#Dimmu Borgir / Dissection

[palatial-monstrosity]

i don’t like spotify but damn does it feel sad when this time of the year comes and I don’t have a little statistic to share with my most listened stuff of the year tbh.

[gbhbl]

EP Review: For Death is Fate by Voltumna (Self Released)

Italian blackened death metal trio Voltumna will release their brand new EP “For Death Is Fate” on January 19th 2024. Voltumna were born in 2009 by the hands of the only original member Haruspex (guitars, vocals), now flanked by Augur Veii (drums) and the main composer Phersu (vocals, bass, programming, production). With a debut EP and 4 full lengths under their belts already, the last release…

[cyarskj1899]

25 Essential Black-Metal Albums

From Venom and Bathory to Behemoth and Deafheaven

From its origins in England, Sweden, and Switzerland to its murderous Norwegian prime and its U.S. resurgence, black-metal has proven harder to extinguish than a fire consuming a church. And while sensational violence and a flirtation with the occult have often threatened to eclipse the genre's artistic merits, it is ultimately the music that has given this dark practice its longevity. Here, Revolver picks 25 albums that define the malefic movement. 

(Black Mark, 1984) This cult Swedish studio band took the lo-fi shittiness of Venom and added icy Norse paganism to the garbled mix. Written and coproduced by vocalist-guitarist Quorthon (who died in 2004), Bathory's homonymous debut also features drummer Jonas Åkerlund, who went on to direct videos for both Madonna and U2 (plus the 2002 crystal meth flick Spun), not to mention the forthcoming controversial Lords of Chaos movie.   

(Noise, 1984) Before vocalist-guitarist Tom G. Warrior formed Celtic Frost with bassist Martin Ain, he was the leader of another Swiss metal trio called Hellhammer. Though the band existed for less than two years, the harsh cacophony of the Apocalyptic Raids demo perfectly expressed black metal's caustic furor.

(Peaceville, 1991) This Norwegian duo's second album marks drummer-lyricist Fenriz and vocalist-guitarist Nocturno Culto's defection from the traditional death-metal territory of Soulside Journey to the chilling realm of "unholy black metal."

(Misanthropy, 1992) The debut by Burzum, the one-man studio project of J.R.R. Tolkien aficionado Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh), was originally released on Mayhem guitarist Euronymous' Deathlike Silence Productions. Remarkable for its militaristic severity and creepy synth ambience, Burzum remains one of black metal's earliest masterpieces.

(Century Black, 1993) Also originally released on Deathlike Silence, De Mysteriis was Mayhem's scorching full-length follow-up to the seminal Deathcrush mini-LP. The album features longtime drummer Hellhammer, current vocalist Attila Csihar (ex-Tormentor, ex-Aborym), and Burzum's Varg Vikernes (on session bass), who would stab guitarist Euronymous to death shortly after the album's release.

(Cacophonous, 1994) Back when vocalist Dani Filth was still known as Daniel Davey, British goth ghouls Cradle of Filth unveiled their full-length debut — complete with elaborate keyboard intros, female backing vocals, and naked vampire chicks. Taking said formula to its baroque breaking point over following releases, CoF rose to be possibly the most well-known band in black metal (if you considered them "black metal" at all), not to mention a onetime personal favorite of Bam Margera.

(Candlelight, 1995) Emperor's full-length debut — and final recording with drummer/convicted murderer Bård "Faust" Eithun, In the Nightside Eclipsemarked the beginning of symphonic black metal, a style later spit-polished and propelled into the mainstream by Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir.

(Nuclear Blast, 1995) Led by guitarist-vocalist Jon Nödtveidt, Gothenburg's Dissection blurred the line between black metal and the melodic death metal their Swedish city made famous. The band's second album was their last (and finest) riff blizzard before Nödtveidt was imprisoned for murder.

(Nuclear Blast, 1996) Long before they dragged their chain-mail-encased tits onto Ozzfest's main stage, Dimmu Borgir announced made their symphonic bid to dominate Norwegian underground with Stormblåst. The native-tongued LP was rerecorded in 2005, only increasing its original frostbitten grimness. 

(Osmose, 1996) Although they have suffered chronic touring setbacks due to vocalist-guitarist Morgan Håkansson's felonious history (which allegedly includes assaulting a police officer and grave robbery), black-metal berserkers Marduk know how to throw down in the studio. On Heaven Shall Burn, the Swedes unleash a blast of unapologetic blasphemy captured devilishly by producer (and Hypocrisy main man) Peter Tägtgren.

(Century Media, 1997) Although the band would take a severe turn into proggy histrionics (see 2005's Blood Inside), Ulver's third full-length — a savagely shrill concept album about werewolves (subtitle: Eight Hymns to the Wolf in Man) that was supposedly recorded outdoors in an ancient Norwegian forest — could turn any mere man into a murderous beast

(Nuclear Blast, 1998) Four years in the making, Gorgoroth's fourth effort borrows the title of Kiss' 1976 album, boasts four different vocalists (sensing a pattern here?) — including their particularly notorious former frontman, Gaahl — and features guest drumming from Satyricon's Frost. Unrelenting from front to back, Destroyer closes with a cover of Darkthrone's "Slottet I Det Fjerne."

