Atmosphere in darkness...

outerone · February 10th, 2009, 10:22 AM

What really drove me to love scandinavian black metal in the 90 was the atmosphere. As harsh and evil as these band were there was always a deep element of emotion and atmosphere driven by deep melodies that drove the music.

As I look band and seek the current scene I wanna make sure there hasn't been any albums that Ive missed on, so please list some music you feel fits in the discription I have explained.

Bands and albums that I feel fit into this are: Shadowthrone by Satyricon, In Times before Light by Kovenant, Agalloch, Windir, (even) Dimmu Borgirs Stormblast album, Enslaved, early Arcturus, Emperor, early Borknagar and Primordial....

Are there any gems that I have missed such as Windir which I only discovered a few years ago?

Thanks!!

Hox · February 10th, 2009, 10:34 AM

Not that unknown, but just in case you missed them: Ulver's first three albums("Nattens Madrigal" and "Kveldssanger" in particular) and most of Taake's stuff. I haven't listened too much to the latter band, but I believe it might have what you are looking for.
Also, Wolves In The Throne Room are pretty damn awesome. And I'll just mention Deathspell Omega again, 'cause they obliterate so much.
Other than that, ask NicholasDWolfwood.

PS: Dimmu sucks.

Ross · February 10th, 2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hox

PS: Dimmu sucks.

sadistik necrofiend · February 10th, 2009, 11:05 AM

Sigh has incredible atmosphere on the first 2 albums. I really like early Ulver of Course.
I would also have to add De Mysterious Dom Sathanas. That album has an insanely dark atmosphere. I remember listening to De Mysterious on shrooms once in a dark room and I about went crazy from some haunting force that just creeped the hell out of me. Not really a good idea while on shrooms to listen to that album. It could probably make a person go mad.

outerone · February 10th, 2009, 11:57 AM

Yeah Ulver I got... and cant even believe I forgot them from my list... considering Bertatt is one of the greatest atmospheric albums of all time!!! Plus I do have Wolves In The Throneroom in my collection

Definitely getting Mayhem's De Mysteriis... album.

outerone · February 10th, 2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hox

And I'll just mention Deathspell Omega again, 'cause they obliterate so much.

For some reason I just cant get into Deathspell Omega... I like a little dose of melody in my black metal, but maybe I just havent sampled to the right stuff from them.

Shapeless))) · February 10th, 2009, 12:03 PM

Code - Nouveau Gloaming, get it immediately!
http://www.myspace.com/codeblackmetal

sadistik necrofiend · February 10th, 2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shapeless

Code - Nouveau Gloaming, get it immediately!
http://www.myspace.com/codeblackmetal

Yeah that Code album is amazing.
Deathspell is not my favorite to be honest. The vocals are good, but remind me too much of Attila who I think is the master of the sick vocals, so it just kinda ruins it for me. The music is good, but I have a hard time getting into it.

Code is fucking killer though. Even though Graveland is racist shit, they have some really killer old stuff. Epilog and in the glare of the burning churches are excellent. The song Children of the Moon from Epilog in particuliar is very haunting with some of the best keyboards ever used in black metal. Check it out.

outerone · February 10th, 2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shapeless

Code - Nouveau Gloaming, get it immediately!
http://www.myspace.com/codeblackmetal

on it!!

grey knight · February 10th, 2009, 03:04 PM

Cradle of Filth, especially the older albums.
(the new ones are more melodic than atmospheric, though they do have lots of atmosphere too.)

Oh, and Dragonforce has really dark atmosphere, try the new album...there's a goth girl in the cover.

