements of black metal and symphonic metal. ... For the geologic feature in Iceland, see Dimmuborgir. ... For other uses, see Orchestra (disambiguation). ...

Low-cost production quality began as a must for early black metal bands with low budgets. However, even as bands moved to increase their production quality over time, low fidelity was often intentional for some bands to remain true to the genre's roots and raw sound. Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger is one of the better-known examples of this type of production quality. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Transilvanian Hunger is the fourth album by Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. ...

Vocals and lyrics

Vocally, a distinct, harsh style is required, often a very guttural rasp or a high-pitched shriek. This style is nearly universal in the black metal genre, and is distinct from death metal in this respect, as death metal bands, for the most part, employ low-pitched, growling vocals. Often there is a reverberation effect to make vocals sound cavernous and atmospheric. Some bands, particularly symphonic black metal bands, incorporate traditional ("clean") vocals, in part or entirely. Some songs are complemented with choir-like vocals by males and/or females, much like a Gregorian chant ("Vikingland" by Satyricon, for example). The most common and founding lyrical emphasis revolves around Satanic, Pagan, and/or occult themes. Opposition to Christianity is a nearly universal theme among black metal bands. War, misanthropy, and suicide are often explored. Lyrics may also celebrate environmental origins of bands, celebrating darkness, winter, snow, blizzards, forests, and other natural surroundings of northern European countries, as well as their folklore and history. Lyrical content may also be inspired by fantasy. The Austrian band Summoning focuses almost exclusively on J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth for its lyrical content. Other bands create their own fictional realms (for instance, certain songs by Immortal depict a fictional kingdom called "Blashyrkh"). Bal-Sagoth's material is made up of various song cycles, and original fantasy narratives, inspired by writers like Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft. This article is about the musical genre. ... Symphonic Black Metal is a fusion genre, combining elements of black metal and symphonic metal. ... Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of the Roman Catholic Church. ... This article is about the band. ... Peter H. Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan. ... Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... For other uses of this term, see occult (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... Misanthrope redirects here. ... For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ... Dark redirects here. ... For other uses, see Winter (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Snow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the winter storm condition. ... This article is about a community of trees. ... Northern Europe is a name for the northern part of the European continent. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the study of the past in human terms. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... Summoning is an Austrian epic/atmospheric black metal band. ... Tolkien redirects here. ... A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda. ... Immortal is a pioneering black metal band from Bergen, Norway. ... me and helen 4 ever This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936)[1] was a classic American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. ... This article is about the author. ...

Imagery and aesthetics

Album covers are usually atmospheric or iconic; some feature natural or fantastical landscapes (Burzum's Filosofem, Emperor's In The Nightside Eclipse) while others may be violent, perverted, or iconoclastic (Marduk's Opus Nocturne). Inverted pentagrams and/or inverted crosses are symbols used prevalently to reinforce a band's anti-religious attitude. ^[3]. Burzum began in 1991 as a prominent and influential Norwegian black metal act by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). ... Filosofem, the last Burzum album recorded before Varg Vikernes imprisonment, came out under Misanthropy Records in early 1996. ... Emperor is a seminal and infamous Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. ... In the Nightside Eclipse is the first LP by Norwegian black metal band Emperor. ... Marduk is a Swedish black metal band, who are based in Norrköping. ... Opus Nocturne is a 1994 album by Marduk. ... A pentagram A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha or pentangle or, more formally, as a star pentagon) is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. ... A Cross of St. ...

One of the most noticeable features in black metal is facial corpsepaint; black and white makeup (sometimes detailed with "blood") used to simulate a corpse-like appearance. In modern times, the concept has faded, with bands like Emperor claiming the image has lost its original meaning, which was to separate black metal bands from other types of performers. However many bands still wear corpsepaint, such as Gorgoroth and Immortal. Corpse paint (sometimes a single word, corpsepaint) is a style of black-and- white makeup used extensively by black metal bands during live concerts and photo shoots as part of their imagery of evil and decay. ... Emperor is a seminal and infamous Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Immortal is a pioneering black metal band from Bergen, Norway. ...