(Nuclear Blast, 1999) Widely discounted by apparently deaf journalists as some sort of goth/industrial crossover release, Rebel Extravaganza sounds more like a black-metal version of Voivod than anything else. Satyricon's fourth album is not just another underappreciated sonic blitzkrieg, it's actually Phil Anselmo-approved: Pantera tapped the band to open their 2000 European tour.

(tUMULt, 2000) In 2000, Weakling created a world all their own with Dead as Dreams, following in the footsteps of early Emperor, Ulver and Burzum to create moving, beautiful black metal that crossed over into ambient and post-rock. Hands down one of the most important USBM (U.S. black metal) LPs of all time, highly influential to the likes of Wolves in the Throne Room and Deafheaven, the group's lone full-length is also a crucial release for black metal at large.

(Century Media, 2001) On their fifth album, this Japanese trio (now a quartet) shed their corpse paint but not their insatiable appetite for increasingly progressive black-metal. Imaginary Sonicscape revels in the pleasures of magic mushrooms, evil moog keyboards, and dizzying arrangements; plus, the lyrics to "Nietzschean Conspiracy" were written by then-imprisoned Emperor drummer Faust.

(Nuclear Blast, 2002) Since reissued with a bonus live DVD, the seventh album from Norwegian power triad Immortal is practically unstoppable. Produced by Peter Tägtgren, Sons of Northern Darkness combines fierce riffery with a Maiden-esque sense of epic dynamism. (Fun fact: One of the band's promotional photos for this release mistakenly caught guitarist-vocalist Abbath with his fly down.)

(Moribund, 2004) The one-man plague of professional tattoo artist Jef Whitehead (a.k.a. Wrest), Leviathan are the vanguard of the American isolationist black-metal phenomenon. Whitehead's second full-length under the Leviathan moniker, Tentacles is a vicious display of lo-fi pyrokinesis that takes its cues from the Burzum back catalog.

(Moribund, 2004) Another one-man outfit, L.A.'s Xasthur is the brainchild of Scott Conner, a.k.a. Malefic, also known for his live guest "vo-kills" with sub-harmonic drone overlords Sunn O))). The bleak psychedelic hellscapes that bleed black through each of his many LPs, EPs, and splits are at their most unsettling on this, Xasthur's fourth full-length.

(Ajna Offensive, 2005) Little is known about this reclusive French posse; the band refuses almost all interview requests. But Kénôse is one of the most powerful, ideologically intriguing black-metal releases in the history of forever. Ominous and brooding, the hypnotic fury of the album's three epic tracks is matched only by its enigmatic artwork.

(Candlelight, 2005) Along with Darkthrone, the reunited Emperor, Varg Vikernes and the surviving members of Mayhem, Enslaved are the last of Norway's living black-metal O.G.s. Their Grammy-winning eighth album is a rousing Viking feast that makes you wanna burn and pillage all the way to Valhalla — and proof that these originators are still well ahead of most of the pack.

(Total Holocaust, 2005) Much like Varg Vikernes did through Burzum's experimentation with keyboards, Leviathan's Jef Whitehead (re)established black metal as not just a sound, but a feeling and approach, with his project Lurker of Chalice and its sole, self-titled offering. Wildly inventive, employing everything from electronic samples to wind chimes and chorus vocals, the album proves that all the chilling darkness of the subgenre can be conjured without a lo-fi tremolo riff.

(Season of Mist, 2007) Despite their infamous penchant for literal mid-set bloodbaths, the Swedish pyromaniacs Watain have always been a band defined by sharp songcraft, not just provocative showmanship. Case in point: Sworn to the Dark, which saw the Satanic firebrands culling from thrash, hard rock, prog and dark ambient to deliver one of the most stylistically diverse black-metal albums of the 2000s.

(Metal Blade, 2013) While their music arguably leans more death metal, these Polish blasphemers' explicitly Satanic philosophical stance and corpse-paint-and-hellfire onstage presentation clearly place them within the black-metal movement. Behemoth's comeback album after frontman Nergal's near-fatal battle with Leukemia, The Satanist stands as a majestic and vital (re)statement of intent.

(Deathwish, 2013) Deafheaven's sophomore LP Sunbatherrepresented a true paradigm shift in black metal both in its aesthetics and attitudes, from its pink album cover to its sunny riffage. Indeed, the first notes of "Dream House" evoke something not often heard in the genre: a feeling of optimism. Sunbather leaned on the creativity of bands past, but took it next level, embracing elements of shoegaze, post-rock and screamo in the way that hadn't been done before. But its greatest innovation may be the way the album rides on the belief that black metal doesn't have to be antisocial in spirit; indeed, it can come with open arms.

Sent from my iPhone

[auralatrocityabyss]

Beneath The Crimson Eclipse Imperial Demonic

Melodic black metal in the style of Dark Funeral, Dissection, and Dimmu Borgir. The vocals in particular stand out for clarity, and like any good band in this style, the riffs are blistering and catchy.

It is available on Bandcamp and physical copies are up for pre-order through Black Lion Records.

[mrskokushibo]

I saw you like a nun pic like me are u into cult stuff what u into just trying find like minded people

Hey, lovely. I am not into cults or anything in particular. Here on Tumblr, I am just a fan of manga and anime. And of course, I am a writer.

As for cults and organised religion of any shape or form....I'm not against it, but I do not participate. I do not like to label myself. But yes, some aspects of Satanism, just like some aspects of any other religion, carry important wisdom.