NicholasDWolfwood · February 10th, 2009, 03:05 PM

burzum - hvis lyset tar oss, filosofem
mayhem - de mysteriis dom sathanas, ordo ad chao
darkthrone - uafm, abitns, transylvanian hunger
dso - smrc, kenose, splits post-smrc, fas
negura bunget - n crugu bradului (not sure if I spelled that right off the top of my head), om (certain parts are certainly dark)
velvet cacoon - genevieve, dextronaut
xasthur - a gate through bloodstained mirrors, suicide in dark serenity
leviathan - the tenth sublevel of suicide, massive conspiracy against all life, tentacles of whorror
lurker of challice - lurker of challice
twilight - twilight
austere - withering illusions and desolation
darkspace - dark space iii
coldworld - melancholie2
mgla - groza
nyktalgia - nyktaliga, peisithanatos
the ruins of beverast - rain upon the impure
s.v.e.s.t. - urfaust
taake - nattestid ser porten vid, over bjoergvin graater himmerik, taake
thorns - 1989-91 rehearsals, thorns
vinterland - welcome my last chapter
weakling - dead as dreams
code - neurotransmissions, nouveau gloaming

thats just from my ipod alone..note that all of those albums convey a dark atmosphere in different ways to me. for example, "massive conspiracy against all life" (leviathan) and "ordo ad chao" (mayhem) convey darkness to me by way of their production values and how the music is allowed to slither around the mix. "fas..." on the other hand, the darkness is conveyed in the aggression that runs into the ambient sections all while mikko is doing his trademark whisper-grunt over top. I'm awaiting some flaming for some of my choices (like weakling or velvet cacoon) but fuck it

Hox · February 10th, 2009, 03:47 PM

See, I told you.

To rid you disease · February 10th, 2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicholasDWolfwood

burzum - hvis lyset tar oss, filosofem
mayhem - de mysteriis dom sathanas, ordo ad chao
darkthrone - uafm, abitns, transylvanian hunger
dso - smrc, kenose, splits post-smrc, fas
negura bunget - n crugu bradului (not sure if I spelled that right off the top of my head), om (certain parts are certainly dark)
velvet cacoon - genevieve, dextronaut
xasthur - a gate through bloodstained mirrors, suicide in dark serenity
leviathan - the tenth sublevel of suicide, massive conspiracy against all life, tentacles of whorror
lurker of challice - lurker of challice
twilight - twilight
austere - withering illusions and desolation
darkspace - dark space iii
coldworld - melancholie2
mgla - groza
nyktalgia - nyktaliga, peisithanatos
the ruins of beverast - rain upon the impure
s.v.e.s.t. - urfaust
taake - nattestid ser porten vid, over bjoergvin graater himmerik, taake
thorns - 1989-91 rehearsals, thorns
vinterland - welcome my last chapter
weakling - dead as dreams
code - neurotransmissions, nouveau gloaming

wow, ive only heard like 5 bands off that list lol. better check some out!

outerone · February 10th, 2009, 10:43 PM

To me the key element that creates the atmosphere is the collision of the rough and raw darkness of black metal and the beauty of a melody which is often created by some amazing keyboard work.

Ninfix · February 11th, 2009, 02:45 AM

Norwegian Black Metal sucks imo... No point in the shit they play

Hox · February 11th, 2009, 02:49 AM

please read my sig thoroughly

Ninfix · February 11th, 2009, 02:51 AM

Oh u

PIM · February 11th, 2009, 04:00 AM

Drudkh

Chinese Whispers · February 11th, 2009, 04:31 AM

Blut aus Nord - Mort

An amazing atmospheric album, although there is a chance that you wouldn't like it. It tends to divide opinion. Even amongst BM fans.

a55p2 · February 11th, 2009, 07:22 AM

You can find the better Dark Atmospheric band in the doom metal.Personal opinion.

Crepuscularia · February 11th, 2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinese Whispers

Blut aus Nord - Mort

An amazing atmospheric album, although there is a chance that you wouldn't like it. It tends to divide opinion. Even amongst BM fans.

As I was reading through this list, I was amazed that no one had mentioned The Work Which Transforms God - very chilling although its the only one by Blut that I've heard. How does MORT compare to it?

Also surprised no one has mentioned Axis of Perdition.

Nasty-Fire · February 11th, 2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Anthropy

Drudkh

Yes!

