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Listening Notes: This is Black Metal


Black metal holds the throne as the demon king of music, with millions of followers and an ability to adapt to various genres across every layer. No matter how small the band, there’s always an audience. At times, I even find myself weary of just how famous this genre has become.

So, there’s no need for a long-winded introduction. Here are six black metal releases, dominated by atmospheric and post-black metal styles.

Abigail Williams - Walk Beyond the Dark (2019)

75%

The name Abigail Williams crossed my path 11 years ago, but I didn't care for it then. If I hadn’t snagged this album as a "name your price" release, I doubt I would have tried it now.

The late Mariusz Lewandowski appears once again as the creator of the iconic artwork: a giant cloaked figure with light emanating from within its center.

And then what? Is the music bombastic? Not exactly. It sounds more melodic as it enters "Ever So Bold," and the sound of the violin finally brings the atmosphere of "Black Waves" to full fruition. The climax is the scream of failure on "The Final Failure." Yes, a colossal failure.

Will it make the playlist? I’m still undecided.

Highlights: Except "I Will Depart" and "Sun and Moon"

Garden of Sadness - I Failed... Again (2023)

50%

Identified as depressive black metal (DSBM), Garden of Sadness doesn't just fail in context, but literally. There are no moans or cries. It moves at a standard mid-tempo, and it can't even be described as "cold." It’s just a spill of negative emotions recorded rather dryly by the songwriter. Clearly, this is not for me.

Highlight: -

Hell is Other People - Moirae (2024)

65%

Ah, post-black metal. Hell is Other People still doesn't quite sit right with me.

I can’t tell the difference between the "emptiness" and the "blandness" I found here. I was only briefly taken aback when I saw the title "Loss," but even then, it evoked the essence of doom/death metal rather than black metal itself. Perhaps because there are no melodies that truly pierce through, it feels like listening to the rumble of a winter storm from a shelter or a basement—while I couldn't care less about the weather outside.

Highlights: Moirae, Fates

Negative or Nothing - Void (2024)

70%

Much like Garden of Sadness and its DSBM tag, Negative or Nothing fails to provide a depressive aura in this EP. It's merely a whirlpool of dark humming within a void—better than the aforementioned band, certainly, but still not something I can enjoy.

Highlight: -

Sleep White Winter - Sleep White Winter (2011)

70%

This is the debut EP from Sleep White Winter, featuring a catchy hook on the intro of "Last Dying Dreams," but like the others, it ends up in a similar place. It might be colder and more emotional than Hell is Other People—especially since it still utilizes clean vocals in the vein of Alcest—but it fails to reach the heart. I can only truly appreciate the Alcest cover included, "Souvenirs d'un autre Monde."

Highlight: Souvenirs d'un autre Monde

The Troll - Misantrollpia (2020)

70%

The final performance from The Troll feels closer to post-punk, highlighting booming drum beats. The layering of guitars creates a cosmic atmosphere that blows with a grit that is dark yet remains within the threshold of tolerance. Well, that’s essentially it: raw black metal fused with post-punk.

Highlight: -

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