I do like black metal. Especially bands like Dissection, Dimmu Borgir, and Cradle of Filth. There are many versions of Satanism, and I enjoy what is portrayed in the lyrics of Starless Aeon by Dissection:

Dies Irae Dies Illa Solvet Cosmos In Favilla

Vocamus Te Aeshma-Diva

Thanks for your Ask, and I hope your Tumblr experience is a good one.

Below are my two favourite black metal songs of all time.

[xmystophalesx]

Best New Heavy Metal Releases Week of March 31st, 2023

My birthday week and, to be completely honest, I don’t really have anything to go off on a rant about. I’m sure that is a welcome change for some readers so I will just get straight to the highlight albums of the week…:)

Crown Lands-Fearless (Hard Rock/Progressive)**

This band wears their influences squarely on their sleeves. That influence being the band Rush first and foremost. Specifically, the late 70s and early 80s era of Rush, which saw them push heavily into their progressive side. If you are a fan of Rush, check these guys out. You might find a band that is carrying that torch for future generations.

Ammotrack-Accelerate (Hard Rock)**

This really came out of nowhere for me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was incredibly surprised. This is Hard Rock but with a heavier lean than most modern Hard Rock. It has that bit of a throwback feel from 80s with superb riffs and a faster tempo. The biggest thing you will notice with this band is their ability to write a hook. You won’t find catchier hard rock than this.

Haliphron-Prey (Death/Thrash/Symphonic)**

This is one of those albums that rewards multiple listens and even more so if you have a good pair of headphones or a killer speaker home audio setup. There is a lot going on here with this blend of Symphonic Black Metal and Death Metal with a decided nod to Dimmu Borgir. If you like Dimmu, you will like this as well.

Thron-Dust (Melodic Black)**

I posted this album in a few places when I first heard the album. From the initial listen, I knew this would be in the running for my “Pick of the Week”. This feeling only got stronger after each time I listened to the album. I don’t believe I have heard this many melodic sections in a Melodic Black Metal album and I am completely here for it. This album is absolutely fantastic and by the end of my third time listening to the album, I bought the vinyl edition. The easy comparison would be Necrophobic or Dissection, but this band builds on that base and adds progressive elements as well as the aforementioned melody. This makes the songs really stand out from each other while remaining cohesive for the duration of the 56 minute runtime. I rarely care for that long of a runtime but this album simply flew by. All the albums I put in the “Best of the Week” section are all well worth owning if that genre is something you enjoy. That being said, this was hands down the “Pick of the Week”.

That will do it for another week and the first quarter of the year. Hard to believe we are already three months in. Apparently, time flies when you are headbanging…who knew? Until next week, and as always,

BANG THY HEAD!!!

All worthy of a listen if you like the genre

*= standout in that genre

**=best of the week regardless of genre

Best of the Week

Haliphron-Prey (Death/Thrash/Symphonic)**

Vanish-A Hint of Solace (Heavy Power)**

Thron-Dust (Melodic Black)**

Lipid-The Perfect Killing Machine (Thrash)**

Ammotrack-Accelerate (Hard Rock)**

Crown Lands-Fearless (Hard Rock/Progressive)**

Hot Graves-Plagueweilder (Death/Black/Thrash)**

Standout in their Genre

Of Spite-Riddle Redemption (Melodic Death)**

Invicta-Triumph and Torment (Thrash)*

Lamp of Murmuur-Saturnian Bloodstorm (Black)*

Raze the Void-Para Sempre (Melodic Death/Progressive)*

This Means War-Omnivore Doctrine (Thrash/Melodic Death)*

Demonstealer-The Propaganda Machine (Death/Black/Thrash)*

Get Out of Nashville-The Uncaring Human Maelstrom (Death)*

Blaze of Sorrow-Vultus Fati (Black/Folk)*

Witchtower-Voyeur (Heavy)*

Cadaveric Donation-Teratopath (Death)*

Vision Deprived-Self Elevating, Deep inside the Void (Death)*

Diablation-Par Le Feu (Symphonic Black)*

Lotan-Lotan (Melodic Black)*

Decadence Dust-Lighthouse (Gothic)*

Avaland-The Legend of the Storyteller (Symphonic Power)*

The Flood-Hear Us Out (Hard Rock)*

Malphas-Flesh, Blood and Cosmic Storms (Black)*

Ad Infinitum-Chapter III:Downfall (Symphonic/Gothic)*

Angstkrig-Angstkrig (Black/Thrash/Groove)*

Vision Deprived-Self Elevating, Deep inside the Void (Death)*

Worth a Listen

Stanbrook-La Muerte No Perdona (Heavy)

Dragon De Piedra-Herederos Del Pecado (Heavy Power)

NervoChaos-Cthonic Wrath (Death)

Last in Line-Jericho (Heavy/Hard Rock)

Forgotten-13 Martyrs (Heavy)

Fynal Stand-Tribulation Saint (Heavy/Power)

Labyrinthus Stellarum-Tales of the Void (Atmospheric Black)

Altumtenebris-Seeds of Eternity (Black)

Lordi-Screem Writers Guild (Hard Rock)

Argion-Lux Umbra (Power)

Eyes of Eva-Temptation (Hard Rock)

Evolution Eden-Sonic Cinema (Hard Rock)

Eufory-Fifth Dimension (Heavy/Power)

Flatulence-Defecit (Brutal Death/Grindcore)

Misery Oath-A Darker Path (Melodic Death/Black)

Desert Storm-Death Rattle (Stoner/Hard Rock)

DreamSpy-Out of this World (Hard Rock)

Heezer-Sungrinder (Stoner/Psychedelic)

Thron takes the Pick of the Week and I believe even The Metal Bulldog is happy with this pick as well…:)

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Dimmu Borgir - Spellbound (By the Devil)

[cameliaddt]

Hvis Vinter Tar Ikke Deg… by cameliaddt.