Live performances

Unlike artists of most other genres, many black metal bands do not play live. Some bands (Burzum, Xasthur) are single-member bands that cannot or choose not to play live. However, other one or two-member bands (Nargaroth, Satyricon, Satanic Warmaster), perform with extra session musicians specifically for live performances. Bands that perform live often make use of stage props and theatrical techniques. Mayhem and Gorgoroth are noted for their gruesome and controversial stage shows, the former particularly well-known for severed pig heads which appear at many of their performances, and are often thrown to the audience as souvenirs. Many musicians adopt a 'neo-medieval' costume style that may include leather, spikes, bondage gear, armor and weaponry. Some musicians adopt a stage name, often based in mythology or folklore (for example, Emperor's Bård Eithun referred to himself as Faust). Burzum began in 1991 as a prominent and influential Norwegian black metal act by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). ... Xasthur is an American one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym Malefic.[1] Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthurs focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti... Nargaroth is a German black metal solo project. ... Statistics Genre: Black metal Country: Norway Status: Active Time: 1990- Biography Cover of Dark Medieval Times Satyricon is a Norwegian Black Metal band known mostly for their first album, Dark Medieval Times, which the band credit with starting a Black metal sub-genre of Medieval Metal. ... Satanic Warmaster is a Finnish black metal band. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Pig (disambiguation). ... A souvenir stall in London, England A souvenir (from the French for memory) is an object that is treasured for the memories associated with it. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... A model in bondage cuffs with a leg spreader In the context of BDSM, bondage involves people being tied up or otherwise restrained for pleasure. ... Armor or armour (see spelling differences) is protective clothing intended to defend its wearer from intentional harm in combat and military engagements, typically associated with soldiers. ... A weapon is a tool used to kill or incapacitate a person or animal, or destroy a military target. ... A stage name, also called a screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, comedians, musicians, djs, clowns, and professional wrestlers. ... Emperor is a seminal and infamous Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. ... For other uses, see Faust (disambiguation). ...

The First Wave

The First Wave of black metal refers to the bands that first influenced the black metal sound, often thrash metal bands.^[4] Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ...

The term "black metal" was first coined by the British band Venom with their 1982 sophomore album Black Metal. Although the musical style was NWOBHM speed metal or thrash metal, a heavy and glorified emphasis on Satanic and occult themes, both in lyrics and imagery, was distinct. The music was in many ways unpolished in production. Guitars were far more blistering than other subgenres of heavy metal, and very "unclean" vocals relied less on melody than they did on raw, shrieking screams. Venom's members also adopted pseudonyms (the original lineup being Cronos, Mantas, and Abaddon), something not common for metal bands at the time. Venom are a heavy metal band, formed in late 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. ... Black Metal is the second album by Venom, and the origin of the term black metal. It was released in 1982. ... The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (frequently abbreviated as NWOBHM or N.W.O.B.H.M.) emerged in the late 1970s and reached mainstream attention in the late 1970s, in the United Kingdom, as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as... Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal that spawned in the early 1980s and was the direct musical progenitor of thrash metal[1] [2]. When Speed metal first emerged as a genre, it innovatively increased the tempo of the music template set forth by Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ... Peter H. Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan. ... For other uses of this term, see occult (disambiguation). ... A pseudonym or allonym is a name (sometimes legally adopted, sometimes purely fictitious) used by an individual as an alternative to their birth name. ... Conrad Thomas Lant (aka Cronos), born in London, UK, in 1963, is a musician who is the vocalist and bass player of the influential thrash metal/speed metal band Venom, from 1979 to 1987 and from 1995 to this day. ...

Another band that can be considered pioneers of the genre was the Swedish band Bathory, led by Thomas Forsberg (under the pseudonym Quorthon). Bathory focused on suboptimal production standards to better suit their raspy vocals and furiously fast tempo, as heard on early albums such as The Return. They would also become responsible for being the first band to add an element of Norse mythology next to their occult themes, in both lyrics and album art. This was a concept that would become influential enough to spawn an entire ideological off-shoot known as viking metal, preserved for bands which focus strictly on such mythological ideals. Bathory was a highly influential Swedish thrash metal/black metal/viking metal band, and were regarded as one of the forefathers of black metal and founder of viking metal. ... Quorthon (Thomas Börje Forsberg) Thomas Quorthon Forsberg (February 17, 1966 – June 7, 2004) was the founder and main song writer of the pioneering Swedish heavy metal band Bathory. ... The Return Of The Darkness And Evil is the second album by Bathory. ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Viking metal is a term used in reference to heavy metal music with a dramatic emphasis on Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the life and times of Northern and Central Europeans prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia. ...

