Late 90's and early 00's Modern/Avant Black Metal

Frozen · Joined: 27 Oct 2012 Posts: 988

The Satyricon thread and the rather lame discussion it inspired ignited a desire to go back and listen to some of the releases of this era. You can obviously trace some of the stylistic trademarks back to the early Thorns demos and later on stuff like Ved Buens Ende's Written In Waters. But it really culminated with Snorre's release from prison and the creation of the "Moonfog trinity": DHG's 666 International, Satyricon's Rebel Extravaganza and the absolute masterpiece that was the Thorns debut album. These weren't however the only attempts to break the boundaries of the genre. Mayhem released their much hated second album, Darkthrone tried their luck with Plaguewielder and so the list goes on...

Any favorite releases or memories from this period?
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Mendicant · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 6:35 pm Post subject:

Arcturus always rule in my book and La Masquerade and Sham Mirrors are masterpieces in my book. So glad I got to see them live even if Vortex was drunk and the sound was shite
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obscureinfinity · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 234

I'm not sure what you're looking for exactly but this is some of my favorite late 90s stuff (and I would say some of it definitely broke new grounds in the genre).

Kyprian's Circle - Noitatulen Vartija (some of the best symphonic black metal I've ever heard)
Obtained Enslavement - Witchcraft (same as above)
Nox Intempesta - Damnanus - Dominum
Aeternus - Beyond the Wandering Moon
Order of the Ebon Hand - The Mystic Path to the Netherworld
Niden Div. 187 - Impergium
Mysticum - In the Streams of Inferno
Frozen Shadows - Dans Les Bras Des Immortels
Hades - The Dawn of the Dying Sun
Inquisition - Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult

ADB · Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 2332 Location: Melbourne

Not really late 90's I suppose, but for the masters of "Avantgarde" black metal has always been Ved Buens Ende and In The Woods...

Some of the Enslaved stuff when they started smoking too much Viking grass was pretty cool too
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DSS · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 1957

Hefeystos comes to mind. Their "Vilce Sjen" EP was quite original. "Psycho Cafe" wasn't my cup of tea.

December's Fire is another band. Those two are probably lesser know acts then the ones already mentioned.

And I remember buying "A Kiss in the Charnel Fields" by Korova and hating it. Actually later DSO reminded me of Korova for some reason but I only heard that one album and it was back when it was released. Never followed the band's career so I could be wrong about the DSO comparison.

Durathma · Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Posts: 61

fuck off the avantegarde experimental shit whatever shit really fuck right off.
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DSS · Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 1957

obscureinfinity · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 234

Yeah, I'm not against experimentation in black metal but stuff that is widely considered or self-proclaimed avant-garde or "experimental" usually sucks.

Morbid Obesity · Joined: 07 Apr 2011 Posts: 1738 Location: Pennsylvania

obscureinfinity · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 234

Avant garde to describe any music is pretentious enough as it is but whenever it's used to describe a black metal band's sound, it usually means that there's very little black metal involved. As far as I'm concerned, it's the equivalent of a band saying "hey we're not really going to play black metal but watch as I raspily scream over jazz fusion psychedelic shoegazer riffs."

More black metal musicians need to experiment within the genre they're trying to play instead of mixing and mashing with other genres.

Durathma · Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Posts: 61

Fallen_Empire · Guest

This record has some great moments. Weird sexually themed BM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FykQZ4iPVFA

"The Nymphs Will Pray for My Soul"

Durathma · Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Posts: 61

^ Shit.
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eighthplague · Guest

obscureinfinity · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 234

Yeah, but would you say that self-proclaimed avant-garde metal bands really stick within their respective genres? I haven't really found that to be the case with most metal bands that file under avant-garde. Every black metal band that I can confidently say is doing something new and original with the genre doesn't tag themselves with an alternate label other than black metal. I'm of the opinion that it is still perfectly possible to be innovative within the confines of the genre's defining musical characteristics and aesthetics.