Tracklist 

Det Som En Gang Var by Burzum // Ov Fire And The Void by Behemoth // Prosperity And Beauty by Gorgoroth // Sangreal by Septic Flesh // K.I.N.G by Satyricon // The Wild Hunt by Watain // The Death Of Love by Cradle Of Filth // A Fine Day To Die by Bathory // Threnody by Rotting Christ// Where Dead Angels Lie by Dissection // The Mourning Palace by Dimmu Borgir // Bloodfrozen by Dark Funeral // As I Die by Eternal Tears Of Sorrow / /Falling Snow by Agalloch // A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh by Celtic Frost

[not sure if any of my followers are black/doom/death atmospheric black/extreme metal fans but hopefully some of you are and will enjoy this!☆]

[havocinthebluebox]

Tagged by both @hel-viti and  @taikatalvittu ! Thank you 😸💙

Nicknames: Most of the times it’s Sissi (a good friend of mine calls me “Dame Sissi” haha) or Cyr and my best friend @tasha-lemon calls me Geekette

Zodiac: Aquarius

Height: 1m73

Last movie: Evil Dead (Had a movie night with a friend the other day. We also watched The Nun !)

Last thing i googled: Thrashocore to read the news and see the latest metal albums releases after a few days out of the Internet 

Fave musicians: A short list or I can go on until tomorrow... Alan Stivell, Clarence Clemons, Selim Lemouchi, Darkside, Peter Steele, Amalie Bruun, Aldébaran, Sami Hinkka, Hizaki, Aoi

Song stuck in my head: Jáma Pekel by Master’s Hammer

Other blogs: Yup, a living-dead one I had with a friend where we wrote book reviews and a NSFW one.

Amount of sleep: Never enough, which explains a lot 😅

Lucky number: 3 and 11

What im wearing: A white nightgown, enjoying the Lucille Sharpe aesthetic to its fullest.

Dream job: Something books related

Dream trip: Iceland, Scandinavia, Japan, Greece... 

Play an instrument: I used to sing (choir and gospels, I am not kidding XD). 

Fave food: I love food as long as it’s vegetarian. But I have a soft spot for crêpes, galettes and pasta.

Languages: French, English, a liiiiiiiittle bit of Latin and Ancient Greek, Creole when I was a child, meowing when I talk to my cat (come on, we all do that ! ...Right ?)

Fave songs: Waters of Ain by Watain, The Yonder Beckons by The Devil’s Blood, Night’s Blood by Dissection, Victory Song by Ensiferum, Présence des Orbes by Darkenhöld, Vers la Victoire by Belenos, Likbør by Windir, My Love for the Stars by The Great Old Ones, Borders of Salt by Dan ar Braz, Dahud by Heol Telwen, Love Under Will by Fields of the Nephilim, Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen by Dimmu Borgir, Cassis by the Gazette, Love You to Death by Type O Negative, Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen, Stargazers by Nightwish... Non-exhaustive list, of course !

Random fact about me: I have a whole shelf full of different teas.

Describe yourself using aesthetic things: Books and libraries, the smell of rain, ocean and forests (and two lands dear to my heart, between the Atlantic and deep, old forests 💙💚), teacups, fallen leaves, cute and spooky things, swords, knives and sharp things, cats, crows and bats, plushies, castles, ruins, cemeteries, gloomy summers and winter sun, northern lights, glow in the dark stars and space.

Tagging @nordicsatyr @naamahlasalle @hootsforce @amangledheart @cafeomancer ​ but only if you want to 😽

[sideblog-666-thousand]

Samoth and Tyr (ex-Borknagar) Interview, 1999. Ft. Samoth being a massive cunt. Part Two.

Here’s the sequel to «Samoth and Tyr (ex-Borknagar) Interview, 1999. Ft. Samoth being a massive cunt. Part One».

I like to start these usually with some background information on the source, but any background information I could possibly offer was already inserted into the first part, you know? It doesn’t feel right to just copy-paste, or transcribe, something of someone else’s and post it online, even though I do it for free, and mostly for myself*. I still want to do something kind of creative with it. The proposed drinking game was probably about as creative as I could get with this though...

Okay, so! I actually saw Emperor live. I got to see them front row, in fact. It was a really good show— I’d love to see them play again.

Any possible commentary is in (parenthesis) and bold. Asterisks below and optional.

Without further ado:

I: Can you tell us anything concerning Thou Shalt Suffer? [Death metal band Thou Shalt Suffer can be seen as the predecessor to Emperor, having both Samoth (Samot) and Ishahn (Ygg) in its line-up. After the band split up, Ihsahn kept the name for his clasically inspired synthesizer project]

S: Yeah, well Ihsahn is still working on it and I mean it seems like an endless project. I don't know when he's actually going to finish it. He's been saying every year, like: "This year I'm going to finish it.", but it's still not finished. I have already heard a little bit, but he's always like, skipping material and making new songs, I really don't.... I'm just gonna check out the album when it's coming out, if ever*...