Other influences early on include Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, early Sepultura, Bulldozer, and the Danish band Mercyful Fate. King Diamond of Mercyful Fate was also one of the first to frequent the use of corpsepaint, along side Sarcófago, which metalstorm.ee magazine claims to be the first band to sport "true" corpsepaint.^[5] Additionally, Euronymous of Second Wave band Mayhem also mentioned Sodom and Destruction as underestimated influences and "masterpieces of black stinking metal".^[6] The "Second Wave" of black metal can also be said to owe a debt to the Italian band Death SS, which mixed horror themes with thrash metal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Hellhammer was an early-1980s extreme metal band, hailing from Switzerland and popular briefly in Europe in the mid-1980s. ... Celtic Frost are a black metalthrash metal band from Zürich, Switzerland, known for their influence on the extreme metal and gothic metal genres. ... Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band, formed in 1984. ... Bulldozer was a black metal / thrash metal band from Italy. ... Mercyful Fate is an influential Danish heavy metal group who are often cited among the influences in the black metal, thrash metal, power metal, and progressive metal genres. ... For the band, see King Diamond (band). ... Corpse paint (sometimes a single word, corpsepaint) is a style of black-and- white makeup used extensively by black metal bands during live concerts and photo shoots as part of their imagery of evil and decay. ... Sarcófago are a Deathrash band from Brazil. ... For the demon Euronymous, see Eurynomos. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... Sodom is a German thrash metal band formed in 1982. ... Destruction is a German thrash metal band formed in Lörrach, in southern Germany in 1982. ... Death SS (In Death of Steve Sylvester) is an Italian horror/gothic metal band. ... “Horror story” redirects here. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by high speed riffing and aggression. ...

The Second Wave

De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem. The title translates to Of the Mysteries of Lord Satan.

The Second Wave of black metal in the early 1990s came in part with the rise of Norwegian black metal bands such as Mayhem, Burzum, Satyricon, Immortal, Darkthrone, Enslaved and Emperor. This wave not only added new atmospheric elements, but many of these bands would also be responsible for a rash of criminal controversy, as seen below. Classical elements were also introduced to a small degree and popularized the genre for a growing underground audience. Philosophically, an abrasive anti-Right Hand Path sentiment became a must for any band to be finalized as "black metal". In fact, bands that didn't exemplify such beliefs through actions beyond their music were often criticized by extremists within black metal's subculture. Ihsahn of Emperor believes that this trend may have developed simply from "an opposition to society, a confrontation to all the normal stuff."^[7] A dark, misanthropic mentality was complemented visually with the use of corpsepaint, which was also most prevalent during this wave as a statement to separate black metal bands from other rock bands of the era. Cover art to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem. ... Cover art to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... Burzum began in 1991 as a prominent and influential Norwegian black metal act by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). ... This article is about the band. ... Immortal is a pioneering black metal band from Bergen, Norway. ... Darkthrone is a prominent Norwegian black metal band formed in 1987. ... Enslaved is a progressive black/viking metal band from Haugesund, Norway. ... Emperor is a seminal and infamous Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... The Baphomet, symbol of some Left-Hand Path religions. ... Ihsahn (born 1975), born Vegard Sverre Tveitan, is a Norwegian guitar, bass, keyboard player and vocalist. ... Corpse paint (sometimes a single word, corpsepaint) is a style of black-and- white makeup used extensively by black metal bands during live concerts and photo shoots as part of their imagery of evil and decay. ...

Music sample:

"De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" Image File history File links Mayhem_De_Mysteriis_Dom_Sathanas. ...

The title track of Mayhem's De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994)

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Besides the influence of Norwegian bands, a black metal scene in Sweden began to grow with the popularity of bands such as Marduk and Dissection in the early 1990s. Finnish bands like Beherit and Impaled Nazarene also emerged. Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is the first full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. ... Marduk is a Swedish black metal band, who are based in Norrköping. ... Dissection was a well-known Swedish black metal band formed in 1989 by guitarist and vocalist Jon Nödtveidt. ... Beherit were a black metal band from Finland. ... Impaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements from thrash metal, hardcore punk and grindcore. ...

An abraded, very low fidelity recording style was common in most black metal at the time, and was often intentional to preserve an underground quality of the genre. Sometimes artists would branch off into related subgenres, such as death metal, keeping their Satanic and occult mentality intact. Mayhem's career, for example, began mostly in the death/black roots, moved to pure black, then towards progressive black in their later career. It was experimentation like this that aided black metal's growth, but would ultimately mean the end of the Second Wave by the mid-1990s, as more modern black metal bands started to raise their production quality and introduce new instrumentation such as synthesizers (commonly seen in industrial metal) and full-symphony orchestras. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the musical genre. ... Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws elements from industrial music and heavy metal music. ...

