I’ll start a new open thread with the hashtag #InToTheBlack and tag @manon in to the thread.
First song I’m curious to learn your opinion about might be one of the black metal classics: Emperor - Into The Infinity Of Thought. One of the bands spear heading the so called Norwegian second wave of black metal, Emperor has never conceded to the limits of the genre, always trailblazing. Frantic drums, melodic soundscapes, harsh shrieks.
@manon Next song; more symphonic influences and different kind of shrieks, my personal gateway song #InToTheBlack: Dimmu Borgir - Hybrid Stigmata, mostly as through composed as the Emperor song, more string instruments and more melodic overall, yet unmistakably #black #metal. This whole album is a gem, from the classical opening to the cover of Twisted Sister as a closer.
@lpl oh wow!!! 🤯
I totally enjoyed this one. Epic!
Can’t make any sense of the lyrics (although I chose the lyrics video), but anyway, will see to find more from that album. Thanks so much so far!
@manon You're very welcome! Nice that you enjoyed it. I'll hit you with one last recommendation for #InToTheBlack, one of my favorite bands, there for when the second wave started and still trail blazing: Enslaved - Roots Of The Mountain. Enslaved stands out for me because of the harmonising of grunts and cleans. Together with a more Norse folk / viking influence they represent a different corner within #black #metal
@lpl Sooo, afterwork party here 🤘
Roots of the Mountain is totally my alley. I realized my synesthesia depicts the different parts of the song nicely!
For the first time I listened to shrieking close enough to get the idea there must be similarities between shrieking and growling in the singing techniques.
This may sound a bit more „analytic“ than I really experienced it. I do like the music!
@manon Nice! Good to hear! However you experience music is good, more analytic or more dreamy. Sometimes I start off with the intention to 'really hear the song' and after 3 minutes just start drifting off in thought while enjoying the music.
I am really curious how your synesthesia manifests for you.
What would you say would be a good next step? More progblack, I think you are going well on the longer and more varying songs. Do you agree? #IntoTheBlack
@lpl No clue about progblack, so yes, go for it! 😊
In many areas of my life, my synesthesia adds a layer of colors and shapes. Not only music / auditive sensations. I seem to have a synesthetic perception for body language / patterns of movements. That explains why although autistic I can decipher body language without precontious compensation. The synesthesia will pop up a notice if there‘s anything unusual, and then I can actively decode what I just saw.
1/2
@lpl I realized that when I watched a swimming competition and colors and shape of a swimmer changed during the race. Later we found out it was the point when their metabolism switched to anaerobic. I didn’t know but I could „see“ it.
For my own body perception, the synesthesia is often „louder“ than the actual sensation. Then it’s easier to see what’s going on than feeling it. That’s not always what I want, but well …
For music, it’s just a nice add-on. I‘m not always aware of it.
@manon #InToTheBlack Leprous started out as the backing band for Ihsahn (vocalist of Emperor) when he went solo.
They are deviating more and more from the blackened path but this song (now eleven years old) features Ihsahn and is a true tour du force. You'll probably recognise Ihsahn dry raspy vocals. But now they are accompanied by a very nice high clean vocal range from Einar (vocalist Leprous) and very good synth work.
@manon Not to mention the insane and creative drumming from Baard. "Annoyingly good" as a drummer friend of mine once put it.
I saw this song live last year at the Coal 10th birthday show and it was a treat. The whole band was clearly out of their (new) comfort zone, really focussing on the song, only Baard has a grin from ear to ear and was going all out as if it was nothing at all.
I don't really like the new (more electronic) work they made, but I think you might.
@manon Sorry, I have been a bit preoccupied, last progblack for #InToTheBlack, though this one may even be skirting the Avant-garde line of metal. The Dutch collective Laster makes Eclectic Dance Music according to them. It is clearly rooted in black metal though, and cool as the ice caps of Mars. Playing live, they dress in paper mache plague doctor-esque masks and black morph suits, which makes the whole experience surreal. This is most 'black' love song. Bitter Sweet.
@manon So, where do we continue? Loose the prog and switch in atmospheric or something else black, or loose the black and go to prog metal?
DId you like Laster? It is one of my favorite small obscure black Dutch bands out there.
@lpl Naa, Laster didn‘t convince me. Obscure describes it very well. Which isn’t bad at all, but The Cure knew how to do it better.
I think I dare to go further into prog. I hope to find stuff I can relate to.
@manon So, loose the back, move in to Progmetal as a whole.
Devin Townsend is a household name in this genre, frontman of the former Strapping Young Lad, but always making solo project on the side. Very nice man to meet after a show, very thankfull of his fans. All around nice, yet slightly troubled, guy.
This space-metal-coffee opera called Ziltoid the Omniscient is a true solo project, everything is Devin, either vocal or on instruments (drums are programmed)
@manon Ziltoid the Omniscient sock puppet says: “Hi! Give me coffee, indeeeeeed.”
Official merch and a priced possession.
@lpl Oookayy, I listened to the first two tracks and this isn’t like something I‘ve ever heard before.
It‘s truly interesting! Until 5:00 of By Your Command I had the vision of an oldfashioned circus full of jugglers, artists, trained dogs, clowns, and what not. And then this very different second part sounding quite industrial.
Will definitely hear more of it, but tomorrow will be a very stressful day, so stay tuned. x
Luke
Manon