I: What about the former members, like Ildjarn? Is he still working on his own project, Ildjarn?

S: Well Ildjarn is... I see him now and then. He has a new band - it's a keyboard kind of thing - more atmospheric music, but I don't see him that much. He's a pretty weird guy. And our old drummer [Thorbjørn - ed] is actually our sound engineer for our latest album.

I: For a while you were in many different bands, for a short while - will you do that sort of thing again? Did you leave Emperor to join Burzum in '92?

S: I don't have the time anymore. At that point we had no drummer with Emperor and everything went really slow. So I just had to play something and I joined Satyricon and I played with Gorgoroth and stuff like that. It was just because things was going really slow with my main band. I've never left Emperor. All I did with Burzum was being in the studio for a few hours to do the bass and do drums.

I: About Arcturus - what do you think about their musical development? [Samoth used to play guitars in Arcturus a well. He recorded the legendary "Constellation" demo with this band, which was originally issued in 500 copies on MCD through NAP - later there was also issued a vinyl edition with three bonus tracks, namely the "My Angel" 7-inch and a re-recorded version of "Morax" - Samoth does not appear on these bonus-tracks]

S: I think it's excellent, especially... they made a remix album now a well of the previous album. there's a lot of weird beats and drum and bass samples on it. It's coming out in April, on Garm's label Jester, the same as Ulver.

I: I had heard that they had split up - is that correct?

S: Yeah, I think so, but I think they have been discussing about doing a new album, I mean, I don't know.. these guys are a bit slow...

I: In the "Reverence" video there is a line, "Honour commanded no longer as virtue*", it's part of the lyrics, but it's shown in words on the screen. Why? It seems like an unobvious statement for Emperor. You used to state that honour was really important.

S: It is important to have honour in what you do and it's important to honour and respect the people you ...respect.

I: Then it would be a virtue, wouldn't it?

S: Well... what was the line again? But it is Ihsahn's lyrics, so it would be better for him to explain it in a bigger complex, but I think it has to do with people not putting pride and honour in what they do anymore. People just don't care about nothing.

I: OK...In some earlier interviews you've shown a strong anti-christian attitude...

S: I still have an anti-christian attitude, but it's not something I think that much about these days, anymore. I don't really bother that much about Christians, they're not a big problem for me in my personal life. But to me it's just as normal as eating breakfast to be anti-christian, so I am*.

I: There have been times that you had more radical views, for example what did you want to achieve with the church burnings?

S: Well, I didn't want to achieve anything really. It was just like an extreme statement, I would think. I didn't think it would make any difference in society. It was a destructive act, both for me and everybody else in a way. Probably more for myself...

I: How did the jail sentence influence you as a person and as a musician?

S: Well, I had a lot of time to be for myself for once... But I think of the whole thing as a good experience. I think actually for a lot of people it could do good to be in prison for a while. It kind of puts your life into the good perspective and it's kind of interesting to see life from a different perspective. To be in prison it was totally meaningless - that's the whole point of being in prison: to take away the joy of life and lock you in for a time.

T: You made the instrumental (below) in prison.

S: Yeah, "The Wanderer" from "Anthems...", that was made in prison. And that's completely different from what I usually write.

I: You had a guitar in prison?

S: Yeah, sure.

I: I thought they weren't allowed, because you could hang yourself...

S: No, it was not that extreme...

I: So we might expect more Dissection material as well - as Jon Nödveidt is allowed to have a guitar in prison. What do you think about this whole case?

S: I think it was really stupid actually, because Dissection really had something going. They even had the studio booked and the material finished... and he just had to do this...

I: Do you feel any remorse about the churches and stuff?

S: No.

I: Do you feel any remorse at all about things you do in life?

S: I mean, I do have feelings of course, but I don't see any point to regret the things I did. I'd rather see it as an experience and learn from an experience rather than "Oh, why did I do that - if I would have done differently..." there's no point. (In other words: no.)

I: It's not some code of honour not to feel remorse?

S: No. It's just a waste of time to feel remorse. I see no point in it to regret the things I've done. I mean you just bring yourself down by feeling too much remorse. What happens, happens - you can't change the past, so.

I: In an interview you made this statement that "you have to be a ruler and think for yourself" and in an interview with your wife Nebelhexe*, she made this statement that the Count had had this big influence on you and that he had got you involved in the church burnings - how do these statements match?

S: Back in '91 and '92 all the people in the so called Black Metal Circle or whatever, were pretty young, so we all were pretty easily influenced. And Vikernes was also very influenced by Euronymous, in the first place. So I think a lot of the stuff that happened back then.. it was like: everybody had extreme ideas and everybody just wanted to be more and more extreme and we all got influenced by each other. And of course Vikernes, he has a very strong personality and he was the one who started with all the extremes, like actually going out and doing it in practice, so I guess he was influential to a lot of peolpe.

I: Was it an important reason to join Burzum - because you were looking up to him?

S: Well I mean, I respected Burzum and I saw this like an honour to join something I respected, but it was not: Wow, I'm playing with Varg Vikernes or something.

I: Are you still in touch with Mortiis? His departure from Emperor wasn't completely 'as friends'...