Historical events in black metal

First black metal label

Main article: Black Metal Inner Circle

Øystein Aarseth's independent label, Deathlike Silence Productions, became the first label to dedicate itself purely to black metal. Deathlike Silence only released records by bands "that incarnated evil in its most pure state". The label would become home to Aarseth's own band, Mayhem, as well as other black metal acts like Burzum. Aarseth also opened his own record store, Helvete (Norwegian for "Hell"), as a prime outlet for black metal records.^[8] With the rising popularity of his band and others like it, the underground success of Aarseth's label is often credited for encouraging other record labels that previously refused black metal acts to then reconsider and release their material. The Black Metal Inner Circle was a group comprising members of the second wave of Norwegian black metal. ... Dead and Euronymous Øystein Aarseth (March 22, 1968 - August 10, 1993) was a guitarist for the infamous Norwegian black metal band Mayhem who went by the stage name Euronymous. ... An independent record label is variously described as a record label operating without the funding (or outside the organizations) of the major record labels, and/or a label that subscribes to indie philosophies such as DIY and anti-corporate art. ... Deathlike Silence Productions was an Oslo, Norway based independent record label founded in the late 1980s that focused primarily on black metal. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... Burzum began in 1991 as a prominent and influential Norwegian black metal act by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). ... Helvete was the record store owned by the late Øystein Aarseth (Euryonomus). ...

Church burnings

Headliners of the black metal scene claimed responsibility for inspiring (if not necessarily perpetrating) over 50 arsons directed at Christian churches in Norway from 1992 to 1996^[9]. Many of the buildings were hundreds of years old, and widely regarded as important historical landmarks. The most notable church was Norway's Fantoft stave church, which the police believed was destroyed by Varg Vikernes of the one-man band Burzum^[10]). However, Vikernes would not be convicted of any arson offences, until his arrest for the murder of Øystein Aarseth in 1993 (see below). The cover of Burzum's EP Aske (Norwegian for "Ash") portrays a photograph of the Fantoft stave church after the arson; it is still unconfirmed whether or not he took this picture himself. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Varg Qisling Larssøn Vikernes IPA: , born Kristian Vikernes on February 11, 1973, outside of Bergen, Norway, is a black metal musician. ... Burzum began in 1991 as a prominent and influential Norwegian black metal act by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). ... Dead and Euronymous Øystein Aarseth (March 22, 1968 - August 10, 1993) was a guitarist for the infamous Norwegian black metal band Mayhem who went by the stage name Euronymous. ... Aske is the second release by Varg Vikernes Burzum project. ...

Today, opinions differ within the black metal community concerning the legitimacy of such actions. Former guitarist Infernus and vocalist Gaahl of the band Gorgoroth have praised the church burnings in interviews, with the latter also opining "there should have been more of them, and there will be more of them."^[11] However, Necrobutcher, one of the founding and current members of Mayhem, was quoted as saying "I think it's ridiculous, especially the people that lit up our old fuckin' churches. They don't realize that these were actually Heathen churches, before Christianity. So they fucked themselves in the ass by doing that."^[12] Infernus (Real name Roger Tiegs, born June 18, 1972 in Bergen, Norway) is a heavy metal musician. ... Kristian Eivind Gaahl Espedal is the vocalist for the Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... Heathen is a term used both to describe a person who does not follow an organized religion, and also a modern practitioner of Heathenry. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ...

