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Black metal has sported a healthy left wing since its early days. Celtic Frost freaked everyone out with Into the Pandemonium back in ’88, and Norway in the ’90s produced a string of decidedly zany BM groups: Fleurety, Ulver, and Ved Buens Ende, among others.
Since the turn of the millennium, black metal’s tendency towards the strange and outré has become gradually more pronounced. 2011 may be remembered as the year in which the floodgates burst open and the bizarro-blackened hordes poured forth.
Following, and in no particular order, are my top ten weird black metal records from the year that was. I’d love to hear what I’ve missed!
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Aosoth – III (Agonia Records)
Black metal is famously tinny. Aosoth is not. This band renders their see-sawing dissonance with giant, almost death metal tones. The slowdowns on this album are immense. And III sports some very human drumming, which is a nice change of pace for this style.
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Aosoth – “1″
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Oranssi Pazuzu – Kosmonument (Spinefarm Records)
This band’s 2009 debut caught my attention, but I harbored mixed feelings about it. Oranssi Pazuzu was aiming for ‘sinister’, but ended up with ’70s-camp haunted-house horror. On Kosmonument, the Scooby Doo vibe has been replaced by Cooger and Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show.
This is some eerie shit. Great cover art!
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Oranssi Pazuzu – “Kaaos Hallitsee”
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De Magia Veterum – The Divine Antithesis (Transcendental Creations)
This Gnaw Their Tongues side project takes the prize for most unlistenable band in this feature. The production on The Divine Antithesis is so blown out that it verges on power-electronics territory. Ever wanted to hear Merzbow reinterpret Emperor? Here’s your chance.
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De Magia Veterum- “Torn Between Ruins, Faith, and the Divine”
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Nightbringer – Hierophany of the Open Grave (Seasons of Mist)
I think of Nightbringer as the missing link between Norwegian second-wave BM and the weirder French school. The dour melodies of the former and the “wrong” chords of the latter are both in evidence on Heirophany. Fitting that Nightbringer should hail from Colorado, which is one of America’s grimmest and most beautiful locales.
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Nightbringer – “Rite of The Slaying Tongue”
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The Konsortium – The Konsortium (Agonia Records)
This band reminds me of why I loved the first couple of Anaal Nathrakh full-lengths so much. Both bands make use of ripping tempos, industrial influences, and a multi-talented vocalist. The Konsortium deliver it all with a distinctly Norwegian avant spin. Though their singer can’t compare to Dave Hunt, their self-titled debut edges out the ’Thrakh’s inconsistent Passion by a hair.
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The Konsortium – “Lik Ulven”
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Leviathan – True Traitor, True Whore (Profound Lore Records)
After the masterpiece that was Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, this record is something of a disappointment. If only all disappointments sounded so good. Wrest pushes his command of atmospherics to the limit here. This record is impossibly textured, given the speed with which it was composed.
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Leviathan – “Shed This Skin”
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Virus – The Agent that Shapes the Desert (Duplicate Records)
Okay, so perhaps this isn’t really a black metal record, or a metal record at all. But Virus features members of Ved Buens Ende and Aura Noir, and the clanging guitars betray an unmistakable black metal lineage. Bjeima’s bass takes a lead role here; his ominous rattle undergirds some spectacular, hallucinatory lyrics from Czral.
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Virus – “Continental Drift”
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Negative Plane – Stained Glass Revelations (AJNA Offensive)
Cosmo’s review of this record made reference to Dick Dale, the surf-rock legend who introduced tremolo picking and a variety of Mediterranean scales to the electric guitar. Really, that historical axis is all that needs to be known about Negative Plane. It’s black metal that channels a vital piece of rock’s past, and does so splendidly.
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Negative Plane – “Lamentations And Ashes”
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The Axis of Perdition – Tenements (Of the Anointed Flesh) (Code666)
With Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord blowing up, this band’s continuing obscurity baffles me. The Axis of Perdition dispenses with their French peers’ airy metaphysics in favor of grimier themes. Tenements is a stirring return to form after the failed audiobook experiment Urfe.
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The Axis of Perdition – “Disintegration”
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Blut Aus Nord – 777: Sect(s)/The Desanctification (Debemur Morti Productions)
Speaking of this band: it’s rare that a metal band has the chutzpah to commit to an entire trilogy of albums. It’s even rarer that those albums actually cohere when played together. But, as Jordan Campbell cogently argues in this review of The Desanctification, that’s exactly what Blut Aus Nord has done so far. Here’s hoping they can pull off the trifecta.
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Blut Aus Nord – “Epitome 1″
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What about Peste Noire’s “L’Ordure à l’état Pur?” WAAAY more strange than any of these ones!
