MattCantina

Of The Dark Light isn't their best, but I do like it. Nothing will ever top Pierced From Within for my money, but it seemed like they got their groove back on Blood Oath and Pinnacle. Losing Frank is a blow, but as you say it's not a surprise. Hopefully they can push through.
This will be a hell of a show. I got spoiled living in NYC. Everything I could have wanted to see came through there, and even though I missed about 80% of it, I got to see some incredible shows. I guess I'm still a little spoiled having good national and international bands within driving distance...

Deathspell Omega - Fas - ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum

Deathstrike - Fuckin' Death

Dawn - Nær Sólen Gar Niþer for Evogher

Music is a powerful art form. I've generally found it helps amplify whatever mood I'm in. I really do love black metal though. There are about 45 BM bands in my collection. I estimate about 70 albums. Always looking to expand on that as well. 

Let's see if I can revive the thread....
 
Forteresse - Métal Noir Québécois
A very interesting Canadian atmospheric black metal project in the vein of Sorcier des Glacies, Walknut and Mgla. Technically speaking, there is always the usage of the "blast beats/tremolos and leads" which can be found in most Norwegian black metal bands, and indeed Forteresse do worship a little bit the bands of the said area, but their approach is inherently classy and wholly original, and this effect is also emphasized by the usage of unhortodox violins in the mix. Might not be everyone's cup of tea -that should be put into consideration - but if you like your black metal complex, well-structured and elegant, Forteresse might do the trick for you.
 
 
Branikald - Хладавзор (Frost Vision)
Branikald is in my eyes a fairly underappreciated one man black metal band which can be found among the ranks of the Russian "Blazebirth Hall", comprised of other projects such as Forest, Raven Dark, Nitberg, Rundagor, Vargleide, Wotan Sølv, and Yggdrasil. Very few black metal albums, even by today's standards, can evoke the same freezing atmosphere Frost Vision is capable of. Following up their other masterpiece "Ad Vinterkald", this album brings to the table some really memorable riffs, although I feel like they lose importance when compared to the overall character of the album due to their high distortion, simple nature, and massive repetition. If you can tolerate lenghty ambient songs, this album will click with you instantly.
 
Ved Buens Ende - Written in Waters
Ved Buens Ende are an interesting issue, because they completely circumvent the classic norwegian black metal style and instead offer a strange and unique approach to the genre, that most likely bands like Deathspell Omega will further evolve in the future. An over-enveloping sense of wrongness pervades this album. The odd tones, thumping bass and bendy rhythms all converge to give you a strange soundscape reminiscent of the abstract art used for the front cover. A world of strange sounds that all come together to make something crushing and consistent, yet obtuse and ethereal, with riffs that seem to bend and wrap around each other in a manner that someone might find annoying, yet also makes sense. One of the very best out of the entire genre.
 
Dawn - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy)
Although as a whole I prefer the swedish scene when it comes to death metal, Dawn is an interesting band which blends this style with typical Dissection-esque melodies but never failing to sound genuine (best comparisons would be also Unanimated, Sacramentum, Eucharist and Vinterland). The band actually started with Nær sólen gar niþer for evogher (1994) as a melodic death metal- oriented band, they rapidly changed sound after a couple of demos and spilts. Obviously, we aren't witnessing anything remotely new, but the band manages to make the best aspects of melodic black metal shine under a very effective light, adding a bit of a melancholic taste into the mix as well. I'd definetely recomend this if you are already accustomed to Jon Nödtveidt's works.
 
Torr - Armageddon
Torr is pretty oddball Czech early black/thrash metal band, and was apparently part of the same early '90s Czech Republic metal scene which involved other projects like Samael, Master's Hammer and Root, to name a few. This was their first full-lenght album, but it actually sounds like a more polished version of Witchhammer, which was -I'd say- on par with other top tier classics of the very same scene, so I think it is worth hearing it if you haven't already. Although the grop is probably best known for their 1991 album Institut Kilinické Smrti, fans shouldn't dismiss this record at all. Id should be noted the album even uses occasional synths and other electronical parts to enhance the atmosphere but still putting riffs prior to anything else.

I've only heard it all the way through once, but I loved it. They've done a great job of melding modern dissonance with a decrepit old-school vibe, and the songwriting was consistently energetic. I think I foresee good times with that album in my future.

Let's see if I can revive the thread....
 