Ohlin's suicide

In 1991, attention towards black metal increased when Mayhem's frontman Per Yngve Ohlin (stagename Dead) committed suicide via shotgun blast to the head, which followed a series of self-inflicted lacerations to his arms. His note simply read "Excuse all the blood" and contained an apology for firing the weapon indoors. Some sources say that he explicitly said "The knife was too dull, so I used the shot gun". The ammunition was supplied weeks prior to the incident by Varg Vikernes, who played bass for Mayhem on De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Dead's body was discovered by fellow bandmate Øystein Aarseth (also known as Euronymous), who, instead of calling the police, ran to a nearby convenience store and bought a disposable camera to photograph the corpse, modeling the body in various positions. The pictures were later stolen and one was used as the cover image for an infamous bootleg Mayhem album, (Dawn of the Black Hearts). Claims that Aarseth took pieces of Dead's brains and made a stew out of them eventually surfaced, as well as claims that the members of the band made a necklace from the bone fragments of their friend's skull. Although the band declared that the former claim was false (but was indeed planned), the latter, they claimed, was true. They additionally claimed to have given pieces of the necklace to different bands they deemed "worthy". ^[13] Per Yngve Ohlin Per Yngve Ohlin (January 16, 1969 – April 8, 1991) was a vocalist for Mayhem, a Norwegian black metal group, who went by the stage name Dead. ... Per Yngve Ohlin Per Yngve Ohlin (January 16, 1969 – April 8, 1991) was a vocalist for Mayhem, a Norwegian black metal group, who went by the stage name Dead. ... For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... Varg Qisling Larssøn Vikernes IPA: , born Kristian Vikernes on February 11, 1973, outside of Bergen, Norway, is a black metal musician. ... Dead and Euronymous Øystein Aarseth (March 22, 1968 - August 10, 1993) was a guitarist for the infamous Norwegian black metal band Mayhem who went by the stage name Euronymous. ... For the demon Euronymous, see Eurynomos. ... Dawn of the Black Hearts is a bootleg album by Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. ...

Murder in Lillehammer

In 1992, Bård "Faust" Eithun of Emperor was in Lillehammer to see the newly constructed Olympic park. According to Faust (in Lords of Chaos), a homosexual man named Rhys Adamec approached him and suggested that they go together in the nearby forest. Faust claims he agreed and that, once in the forest, the man made potent sexual advances on him. Faust retaliated and stabbed the man to death with a hunting knife, later citing the incident as a crime of passion. The case went unsolved until late 1993, when police began to investigate the church burnings and murder surrounding Varg Vikernes; such investigation of the black metal scene led police to Faust, and he served just over 9 years of a 14 year sentence before being released in 2003. BÃ¥rd G. Faust Eithun (born: 21 April 1974) is a Norwegian drummer. ... Emperor is a seminal and infamous Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. ... County Oppland District Gudbrandsdal Municipality NO-0501 Administrative centre Lillehammer Mayor (2005) Synnøve Brenden Klemetrud (Ap) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 211 477 km² 450 km² 0. ... The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, were celebrated in 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway. ... Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground is a book by Michael Moynihan & Didrik Søderlind. ... A crime of passion, in popular usage, refers to a crime in which the perpetrator commits a crime, specially assault or murder, against a spouse or other loved one due to sudden jealous rage or heartbreak rather than as a premeditated crime. ... Varg Qisling Larssøn Vikernes IPA: , born Kristian Vikernes on February 11, 1973, outside of Bergen, Norway, is a black metal musician. ...

Aarseth's murder

In 1993, Øystein Aarseth (Euronymous) of Mayhem was murdered by Varg Vikernes during a late night confrontation at Aarseth's home. According to official reports, Øystein received a total of twenty-three stab wounds: two to the head, five to the neck, and sixteen to the back. The circumstances of the murder are not entirely clear, and numerous stories have surfaced as a result. Rumors stated the act was merely Varg's attempt at "out doing" the stabbing committed by Faust in Lillehammer the year before ^[14]. Other sources attribute the crime a power struggle between Vikernes and Aarseth. The closing of Aarseth's record store (Helvete) may have alluded to a financial dispute over the profits from Varg's records as Burzum (Burzum, Aske). Despite this, Vikernes himself claims the murder was not premeditated and was an act of self-defense, and that Aarseth had conspired to videotape the torture and eventual murder of Varg as a result of jealousy. Varg asserts that he had been informed of this plan by friends whom Aarseth attempted to conspire with, and that Aarseth attacked him first upon their visit that night, resulting in the murder.^[15] Additionally, Vikernes defends that most of the cut wounds found on Aarseth's body were caused by broken glass shards he had fallen on during the conflict.^[16] Dead and Euronymous Øystein Aarseth (March 22, 1968 - August 10, 1993) was a guitarist for the infamous Norwegian black metal band Mayhem who went by the stage name Euronymous. ... Mayhem (often called The True Mayhem) is an infamous, pioneering black metal band formed in 1984[1] in Oslo, Norway. ... Varg Qisling Larssøn Vikernes IPA: , born Kristian Vikernes on February 11, 1973, outside of Bergen, Norway, is a black metal musician. ... Helvete was the record store owned by the late Øystein Aarseth (Euryonomus). ... Burzum began in 1991 as a prominent and influential Norwegian black metal act by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). ... It has been suggested that Burzum / Aske be merged into this article or section. ... Aske is the second release by Varg Vikernes Burzum project. ...