You got that right. Weird stuff. Like a demented, French nationalist organ grinder put together a black metal band with Gogol Bordello and some Renaissance Festival musicians. Just wacky.
Aw man, I didn’t even realize that Axis of Perdition had a new one out. I feel thoroughly chastised.
Also, why didn’t people like Urfe? It was a strange, and little bit unpleasant listen that ended up with you feeling a whole lot worse than when you started. I thought that was the point. I enjoyed the few times I went through it.
I thought Urfe was a noble experiment, but ultimately a failed one. The mix was largely responsible. What’s the point of an audio book where the narration is often so low in the mix that you can’t make out what’s being said?
This Gnaw Their Tongues side project takes the prize for most unlistenable band in this feature.
Huh.
I like Gnaw Their Tongues, and I like De Magia Veterum, but somehow it never occurred to me (or I instantly forgot) that they were related projects.
Which is odd, if you think about it, given the similarities.
No Wold, or Botanist? Dude!
Botanist!! Fuck!!! THAT is a weird fucking project!!
Perhaps I should’ve mentioned that this list is limited to albums that I actually, y’know, enjoyed. Botanist, Wold and Peste Noire do nothing for me.
Man, you are missing out on Botanist. Come back to it in a few months and see if you get it then. If you still don’t, come back to it again a few months after that. And so on, until your death bed if need be, because it is worth it.
novelty acts go in the cutout bin
I thought it was going to be a novelty act too, until I actually heard it. (link to my review)
Try Jute Gyte. Shit is wack.
@FMA: Good review! I felt similarly about The Suicide Tree, need to get that one out again…
Just wanted to throw in on the Botanist love. There are really good black metal songs underneath the initially wussy-sounding instrumentation. After reading about it first, I approached with caution, but I was well rewarded for giving it a chance.
I also agree that this list is missing Peste Noire and Botanist
Agreed on Peste Noire, also Circle of Ouroborus… some of the Crepusculo Negro and Rhinocervs stuff is pretty damn weird also.
I.C.S. Vortex-Storm Seeker was by far my favorite album of 2011, and it’s kind of weird-ass and kind of black metal.
Aosoth was probably my favourite discovery of 2011. Fantastic album. Shows some Deathspell Omega influence, but it is thicker and heavier. Utterly terrifying, though. Love that album.
Gotta agree Peste Noire should be included. As for Circle of Ouroborus, what I’ve listened to has probably 1% Black Metal in it, so I really don’t know why everyone mentions it in regard to that genre.
yeah, it sounds like french horns playing in a funeral march. That might not be black metal… or it might be totally fvkkin black metal
I haven’t decided.
Better give seven fingers another spin…
Love to see Oranssi Pazuzu on here. They made my top ten of the year, and I named the cover art the best of the year. Absolutely fantastic.
Fuck yeah! I double down on that shit.
P.S. That Botanist shit is…uh, stupid. I’m all for playing music in the woods, but dude, find a band.
Ironically, it sounds beefier than a typical Darkthrone album.
It’s actually pretty badass, in fact. Not sure if I’ll buy it, but I’m impressed. The trick is to listen to what it is, not what you think it should be.
I found a great NPR interview with the guy and ended up liking the music even more after reading what he had to say about it.
first comment gets the prize
Proof you guys don’t know shit about black metal.
Perfect summation of the Leviathan record. Lurker of Chalice is my favorite Wrest project but MCAAL is an unquestionable masterpiece. Still need to check Negative Plane and De Magia Veterum out.
Furze? Dead Reptile Shrine? Voltaic Omen? Ride for Revenge? Vetala? Akitsa? Ash Pool? Etc, etc.
Hadn’t heard Orannsi Pazuzu before. The new album sounds kickass (most of it is previewable on their website–seems that a US release is still forthcoming), but I actually just listened to their prior album on YouTube and ended up buying it immediately after. Scooby Doo, my ass. I hear an inspired, irreverent bastard lovechild of black metal and krautrock, not a failed attempt at being sinister.
It’s like Carpathian Forest’s tour bus collided with Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra’s and they all got out and jammed. Only with less electric organ.
Leviathan (name and music) reminded me of akercocke. Anyone know what is up with these guys?
hiatus of sorts (apparently still doing local gigs here and there in the UK), which is a shame. Been wanting to see them in the States for a LONG time. Maybe one year they’ll show up at MDF.
where is Black Cilice – A Corpse, A Temple
I’ll also add that Negative Plane’s Stained Glass Revelations is hands down my favorite BM album of 2011. Only thing released this year that can sit comfortable beside the legendary albums of the early 90’s.