Forteresse - Métal Noir Québécois
A very interesting Canadian atmospheric black metal project in the vein of Sorcier des Glacies, Walknut and Mgla. Technically speaking, there is always the usage of the "blast beats/tremolos and leads" which can be found in most Norwegian black metal bands, and indeed Forteresse do worship a little bit the bands of the said area, but their approach is inherently classy and wholly original, and this effect is also emphasized by the usage of unhortodox violins in the mix. Might not be everyone's cup of tea -that should be put into consideration - but if you like your black metal complex, well-structured and elegant, Forteresse might do the trick for you.
 
 
Branikald - Хладавзор (Frost Vision)
Branikald is in my eyes a fairly underappreciated one man black metal band which can be found among the ranks of the Russian "Blazebirth Hall", comprised of other projects such as Forest, Raven Dark, Nitberg, Rundagor, Vargleide, Wotan Sølv, and Yggdrasil. Very few black metal albums, even by today's standards, can evoke the same freezing atmosphere Frost Vision is capable of. Following up their other masterpiece "Ad Vinterkald", this album brings to the table some really memorable riffs, although I feel like they lose importance when compared to the overall character of the album due to their high distortion, simple nature, and massive repetition. If you can tolerate lenghty ambient songs, this album will click with you instantly.
 
Ved Buens Ende - Written in Waters
Ved Buens Ende are an interesting issue, because they completely circumvent the classic norwegian black metal style and instead offer a strange and unique approach to the genre, that most likely bands like Deathspell Omega will further evolve in the future. An over-enveloping sense of wrongness pervades this album. The odd tones, thumping bass and bendy rhythms all converge to give you a strange soundscape reminiscent of the abstract art used for the front cover. A world of strange sounds that all come together to make something crushing and consistent, yet obtuse and ethereal, with riffs that seem to bend and wrap around each other in a manner that someone might find annoying, yet also makes sense. One of the very best out of the entire genre.
 
Dawn - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy)
Although as a whole I prefer the swedish scene when it comes to death metal, Dawn is an interesting band which blends this style with typical Dissection-esque melodies but never failing to sound genuine (best comparisons would be also Unanimated, Sacramentum, Eucharist and Vinterland). The band actually started with Nær sólen gar niþer for evogher (1994) as a melodic death metal- oriented band, they rapidly changed sound after a couple of demos and spilts. Obviously, we aren't witnessing anything remotely new, but the band manages to make the best aspects of melodic black metal shine under a very effective light, adding a bit of a melancholic taste into the mix as well. I'd definetely recomend this if you are already accustomed to Jon Nödtveidt's works.
 
Torr - Armageddon
Torr is pretty oddball Czech early black/thrash metal band, and was apparently part of the same early '90s Czech Republic metal scene which involved other projects like Samael, Master's Hammer and Root, to name a few. This was their first full-lenght album, but it actually sounds like a more polished version of Witchhammer, which was -I'd say- on par with other top tier classics of the very same scene, so I think it is worth hearing it if you haven't already. Although the grop is probably best known for their 1991 album Institut Kilinické Smrti, fans shouldn't dismiss this record at all. Id should be noted the album even uses occasional synths and other electronical parts to enhance the atmosphere but still putting riffs prior to anything else.

Agree, I’m liking it.

It's probably their best work since Microcosmos, I really liked it. The overall tone is particularly upbeat, but you'll probably like it if you already enjoyed Autumn Aurora 

Golgothan Remains - Perverse Offerings To The Void   ...this is living up to its promise. Stoked.

Lots of killer material there.

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Paul is totally into conspiracy theories and quantum physics, so when they played that song live, he said after it concluded "that song wasn't actually as long as you thought. You've just experienced time dilation." [emoji851]

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Suffering Hour - "In Passing Ascension": This Minneapolis band made some waves with the release of this album last year, and rightfully so. They write consistently interesting songs with a mix of DSO/Ved Buens Ende-inspired riffs, more traditional blackened death metal parts, unpredictable flirtations with melody, darkly guttural vocals, and a psychedelic tinge, all wrapped up with organic yet clear guitar tones and a thick, natural drum sound. This album is one of the more enjoyable recent "dissonant" releases I've heard.
 
Sunless - "Urraca": Something in the water in Minneapolis? Here's another ambitious, well-mixed 2017 debut from another trio up that way, this one recalling "Obscura"-era Gorguts in pacing and vocal style. I have to say that I find the album as a whole a little too homogeneous, and as such I've had difficulty connecting with it. Nevertheless, it's an impressive outing from some very skilled musicians, and I'm interested to hear what happens next.
 