S: Yeah, he's been living in Sweden for many years, actually. I don't see him often, but his parents are just living a few blocks away. We phone now and then, and the whole is coming along just fine. Concerning his departure, he had a bit of an attitude back the, I guess. And he and Faust also didn't get along that well so it was best thet he would leave and for a while it was maybe a bit touchy, but now it's completely good.

I: What about your future plans?

S: Well the most immediate future plans is to finish this tour and we have a gig in Norway in May and hopefully we're going to do some more Scandinavian shows in Sweden and Finland...We have an offer for the Dynamo-festival in Holland as well, but I mean so far... I would like to - I wanna play a lot more live, but I mean, not everybody in the band is too keen on playing live, so we have to make comprimises. So we are probably going to do an American tour in the summer for three weeks with Dimmu Borgir - that should be a good experience I think. We' re starting to do pretty well in America as well now.

I: Comparing your first gig in Holland in 'de Baroeg' in Rotterdam and the one tonight, I think you have really improved a lot. What do you think yourself?

S: Well that's good to hear. We can still improve a lot I think. I mean when I watch these guys of Morbid Angel, I go: 'Wow, these guys are really good.' I just hope we get the opportunity to play more live and I don't know, improve our live act.

I: Goals for the future?

S: That's difficult. With Emperor we usually make the material for one album and we don't think too much ahead. The latest album has been doing well like all albums and better than expected. In the beginning I guess and we try to support the album by playing live and get more professional. So for the new album we have no new material, really nothing... and Ihsahn is also pretty busy with Peccatum and Thou Shalt Suffer. Peccatum will start working on their 2nd album when the tour is finished.

I: What do you think of Peccatum?

S: I think it's a good album, but I mean it's not an album I wanna play myself on. I think it could have been a lot better with a much stronger production. The production is weak.

T: I think it's... the drum copmuter, I prefer the live drummer feel.

S: Limbonic Art is a band in which I like the use of a drum computer. They do it in a special way. They don't pretend, like... they don't to try to get it to sound like a real drums, they just use the opportunities they have with a drum machine.

T: ...[about Peccatum again] but I still like their live performances. The theatrical style...

S: Yeah, I think Peccatum is actually better live than on CD*.

T: Better singing... more powerful.

I: They have this session guitarist. Didn't Ihsahn consider you to play the guitar for Peccatum?

S: No.

I: You wouldn't want to do it?

S: Well, I'm not sure if I could do it. I mean some of the stuff is pretty like... technical. I am not adepted to all this technical stuff. I think Peccatum is more technical than Emperor actually.

I: There have been a number of books coming out lately about the years 92-93, like for example "The Lords of Chaos" - is there basically any truth in these books?

S: Well I mean, "The Lords of Chaos" there is some truth in it of course, but I think that book emphasizes a lot on right-wing side of the whole thing - there is a lot of Varg Vikernes in there and also the author [Michael Monian], he is very interested in the political thing. I think he made the black metal thing look much more political then it ever was. Yeah, I can understand that to the outside world, it nearly sounds like mythology, of course - for a young teenager who gets this book it's like: "Wow, this is amazing..", but to me it's like no big deal. I don't think that much about it. People expect me to wake up in the morning and think about this stuff all the time, but I mean it happened many, many years ago...

I: But you wouldn't want the whole scene to turn back again to like it was back then?

S: No, I mean the whole scene has changed and I think people think more individually these days and just do what they feel like and are more honest about themselves and I think that's a good progression. I think it's a bit stupid to think that, "now we are grown up and are descent guys" - that'd seem silly in a way, but I mean back then we were very young and it was kind of obvious that we would have to change. You don't stay eighteen forever. But I am totally respectful to Darkthrone who still represent the essence of true Norwegian black metal, I guess.

I: What is Darkthrone doing these days then? Isn't Fenriz to busy with his other activities - I heard his deejay-ing in some club?

S: I think they actually are getting back together and doing an album this spring. They even have booked a studio and anything. It's true, he's deejay-ing, but he's changing all the time so all of a sudden is like: "OK, we're doing a Darkthrone album now and that's what I do."

I: What is it with all the cover albums you're participating on? Is it just good fun?

S: Well, we get so many offers. So we say like: OK. We have plenty more offers as well, so we just thought like.. when we were in the studio for the new album we recorded a Mayhem one, we did the Thorns vs Emperor, we did a Darkthrone one, so when we are in the studio it's no big deal to just do a cover as well.

I: I also heard you tried out the new studio by recording over tracks. Was the Hellhammer track the first to be recorded there?

S: Yeah it was kind of like that in a way to check out the studio and make sure it was good enough. No, the Hellhammer song wasn't recorded there. It was recorded in our old rehearsing room, just on a four track recorder. We just did that on an evening, we didn't even have a drummer at the time - we just had a guy from Gehenna [Dirge Rep, ed], coming down for a weekend and we said, OK let's do a cover, now and we just did it and they put it out.

I: What do you think of the fact that bands from Italy and France are using Norwegian lyrics?

S: Well. I think it's pretty comical.

I: Do they make sense?

S: Well most of the time they don't make sense. A lot of these countries have quite interesting mythology themselves, so why not use those?

I: Any small bands you could recommend us?

S: There is one called the Myrkskog - they've just signed to Candlelight now actually and they are a pretty good band. [Their guitarist was playing live as a session member with Peccatum, ed]

I: Is there anything you would like to add before closing off?