Holy crap! That track from The Konsortium is REALLY good. It has a real Mayhem via Grand Declaration of War/Chimera vibe about it combined with the aforementioned Anaal Nathrakh influence. Another great find.
I would add Peste Noire, a French band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_9Gu8TNo9I (with accordion in this track).
Anyone interested in weird black metal or weird, fucked up music in general should check out This is Past from Greece. Their latest work Μισανθρωπία came out on tape at the end of December.
http://thisispast.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=d6OtLnk-Rss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCmWzEO5NdA&feature=player_embedded
Lugubrum also
This might be the worst and most ignorant article ever written on Invisible Oranges.
You might be the worst and most ignorant human to ever post on a comment board.
See how easy it is to bitch and moan and without offering anything of value yourself?
I am, admittedly, very picky about what black metal is worthy of my time. This article, however, opened my eyes to stuff I may have otherwise slept on. Cheers from this section of the cosmic disaster.
What about Terra Tenebrosa? That album should have definitely made your top 10 list!! \m/
Shit, these guys sound great. Curse you, Kawika. As if I haven’t already spent way too much money on music in the past few weeks…
Clearly the best weird ass black metal album this year has to be Zweizz & Joey Hopkins (with one of the guys from Fleurety, mentioned in the intro of the article above). I guess people will be saying this album isn’t black metal, but to me this is weird ass black metal on steroids to the 1000th power. Also a great shame that this will be the only album by this project. RIP Joey Hopkins
For some reason, I had skipped over that Aosoth album when it came out. What a mistake. I don’t consider it to be especially weird, but seeing it listed here prompted me to check it out again. I’ve only listened to it five or six times so far, but I’m obsessed with it.
Another weird 2011 release is Helheim’s Heiðindómr ok mótgangr. From the vocals to the arrangements to the overall atmosphere, it’s completely unique. Definitely one of my favorites of last year. Cosmo turned me onto these guys when he wrote about their Aasgard’s Fall EP, which was great, but this album is way more ambitious, unconventional, and entertaining.
How could I forget about The Botanist?? Awesome 2 releases this year by this one-man band that features only black metal-style vokills, drums and a hammered dulcimer!! Awesome stuff!!
Damn it – there is one more!! You gotta check out the new Smohalla album called Resilience!! Killer shit that is a cross between Blut Aus Nord, Deathspell Omega, and Code!! \m/
I actually stumbled across Smohalla last night while checking out the “best of 2011″ lists on Avantgarde Metal. I wish they had Resistance on Bandcamp, but only their older stuff is available at this point.
Sigh. I’ll probably end up ordering it.
Oh, and I hadn’t heard Code before either. I dug the sample tracks on their myspace page. I’ll have to listen to more from them…
The Smohalla record is really cool and narrowly missed appearing in this feature. Also, Code is fucking great. I still listen to Resplendent Grotesque on the regular.
I read that interview on NPR as well and was impressed enough to buy the Double CD set. I was not disappointed at all. It’s a whole new level of grimness!! I love it!! \m/
Man, we could talk about this stuff forever!! Have you checked out Liturgy? They also released a great album in 2011!!
I tried, but I couldn’t get past the vocals. I’ve been meaning to give Aesthethica another go, primarily because of how angry people get about it. That alone makes me want to like it more.
Another weird one that I just remembered came out in 2011 is Solefald’s Norrøn Livskunst. Probably not grim enough and much too playful for some people, but I enjoyed it. It’s actually weirder than Peste Noire, in my opinion.
Yeah, I love that Solefald album!! Some of the clean vocals even remind me of ICS Vortex. Speaking of which, did you hear the ICS Vortex solo album? That is another great album!!
I’ll definitely check out ICS Vortex. By the way, I’m really liking that Terra Tenebrosa album a lot. It makes me want to start making movies just so I can use it as a soundtrack. It really stirs my imagination…
Aosoth has seriously become one of my favorite bands over the past few days. Maybe not as pioneering as Blut Aus Nord, but I find them more fun to listen to. Wish the first album was more convenient to come by, but I guess the best things in life often require extra effort…
Cool – I’m glad you dig the Terra Tenebrosa!! I feel exactly the same way about it! I haven’t checked out the Aosoth yet, but will definitely do so!! \m/
Let me ask you something:
Where the fuck are the true Black Metal albums in your list???
Tsjuder – Legion Helvete ???
Taake – Noregs Vaapen ???
Burzum – Fallen ???
Your list is laughable!!!
Reading comprehension. Get with it.
fuck yeah do like your list because it includes de magio veterum(spl?) . rip joey
What about Cradle of Filth? C’mon guys…we’re talking true black metal here.