Regardless of the circumstances, Vikernes was arrested within days, and in 1994, was sentenced to 21 years in prison in conjunction with a few arson charges. In a controversial display, Vikernes actually smiled at the moment his verdict was read ^[17], an image that was widely reprinted in the news media during the following weeks. Varg has since released two ambient music albums (Dauði Baldrs, Hliðskjálf) but implied in interviews that he would write material similar to his older works upon his release from prison. While granted a short leave in 2003, Vikernes attempted to escape his bounds in Tønsberg, Norway, resulting in another arrest, during which he was caught with a stolen vehicle and various firearms ^[18]. As a result, his request for parole was denied in 2006, and he is currently awaiting another chance in April 2008 ^[19]. The Skyline Parkway Motel in Afton, Virginia after an arson fire on July 9, 2004. ... Ambient music is a musical genre in which sound is more important than notes. ... Balders Dod Misanthropy 1997 Production: Direct transfer from digital sequencing keyboard allows sound to exist in abstract space of algorithmic tones and perfect silence. ... This page is about the Burzum album Hliðskjálf. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... County District Viken Municipality NO-0704 Administrative centre Tønsberg Mayor (2004) Per Arne Olsen (FrP) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 381 107 km² 106 km² 0. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

As for Mayhem, the murder of Aarseth almost put a stop to new material. However, the band continues to perform to this day, lead by drummer Hellhammer and original member/bassist Necrobutcher. Controversy still follows the band, albeit not nearly as much. In 2003, a concert-goer in Norway received a fractured skull as a dead sheep's head flew from the stage while band member Blasphemer was cutting the head away from the torso ^[20][21].

Social conflicts

A brief conflict known as the "Dark War" between Norwegian and Finnish scenes had gained some media recognition from 1992 to 1993. Part of this was motivated by seemingly harmless pranks; Nuclear Holocausto of Beherit started to make prank calls in the middle of the night to Samoth of Emperor and Mika Luttinen of Impaled Nazarene. The calls were mainly just babbling and playing of children's songs,^[22] however, Luttinen somehow got the idea that the language babbled was Norwegian and most likely death threats. These speculations were probably made due to the tensions between Finnish and Norwegian scenes at the time, as Euronymous wanted to lead his movement towards a more cult-like status (see Black Metal Inner Circle), where as the Finnish scene continued with the more easy going attitude of LaVeyan Satanism. Beherit were a black metal band from Finland. ... Samoth (Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen) is a prominent musician in the Norwegian black metal scene. ... Emperor is a seminal and infamous Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. ... Mika Luttinen was born in Finland in 1971. ... Impaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements from thrash metal, hardcore punk and grindcore. ... The Black Metal Inner Circle was a group comprising members of the second wave of Norwegian black metal. ... LaVeyan Satanism Associated organizations The Church of Satan First Satanic Church Prominent figures Anton LaVey | Blanche Barton | Peter H. Gilmore | Peggy Nadramia | Karla LaVey Associated concepts Left-Hand Path | Pentagonal Revisionism | Suitheism | Might is Right | Lex talionis Books and publications The Satanic Bible | The Satanic Rituals | The Satanic Witch | The...

Notably, the album cover of Impaled Nazarene's Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz contains texts like "No orders from Norway accepted" and "Kuolema Norjan kusipäille!" (Death to the assholes of Norway!). After their first LP, Impaled Nazarene quit playing black metal and defined their style as "Satanic death metal" (or "Nuclear Metal"), disassociating themselves from the church burnings in Norway. The Finnish band Black Crucifixion also became known to criticize Darkthrone once or twice as "trendies" due to the fact that Darkthrone began their career as a death metal band.^[23] Beherit didn't participate much in the conflict, yet in Norway there was a band called Fuck Beherit which released two demos mocking the band. An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy one of the guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia on one of the following topics: If you are familiar with the subject matter, please expand the article to establish its notability, citing reliable sources. ... Darkthrone is a prominent Norwegian black metal band formed in 1987. ...

