cry of the banshee wrote:
Goat wrote:
None of these bands are regulars on my playlists, so this will be an informative thread. I like Bathory and Venom as much as the next guy, but I wouldn't say they're as enjoyable to listen to on a regular basis as other bands. Celtic Frost and Mercyful Fate win out above other bands mentioned here for me simply because they're always fun listens.
Venom - Black Metal to this day still pumps my fucking 'nads.
The day I bought it is permanently etched in y mind: early December 1983, cold and foggy after - school - day in Santa Cruz, CA (is there any other kind of day in SC?), walk into the local record store, look around... already have Accept, Exciter, Mercyful Fate... moving alphabetically on... what's this? Venom - Black Metal, with a rather sinister looking goats head gracing the black cover... flip it around... Cronos: Rabid Captor of Bestial Malevolence... Abbadon: Barbaric Guardian to the 7 Gates of Hell... Mantas: Grand Master of Hades and Mayhem... hmmm... looks interesting. Take it to the counter whip out my twenty clams, cashier raises his eyebrows and gives me my change. Grab my purchase, hit the bus and upon reaching my dad's empty house (at work, ya know) smoke a bowl of blonde hash, full of anticipation... slap the vinyl on to the turntable (system consisted of Technics SL-221 turntable, pioneer SX-1250 receiver and HPM-100 speakers, that era of stereo equipment cannot be beat), strategically placed in a triangular position between which i sat indian style on the ground... a dragon's hiss... I recall feeling the bass not only in my gut, but in my bone marrow, diving up and down like some weird roller coaster... the chainsaw guitar possessing a rather distinctly slithery, serpent-like slinkiness.. the voice that of somebody on fire whilst howling in the falling rain... the skinswork, nothing special but doing it's job... yeah, this is for me. A few days later, I traded my Kill 'em All album for Welcome to Hell from some other dirthead... it was a no-brainer. Long story short Black Metal will most likely be in my playlist 'til I die.
This story explains so much as to why we differ on our opinions on Venom. I just downloaded Welcome to Hell for a friend and listened to a few tracks while burning the album to a disc. I didn't have this moment of digging into the vinyl and stumbling upon the album.
RelentlessOblivion wrote:
But the evolution from Venom, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Tormentor, nMe, on into Bathory and Deathcrush era Mayhem, into Darkthrone and company. That's why the idea that First Wave Black Metal actually isn't black metal and ought not be talked about like it is bothers me. That's more then just influence to my ears it's a direct evolution in much the same way that traditional metal evolved from Black Sabbath through Deep Purple and Judas Priest to Iron Maiden and Angel Witch. At least your argument is based on how the bands differ sonically. Had someone on my other forum argue that black metal in its entirety is not a legitimate genre because black metal doesn't have a unique sound and only attracts the name because of its stanic imagery and lyrics.
If people don't know the sonic qualities that distinguish black metal from other genres then you just shouldn't talk to them. There are differences in terms of the guitar, vocals, and production that make it distinct from other genres. If it is only about satanic imagery then how do you explain bands like Anorexia Nervosa, NSBM, or Panopticon, all of which have nothing to do with satan tropes?