Ingurgitating Oblivion - "Vision Wallows In Symphonies Of Light": this is one of the more diverse albums here, making frequent forays into clean atmospheres that remind me of obscure 70s prog before diving back into abrasive and chaotic brutal/tech DM. It's a deep and sometimes challenging listen; the songs are long and they feel like it, though thankfully there are some inflection points within the chaos. I have to be in the right mood to enjoy this album, but when I am, it's pretty amazing. The combination of elements here invites comparisons to modern-day Gorguts, but it's a different animal. Hailing from Germany, this recording features session drums from the insanely talented Lille Gruber (Defeated Sanity).
 
Artificial Brain - "Infrared Horizon": another 2017 release, from Long Island, NY. Artificial Brain's sophomore outing sees them taking a darker and more purposeful turn that puts more emphasis on the blackened and melodic aspects of their already well-developed sound, evoking newer Krallice and Gorguts without ever sounding like a clone. The songwriting is tight and concise, striking a balance between depth, chaos, and enjoyability. I wish the sound here was a bit brighter and more present, but it's a minor gripe. These guys are also a stellar live act, more than worth seeing if you get the chance.
 
Ulsect - "Fall To Depravity" (from the album "Ulsect"): Yet another recent debut, this one from the Netherlands, featuring members of Dodecahedron and Textures. This is a densely layered, polished recording. Chiming clean guitars hang over choppy midpaced grooves and modern hardcore-inflected vocals with a Meshuggah-like sense of pacing, making this album feel more "djenty" than I usually go for, but it's well-done and surprisingly accessible.
 
 
Dodecahedron - "Octahedron - Harbinger" (from the album "Kwintessens"): angular black metal that reminds me of a more atmospheric Averse Sefira mixed with a bit of Thantifaxath. There are obvious musical similarities to the Ulsect album above (with whom they share a drummer and a guitarist), but this is a good bit more aggressive, impulsive, and speedy, with a lot of blastbeats and angry, declarative vocals.
 
Thantifaxath - "Sacred White Noise" - speaking of Thantifaxath, here's their only full-length to date. This young Canadian band certainly delivered the goods live when I saw them, and this album is impressive - abrasive black metal with lots of tension-inducing chromatic melody lines and frequent use of odd time signatures, harrowing and entertaining at the same time.
 
I liked this album, although "Discontinuities" and "Vast Chains" seemed a little more coherent to me. Definitely couldn't hurt to download a few of them from his bandcamp page and give them some time when you're in the mood.

Didn't know that, truly sounds crazy... but turns out I dig this song, although it's pretty weird for a black metal band. There is an interesting atmospheric passage that starts more or less at 3:54, it seems to me like an amalgamation between Krallice and DsO. There is also a split between this dude and Spectral Lore, might check it out soon.
 

Most of Burzum's material is pretty good (I am a huge fan).  I will have to check out the Wormlust album.

Some of his newer stuff is a bit too off the deep end for me to find listenable, but visit his bandcamp page and check it out. The only similarity to Bethlehem is in the vocals - pretty bloodcurdling and intense. I read an interview where he said that someone (the mailman?) heard him recording, thought he was torturing somebody, and called the cops, and he had to take the cops through his recording studio before they'd believe him.
I like it better now than I did when it came out. Can't tell if that's more to do with hearing it outside of the context of comparing it to other albums from that year (particularly "Shrines Of Paralysis"), or just that I'm more in the mood for it at the moment.

Great selection, I still have to check out Jute Gyte, but that Van Eyck painting and the comparison with Bethlehem aroused my interest. 

Dissonance has been popping up in some extreme metal (and hardcore) for decades, but the past few years have seen a lot of bands embrace dissonance as a defining feature of their music. Whether these groups come from a death metal or black metal background, I hear a good bit of stylistic convergence going on, so I'd like to gather them under one big disgusting umbrella here and post some links. A lot of this music is intentionally, almost perversely impenetrable, and isn't well-suited for casual listening; if that sounds appealing, awaken your inner masochist and dive in. In the spirit of maximum disorientation (or because I'm impulsive and lazy?), I've posted these in no particular order. I have several more bands to add to this thread when I have time, but feel free to post anything else that fits.
____
Gorguts - "Obscura": from late '90s Canada comes one of the essential founding documents of dissonant death metal. This album (their third full-length) was a bold shift away from tradition for Gorguts, and at the time it was very much an outlier. Brazenly fragmentary blasts, sickly churning grooves, gloomy melodies, haggard and frantic yelling, what's not to love?
 
Gorguts - "Pleiades' Dust": I have to give Gorguts another entry here. The brilliant "Pleiades' Dust" is Gorguts back in their prime with a new lineup, eighteen years after the release of "Obscura". It's not as consistently aggressive as their earlier material, but the common thread is apparent; intricate musicianship, rich atmosphere, and refined, dynamic songwriting show a band eager to push their own boundaries.
 