NicholasDWolfwood · February 11th, 2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crepuscularia

As I was reading through this list, I was amazed that no one had mentioned The Work Which Transforms God - very chilling although its the only one by Blut that I've heard. How does MORT compare to it?

Also surprised no one has mentioned Axis of Perdition.

morts terrible, it's a very far departure from their previous works. odinist was a bit better - merging the "avant-garde" of mort with the bm of twwtg, but the new album is by-far their best work since the first two.

I fucking lold at the retard who said there's no point to the "shit" that norwegian black metal bands play.

outerone · February 11th, 2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicholasDWolfwood

I fucking lold at the retard who said there's no point to the "shit" that norwegian black metal bands play.

Every site has to have their trolls... people whos only feeling of power is anonymously posting assaults at people. Leave them be... life will take care of them.

NicholasDWolfwood · February 11th, 2009, 06:05 PM

to elaborate upon this point...the extreme metal scene greatly benefited from norsk black metal, and black metal in a general sense. I believe it was ihsahn (of emperor fame) who sent opeth's first demo into candlelight, anyway?

black metal, as the norsk wave started, was anti-establishment. they felt that death metal had betrayed the underground scene and as such they were rebelling by making the most raw, ugly music that they could. albums like hvis lyset tar oss, de mysteriis dom sathanas, and a blaze in the northern sky are extreme metal masterpieces - and they all came out of the norwegian scene. they further pushed the boundaries of extreme metal. they have a very solid place in the history of black metal, and extreme metal as a whole. to say that these albums are "shit" and that "there's no point", you need to be either
a) deaf
b) retarded
c) both.

February 10th, 2009, 10:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
outerone Alchemy of the Sorcerer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 515	Atmosphere in darkness... What really drove me to love scandinavian black metal in the 90 was the atmosphere. As harsh and evil as these band were there was always a deep element of emotion and atmosphere driven by deep melodies that drove the music. As I look band and seek the current scene I wanna make sure there hasn't been any albums that Ive missed on, so please list some music you feel fits in the discription I have explained. Bands and albums that I feel fit into this are: Shadowthrone by Satyricon, In Times before Light by Kovenant, Agalloch, Windir, (even) Dimmu Borgirs Stormblast album, Enslaved, early Arcturus, Emperor, early Borknagar and Primordial.... Are there any gems that I have missed such as Windir which I only discovered a few years ago? Thanks!! __________________

February 10th, 2009, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hox Superiorly grim and kvlt Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 2,779	Not that unknown, but just in case you missed them: Ulver's first three albums("Nattens Madrigal" and "Kveldssanger" in particular) and most of Taake's stuff. I haven't listened too much to the latter band, but I believe it might have what you are looking for. Also, Wolves In The Throne Room are pretty damn awesome. And I'll just mention Deathspell Omega again, 'cause they obliterate so much. Other than that, ask NicholasDWolfwood. PS: Dimmu sucks. __________________ NO Ü

February 10th, 2009, 11:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
sadistik necrofiend Furby goes nanners Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: hatu forest Posts: 494	Sigh has incredible atmosphere on the first 2 albums. I really like early Ulver of Course. I would also have to add De Mysterious Dom Sathanas. That album has an insanely dark atmosphere. I remember listening to De Mysterious on shrooms once in a dark room and I about went crazy from some haunting force that just creeped the hell out of me. Not really a good idea while on shrooms to listen to that album. It could probably make a person go mad. __________________ Throughout space there is energy. Is this energy static or kinetic! If static our hopes are in vain; if kinetic — and this we know it is, for certain — then it is a mere question of time when men will succeed in attaching their machinery to the very wheelwork of nature. -Nikola Tesla Last edited by sadistik necrofiend : February 10th, 2009 at 11:07 AM.