S: Not really... these carrots are good, that's my final comment! (God, this is so cute but I don’t know why)

T: Not really, no - Just that I love to be on tour and stuff like that... Before I joined with Emperor I had just played out for five times, or something...

  That’s all! :)

*I do it because I’ve noticed how many great interviews I’ve lost over the years, due to websites being taken down, or something. Whilst some interviews have been re-shared over numerous platforms and accounts, I like to have my own copy because I know nothing will happen to it. The reason I share it is because I might as well, since I have nothing better to do.

*The mythical ‘Thou Shalt Suffer’ album was released— a year later, in fact. Ihsahn had been talking about it in interviews all the way back in ‘96 too. It’s called ‘Somnium’. It’s not my thing, to be honest. However, I think it’s nice that Samoth let Ihsahn keep the name. ‘Into The Woods of Belial’ was cool though.

*This is such a ridiculous question. It’s very obvious what Ihsahn meant and I feel as though Samoth must’ve been distracted if he was unable to answer it. It’s the latter half of the lyrics that stands to be questioned. 3:17 for lyric, though you’ve likely heard it before: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4FYwz2-_G_4

*I have this strange mental image of Samoth just casually eating cereal with milk that he dyed red with food colouring......

*Funny enough, they divorced a little after this interview too— around the next two years or so, I don’t know exactly when. Samoth later goes on to marry his girlfriend, who was a photographer whilst he was touring with Zyklon back in 2001. In an interview (which no longer exists, unfortunately) Nebelhexe goes on to make a few comments that make it sound like a certain somebody may have had his fingers in a few too many pots....

*The thing about some bands sounding better live than on CD is really true! I once saw this band, ‘Havok’, live (I was at a metal music festival) and I thought they were incredible, but when I listened to their studio releases, I thought it was very weak and boring.

Legal disclaimer: I am not, in anyway shape or form, claiming that Samoth literally cheated on his wife. What I am, however, saying, is that it’s very sus from my very narrow field of vision. This is just a bit of comedy. However, if you are Samoth, or a representative of Samoth, feel to sue me regardless. Please, daddy, it’s all I’ve ever wanted since I was fifteen. I’ll do anything, daddy, ruin my fucking life— take a chainsaw and literally RIP MY FUCKING GUTS— okay, I’ll stop now before anybody thinks I’m being serious.

[palatial-monstrosity]

I got tagged by @bloodaria to post my 10 ten on repeat on spotify but I am a dinosaur without spotify so here’s a selection of ten songs I’ve listened to a lot in the last weeks:

Yours is an empty hope - Nightwish

Progenies of the great apocalypse - Dimmu Borgir

Night’s blood - Dissection

Blood of the elves - Blind Guardian

Seven days to the wolves - Nightwish

At the left hand ov god - Behemoth

Ride the lightning - Metallica

The march of the varangian guard - Turisas

Black Betty - Ram Jam

For what it’s worth - Placebo

Thank you for tagging me!

If anyone wants to do something similar I tag @disaster-vampire @divinecruelty @saintcathyearnshaw @hereticheathcliff

[ahalal-uralma]

Do you have a go to song or artist for bad music removal situations?

I think the easiest cure for angst from bad music is unironically the metal and industrial genres. I will say the more edgy the better; but, it has to have artistic integrity and not just the empty angst of screamo. We have standards we will not compromise for off-springs of the emo sub-culture.

Personally, I love something that gives depth to the desire for destruction. It has to have power and purpose and at bare minimal offer a feeling of comfort and healing.

I really love these bands at the moment:

Dimmu Borgir, Mandragora Scream, Carach Angren, Devilment, Behemoth, Cradle Of Filth, Bathory, Dark Throne, Immortal, Children Of Bodom, Arch Enemy, Satyricon, Carpathian Forest, Xasthur, Watain, Dissection, Emperor, Ulver, Gorgoroth, Taake, Mayhem, In This Moment, Motionless In White, Psyclon Nine, Powerwolf, Turisas, Thyrfing, Beast In Black, Alestorm, Volturian, Tristania, Wintersun, Insomnium, Korpiklaani, Sabaton, Wolves In The Throne Room, The Summoning, Orbit Culture, Blue Stahli, Alien Vampires, etc.

Honestly, I could carry that list on forever. But, I will try and control myself. It really depends on the complexity of my mood what I will listen to, but there’s a guarantee a few of these bands will be played.

[a-dope-fiend]

got any black metal recs for someone who's only listened to COF and Dimmu Borgir?

Dissection, Marduk, Dark Fortress, Emperor, Immortal, Gorgoroth, 1349, Agalloch, Watain, Inquisition, Bathory, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Bethlehem (specifically the Dictius Te Necare album)

Mayhem is an obvious one, but it still deserves a mention since they were one of the bands that were the foundation of the black metal genre. Burzum is more of a case of either you like it or you don't.

Belphegor, Behemoth and Carach Angren are also bands that i started listening to recently and i highly recommend giving their stuff a listen (even tho the first two are more on the blackened death side rather than pure black metal)

Celtic Frost, Satyricon and Darkthrone are more old school, so feel free to check them out as well

[evildeadvhs]

🧟‍♀️ kittie’s ultimate halloween playlist 🧟‍♀️

(modern / non-soundtrack) 🗯️ (i will updatet this anytime i find a new song to add!)

