Can someone explain Black Metal to me?

[Hookman]

If you're not into church-burning and casual friend-murdering, then this is not for you!
Just kidding Varg...please don't kill me.

If you're not into it then don't feel that you should be, most metalheads aren't.

 

[Kevlar Eater]

If that song was written to make me laugh, it did its job well

You too? Damn. To be frank, the vocalist sounds like he had his balls trapped in a vise.

 

[Spitfire]

The reason you don't "get" Black Metal is because you have the wrong mentality about it. First of all, the lyrics take a back seat, as they're meant to accompany the music, and not the other way around. The riffs are meant to be atmospheric, and are more similar in structure to things you'd find in Punk or early Thrash Metal, more than anything in any other metal genre. If you listen to any of the old-school Thrash Metal bands, then think of Black Metal as the next step up from that.
As for band recommendations, I'd say to start with Mayhem, particularly the album Des Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. If you find that you like that, I'd also suggest checking out the bands Darkthrone, Burzum, and Gehenna.

 

[Whalecore]

Atmosphere?

Try something like Agalloch, Woods of Desolation, Wolves in the Throne Room

 

[Vicarious Reality]

This thread needs more Naglfar, modern black metal

Or perhaps Melechesh for a different vibe


Magnetic chimes pulsate within
The sound of what lies in the sky

 

[JaceArveduin]

rap songs about the urban deprivation

Eyup, there is, my brother listens to it. Now I just got to remember what it was...

Ok, not really sure what genre it is, but it's called graffiti the world, apparantly by some group called Rehab.

I've tried a few songs I think might have been black metal, but it's just not for me, I tend to lead more towards Power Metal myself.

 

[Nickolai77]

I've tried a few songs I think might have been black metal, but it's just not for me, I tend to lead more towards Power Metal myself.

Exactly the same with me, can't stand growling/screaming vocals, i prefer power metal's clean singing. I even doubt black/death metal is an acquired taste, i've heard so much metal that if that was the case it would have grown on me. Rather, i think you like black metal or you don't.

 

[JaceArveduin]

I've tried a few songs I think might have been black metal, but it's just not for me, I tend to lead more towards Power Metal myself.

Exactly the same with me, can't stand growling/screaming vocals, i prefer power metal's clean singing. I even doubt black/death metal is an acquired taste, i've heard so much metal that if that was the case it would have grown on me. Rather, i think you like black metal or you don't.

Well, I don't mind some songs with growling, the first to come to mind is The Ones Who Breathe the Flames by Seven Kingdoms. There's also the handful of Battlelore songs that I'll listen to.

 

[Arsen]

Heavy metal is a combination of the following genres:

Blues
Classic rock
Classical music
Jazz
Punk
Opera
Trance
Darkwave
Folk Music...from ANY nationality, country, or culture
Ambient/Atmospheric

With lyrics about the following:

Mythology
Religion
Ancient Texts
Fantasy
Horror
Literature
Human History
Science Fiction
Warfare
Theology
Philosophy
Politics
Authority
Freedom
Pirates, Vikings, Knighthood, Valiant Warriors, Crusades, etc.
Pain
Nature and the forests
Death
Life
The Afterlife
[insert anything you like here that takes on a serious, educated, intellectual discourse]
God Himself

There. I just explained heavy metal to you. I also threw in there why is it the most intelligent genre. We've officially become the domineering genre of rock and roll for what I just named above.