Many recall a strong Swedish death metal and Norwegian black metal rivalry during the 1990s. It was common for black metal enthusiasts in Europe to terrorize notable death metal bands that were touring their country or neighboring countries, on the basis of their lack of apparent "evilness" (the death metal subgenre focuses strictly on theatrics, and is mostly devoid of major criminal attempts and controversy, unlike black metal). Street fights at shows (and even an attempted fire bomb at a 1992 Deicide show in Stockholm ^[24]) had been reported before tensions eventually calmed. This article is about the musical genre. ... Deicide is an American death metal band. ... For other uses, see Stockholm (disambiguation). ...

Modern black metal

Despite a few recent controversies surrounding members of Gorgoroth, the black metal scene has lost much of the violence it had become known for in the early 1990s. Towards the mid-1990s, bands began to take new directions and increase their production quality. The introduction of electronic instruments, such as synthesizers, signaled the end of the Second Wave. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Telharmonium, created by Thaddeus Cahill 1897 Luigi Russolo and his assistant Ugo Piatti with their Intonarumori, 1913 Léon Theremin and his Theremin, 1919 Trautonium, 1928 An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. ...

However, since the mid-1990s, an Eastern European black metal scene has been developing. Bands from the former Communist Bloc are recording material with the deliberate primitive nature of early Norwegian artists. Bands in Russia and Ukraine have also demonstrated appreciation for the low fidelity aesthetic of early black metal. Many of them portray lyrics that glorify the Pagan roots of their home countries, some injecting elements of indigenous folk music. The Czech band Trollech are an example of "old-school" Pagan black metal. Graveland of Poland may be considered a pioneer of the Eastern European scene. Svarrogh from Bulgaria has gained recognition in Western Europe, and the Ukrainian NSBM band Nokturnal Mortum; their earlier albums relied heavily on synthesizers, but their current work makes heavy use of Slavic folk instruments. From Romania, Negură Bunget is a prime example of experimental black metal, injecting their own indigenous mix of Dacian and Latin elements. Eastern Europe is, by convention, a region defined geographically as that part of Europe covering the eastern part of the continent. ... During the Cold War, the Eastern Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) comprised the following Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Albania (until the early 1960s, see below), the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. ... Aesthetics (or esthetics) (from the Greek word αισθητική) is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty. ... Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... Trollech is a band from the Czech Republic that produces Black Metal music. ... Graveland is a Polish black metal band which was formed in 1992 by Rob Darken (born Robert Fudali). ... A current understanding of Western Europe. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Nokturnal Mortum is a NS folk black metal band from Ukraine, and is one of the major black metal bands from eastern Europe, along with Graveland. ... Distribution of Slavic people by language The Slavic peoples are a linguistic and ethnic branch of Indo-European peoples, living mainly in Europe, where they constitute roughly a third of the population. ... Negură Bunget is a black metal band from Romania (Transilvania) founded in the winter of 1994/1995. ... Alternate meanings: see Dacia (disambiguation) Dacia, in ancient geography the land of the Daci or Getae, was a large district of Central Europe, bounded on the north by the Carpathians, on the south by the Danube, on the west by the Tisa (Tisza river, in Hungary), on the east by...