💿 scream - the misfits 

💿 halloween - king diamond

💿 undead ahead - motionless in white 

💿 undead ahead 2: tale of the midnight ride - motionless in white

💿 the wolf - fever ray 

💿 elizabeth - ghost 

💿 call from the grave - bathory

💿 on a night of full moon - mercyful fate

💿 black no. 1 (little miss scare-all) - type o negative

💿 conjuring the dead - belphegor

💿 dragula - rob zombie

💿 monster - exo

💿 black crow on a tombstone - satyricon 

💿 witch image - ghost

💿 a land forlorn - dissection

💿 the invisible guests - king diamond

💿 council of wolves and snakes - dimmu borgir

💿 black sabbath - black sabbath

💿 chainsaw gutsfuck - mayhem 

💿 melissa - mercyful fate

💿 mummy dust - ghost 

💿 dig up her bones - the misfits

💿 we only come out at night - motionless in white

💿 pagan fears (live in leipzig, 1990) - mayhem

💿 moonchild domain - dimmu borgir

💿 married to the music - shinee 

💿 where dead angels lie - dissection

💿 all hallows eve - type o negative

💿 life eternal - mayhem

💿 der geistertreiber - belphegor

💿 creatures - motionless in white

💿 the wizard - black sabbath 

💿 saturday night - the misfits

💿 return of the vampire - mercyful fate

💿 abigail - king diamond

💿 living dead girl - rob zombie

💿 haunted (per version) [bonus track] - type o negative

💿 really bad boy - red velvet 

💿 two little girls - king diamond

💿 thorns of crimson death - dissection

💿 mourning palace - dimmu borgir

💿 a corpse without a soul - mercyful fate

💿 london in terror - motionless in white

💿 the freezing moon (live in leipzig, 1990) - mayhem

💿 idolatrine - ghost

💿 entrance - dimmu borgir 

💿 deathcrush - mayhem 

💿 leave my soul alone - mercyful fate

💿 my skin is cold - satyricon 

💿 cirice - ghost 

[kottkrig]

this is kinda random but do you have any metal band recs lol

I like, in no particular order; Blind Guardian, Candlemass, Powerwolf, Gloryhammer, Korpiklaani, Children of Bodom, Finntroll, Immortal, Dissection, Dimmu Borgir, Turisas, Dark Funeral, King Diamond, Batushka, Morbid Angel, Kreator, Nightwish...

I can keep going lmao

[the-mists-of-asgaard]

Bands List (Part 4: D)

Disclaimer: My passion and like for the respective bands does not mean that I support them outside of the music-world. I just like the songs, for whatever reason. Also, this took hours of research and mental exercises and checks through older lists I had made in the past, however I might be forgetting some bands, or might have accidentally put the same band twice (blame the human natural error). With this being said, let’s go! D: Deicide, Darkthrone, Death, Dying Fetus, Decapitated, Disfear, Drudkh, Darkest Hour, Dark Suns, Dimmu Borgir, Diplodocus, Dwarrowdelf, Drimys Winteri, Dark Tranquillity, Dead Congregation, Dead End Tragedy, Dead Meadow, Darkane, Dopethrone, Dead Swans, Death Before Dishonour, Deathchain, Decades of Despair, Deeds of Flesh, Deez Nuts, Defeated Sanity, Desolated, Denihilist, Depressed Mode, Depths of Hatred, Deafheaven, Desolate Shrine, Despised Icon, Dew-Scented, Destitute, Deströyer 666, Detain, Dethrone the Deceiver, Deathspell Omega, (The) Devil and the Almighty Blues, Devin Townsend Project, Devourment, devthbed, (A) Different Breed of Killer, (The) Dillinger Escape Plan, Diocletian, Dirty Fingers, Disavowed, Disembowelment, Disfiguring the Goddess, Dissection, Dodecahedron, Dødsengel, Doom, Doomriders, Doomsword, Doom:VS, Dopelord, DOWN, Downfall of Nur, Downfall of Gaia, Downpresser, Down to Nothing, Death Blood Destroyer, Draconian, Dragged into Sunlight, Drewsif Stalin's Musical Endeavours, Dååth, Daemogorgon, Daemon of Oa, Death Will Tremble, Dagoba, Dagor Dagorath, Dakhma, Dalriada, Damage Division, Damage My God, Dämmerfarben, Dammari, Damnation Plan, Damnum, Dark Delirium, Dark Castle, Darchon, Distant, Darkest Clouds, De Douăsprezece Statui ale Stărilor de Umbră ale Sufletului, Day Old Man, Dawn of Ashes, Dauden i Mørke, Darkspace, Death Mantra, Death Toll 80k, Darkside of Innocence, Dead Elephant, Dead End, Dead Eye Wolves, Deafened, Deadly Carnage, Death Blossom, Death Cult Suicide, Death Derailed, Death is Painless, Dogma, Dom Zły, Dream Theater, Dødheimsgard, Dryad, Druadan Forest, Drowning the Light, Drowning Horse, Drottnar, Drottinn, Dröpdnö, Drakwald, DinUmbră, Devour the Unborn, Devour the Fetus, Desolate Tomb, Desiderum, Desert Lord, Desert Altar, Der dunkle Zeitverlauf, Demiurge, Delirium, Deformed By God, Defenders of Europe, Decline of the I, Der Weg Einer Freiheit.