February 10th, 2009, 11:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
outerone Alchemy of the Sorcerer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 515	Yeah Ulver I got... and cant even believe I forgot them from my list... considering Bertatt is one of the greatest atmospheric albums of all time!!! Plus I do have Wolves In The Throneroom in my collection Definitely getting Mayhem's De Mysteriis... album. __________________

February 10th, 2009, 12:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Shapeless))) -.!.. (-_-) ..!.- Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SWDN, GTHNBRG))) Posts: 3,041	Code - Nouveau Gloaming, get it immediately! http://www.myspace.com/codeblackmetal __________________

February 10th, 2009, 03:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
NicholasDWolfwood Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,928	burzum - hvis lyset tar oss, filosofem mayhem - de mysteriis dom sathanas, ordo ad chao darkthrone - uafm, abitns, transylvanian hunger dso - smrc, kenose, splits post-smrc, fas negura bunget - n crugu bradului (not sure if I spelled that right off the top of my head), om (certain parts are certainly dark) velvet cacoon - genevieve, dextronaut xasthur - a gate through bloodstained mirrors, suicide in dark serenity leviathan - the tenth sublevel of suicide, massive conspiracy against all life, tentacles of whorror lurker of challice - lurker of challice twilight - twilight austere - withering illusions and desolation darkspace - dark space iii coldworld - melancholie2 mgla - groza nyktalgia - nyktaliga, peisithanatos the ruins of beverast - rain upon the impure s.v.e.s.t. - urfaust taake - nattestid ser porten vid, over bjoergvin graater himmerik, taake thorns - 1989-91 rehearsals, thorns vinterland - welcome my last chapter weakling - dead as dreams code - neurotransmissions, nouveau gloaming thats just from my ipod alone..note that all of those albums convey a dark atmosphere in different ways to me. for example, "massive conspiracy against all life" (leviathan) and "ordo ad chao" (mayhem) convey darkness to me by way of their production values and how the music is allowed to slither around the mix. "fas..." on the other hand, the darkness is conveyed in the aggression that runs into the ambient sections all while mikko is doing his trademark whisper-grunt over top. I'm awaiting some flaming for some of my choices (like weakling or velvet cacoon) but fuck it __________________

February 10th, 2009, 03:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Hox Superiorly grim and kvlt Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 2,779	See, I told you. __________________ NO Ü

February 10th, 2009, 10:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
outerone Alchemy of the Sorcerer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 515	To me the key element that creates the atmosphere is the collision of the rough and raw darkness of black metal and the beauty of a melody which is often created by some amazing keyboard work. __________________

February 11th, 2009, 02:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
Ninfix Gamer of life Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 384	Norwegian Black Metal sucks imo... No point in the shit they play __________________ Salutations!

February 11th, 2009, 02:49 AM	#16 (permalink)
Hox Superiorly grim and kvlt Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 2,779	please read my sig thoroughly __________________ NO Ü

February 11th, 2009, 02:51 AM	#17 (permalink)
Ninfix Gamer of life Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 384	Oh u __________________ Salutations!

February 11th, 2009, 04:00 AM	#18 (permalink)
PIM Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wanganui, New Zealand Posts: 50	Drudkh

February 11th, 2009, 04:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
Chinese Whispers Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 570	Blut aus Nord - Mort An amazing atmospheric album, although there is a chance that you wouldn't like it. It tends to divide opinion. Even amongst BM fans.

February 11th, 2009, 07:22 AM	#20 (permalink)
a55p2 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6	You can find the better Dark Atmospheric band in the doom metal.Personal opinion.

February 11th, 2009, 06:05 PM	#25 (permalink)
NicholasDWolfwood Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,928	to elaborate upon this point...the extreme metal scene greatly benefited from norsk black metal, and black metal in a general sense. I believe it was ihsahn (of emperor fame) who sent opeth's first demo into candlelight, anyway? black metal, as the norsk wave started, was anti-establishment. they felt that death metal had betrayed the underground scene and as such they were rebelling by making the most raw, ugly music that they could. albums like hvis lyset tar oss, de mysteriis dom sathanas, and a blaze in the northern sky are extreme metal masterpieces - and they all came out of the norwegian scene. they further pushed the boundaries of extreme metal. they have a very solid place in the history of black metal, and extreme metal as a whole. to say that these albums are "shit" and that "there's no point", you need to be either a) deaf b) retarded c) both. __________________