Other notable acts have emerged from France (Arkhon Infaustus, Antaeus), Sweden (Naglfar, Marduk, Watain), and the United States (Xasthur, Leviathan, Azrael, Averse Sefira). The French label Norma Evangelium Diaboli has come to be associated with a movement of artists claiming to be more interested in Theistic Satanism (as opposed to LaVeyan Satanism) and/or Occultism than bands of previous waves (Funeral Mist, Watain). Some bands have begun to experiment with other styles; Deathspell Omega (who are also aligned with Norma Evangelium Diaboli) have employed Gregorian chant in recent works, and Blut Aus Nord now incorporate elements of ambient industrial. Further experimentation has led bands such as Aborym to feature dance-based industrial elements. There is controversy surrounding these aspects; many black metal fans feel that this industrial influence and the increased production mean such bands do not fit within the black metal genre^{[citation needed]}. Therefore, some modern black metal bands continue with the style and quality of previous waves, such as 1349. This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Heracles and Antaeus, red-figured krater by Euphronios, 515–510 BC, Louvre (G 103) Heracles and Antaeus. ... Naglfar is a black metal band from Sweden. ... Marduk is a Swedish black metal band, who are based in Norrköping. ... Swedish black metal-band from Uppsala formed in 1998. ... Xasthur is an American one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym Malefic.[1] Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthurs focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti... Leviathan is a black metal band from San Francisco, California, USA. // Leviathan was formed in 1998 by Wrest. ... Azrael is an Australian celtic metal band formed by Lord Samaiza and Algol in 1999. ... Averse Sefira is a black metal band from Austin, Texas. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... LaVeyan Satanism Associated organizations The Church of Satan First Satanic Church Prominent figures Anton LaVey | Blanche Barton | Peter H. Gilmore | Peggy Nadramia | Karla LaVey Associated concepts Left-Hand Path | Pentagonal Revisionism | Suitheism | Might is Right | Lex talionis Books and publications The Satanic Bible | The Satanic Rituals | The Satanic Witch | The... Funeral Mist were a black metal band formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1993. ... Swedish black metal-band from Uppsala formed in 1998. ... Deathspell Omega are an avant-garde black metal band from France who are the most well-known band in the Norma Evangelium Diaboli movement. ... Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of the Roman Catholic Church. ... Blut Aus Nord is a black metal/post-black metal/industrial metal band from Mondeville in France. ... Ambient industrial is a hybrid genre of ambient and industrial music; the term industrial being used in the original experimental sense, rather than in the sense of industrial metal or EBM. Ambient industrial makes use of Industrial principles such as use of anti-music, extra-musical elements and shock tactics... Aborym is an Italian industrial black metal band who refer to their style as hard / black alien industrial metal. ... 1349 is a black metal band hailing from a suburb of Oslo, Norway. ...

Some bands, such as Velvet Cacoon or Xasthur, play a style of black metal sharing similarities with dark ambient and ambient music. Some have labeled this heavy use of synthesized atmospheres and black metal elements as black ambient. Other characteristics include lo-fi production, black metal vocals, slow tempos, and the use of noise.^[25][26] The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Xasthur is an American one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym Malefic.[1] Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthurs focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti... Dark ambient is a subgenre of ambient music which emerged in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of new synthesizer and sampling technology in the electronic music genre and other technical advances in music. ... Ambient music is a musical genre in which sound is more important than notes. ... Lo-fi — from Low Fidelity — describes a sound recording which contains accidental artifacts, like distortion, or environmental noise, or a recording which has a limited frequency response. ...

Ideology

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (November 2007)

Any attempt to lay out the ideology of a musical genre is bound to generalize to the extent that some traits are unfairly played up with respect to certain artists, while others are laid out which do not apply to all. Nonetheless, there is a clear pattern which can be sketched out to capture the fundamental elements behind black metal. To a large extent, aesthetics are visual manifestations of ideology. Black metal is generally held to embrace anti-Christianity, misanthropy, nihilism, Paganism, and/or Satanism, and in some cases, nationalism. As an extension of misanthropy, there is often a link to nature emphasized, being a type of naturalism, with a heavy emphasis on mortality and the unknown aspects of death. More generally, most black metal musicians like to appear as strongly anti-collectivist, critics of religion and advocates of individualism. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Misanthrope redirects here. ... This article is about the philosophical position. ... Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... Peter H. Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolizing French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... Sociological naturalism is a term used in sociology, for the view that natural world and social world are roughly identical and governed by similar principles. ... Collectivism is a term used to describe any moral, political, or social outlook, that stresses human interdependence and the importance of a collective, rather than the importance of separate individuals. ... We need to stop all belief of gods and all following of religions. ...

The majority of those involved in the scene are not outspoken with regard to either nationalism or xenophobia (values common to National Socialist black metal), and prefer to let their music speak for itself. Nonetheless, many black metal bands are proud of their culture/nation, but do not deny the right of people from other nations to be proud of theirs. Homogenisation between peoples is seen as something to be avoided, and one way to avoid this is to take pride in being a representative of one's own culture, and produce art that is distinct to it. These ideas are sometimes realised musically by the incorporation of folk elements to their works. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Homogenization (or homogenisation) is a term used in many fields such as Chemistry, agricultural science, food technology, sociology and cell biology. ...

National Socialist black metal

Main article: National Socialist black metal

A black metal movement that deals with Neo-Nazi ideologies, often mixed in with topics pertaining to European pagan religions, National Socialist black metal (NSBM) is more interpreted as an ideology than a subgenre as there is not any developed "style" to play black metal in a National Socialist way. However, the term has stuck around not only because there are traceable movements and labels that sell NSBM exclusively, but also because it is suc