Ulcerate - "Destroyers Of All": Hailing from New Zealand, this band has been at the forefront of dissonant DM for nearly a decade, putting their stamp on the genre with twisted guitar lines and almost inhumanly complicated drumming, offering long and dismal songs that create a sense of slow, brooding menace despite remaining in nearly constant motion. This album is the one that drew me in, and it's still the one I enjoy the most, with drawn-out melodic ideas and post-metal textures reminiscent of later Isis.
 
Deathspell Omega - "Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum": another one of the most influential bands in the style, this French black metal band is consistently jarring, abrasive, and chaotic, with excellent musicianship.
 
Plebeian Grandstand - "False Highs, True Lows": while we're in France, this group should appeal to DSO fans; I could use the same adjectives to describe them. Tons of energy and aggression on display, with a bit of a hardcore edge at times. Apparently this album was recorded live, which is very impressive to me.
 
Ad Nauseam - "Nihil Quam Vacuitas Ordinatum Est": an Italian band with a lot of similarities to Gorguts and Deathspell Omega, with vocals that often remind me of Marten Hansen (of A Canorous Quintet/October Tide). They've found their own voice in this style, and their energy and dedication to songcraft is obvious; this album manages to be complex and brutal while remaining consistently enjoyable.
 
Mitochondrion - "Parasignosis": dark, murky black/death from Canada, with swirling guitar lines and a vibe that's somehow both hypnotic and pummeling.
 
Portal - "Outre": Remember that time you got hit by an earthquake in the middle of a sandstorm? Almost the definition of murk, this Australian group offers very little to grab onto, basically forcing you to live this record from moment to moment.
 
Abyssal - "Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius": black/death with fragmentary, bludgeoning riffs that are more involved than the overall dark and distorted sound might suggest, conjuring both anger and a sense of melancholy. There's a lot going on here if you dig for it. This album and their debut are fantastic, although I found myself underwhelmed by their latest.
 
Jute Gyte - "Night Is The Collaborator Of Torturers" (from the album "Discontinuities"): microtonal experimental black metal, a solo effort from the impossibly prolific American musician Adam Kalmbach. Unique, unsettlingly bent guitar parts that inhabit an uncanny valley of almost-recognizable tunefulness, with tortured screams that recall Rainer Landfermann's classic performance on "Dictius Te Necare". Most of Jute Gyte's albums are available as name-your-price downloads on Bandcamp; my personal favorites are this one, "Vast Chains", "Verstiegenheit", and "Isolation", but take the plunge for yourself.
 
Krallice - "Ygg Huur": a group of musicians truly on their own path, NYC's Krallice combine discordant riffs with snatches of broken melody and intuitive but precise shifts in meter and tempo to create an immersive journey for anyone who's willing to follow along. The organic sound, melodic sensibility, and passion of black metal with the technical accuracy and structural flexibility to which death metal often aspires. This was recorded live, and watching them perform it live remains a highlight for me.
 
Zhrine - "Unortheta": another phenomenal live act. I was unprepared for how crisp and powerful they would sound; I don't think this recording quite does them justice. Hailing from Iceland, they play an atmospheric and moody brand of blackened DM reminiscent of Ulcerate, but more accessible, with more of a focus on melody and groove. EDIT - full album stream got taken down, here's the opening track.
 
Setentia - "Darkness Transcend": these guys are another group that could accurately be described as "like a more accessible and melodic Ulcerate", and as a result (especially since they're also from New Zealand), I think they tend to be overshadowed. That's a shame. This album has its own voice, apparent in their melodic sense as well as their songwriting style, despite obvious textural similarities. The work and energy they put in shine through.
 
Mortichnia - "Heir To Scoria And Ash": a gloomy Irish group. Melody-driven but discordant post-black metal with pained shrieks, lumbering bass, and crushing atmosphere.
 
Skaphe - "Skaphe 2": Originally from America but now apparently based in Iceland, this duo plays cavernous yet suffocatingly dense black metal shot through with atonal, delay-drenched leads and ghastly howls. Patterns resolve only to disappear, and somehow it remains captivating throughout.
 

I've got some time to spare, so I guess I'll do another round.
 
Sykdom - Under Krigen:
Sykdom is a newer Norwegian band that seems to be flying under the radar of most. That's not to say that there's anything revolutionary going on with Under Krigen, but the band does seem to have a good sense of what the Norwegian black metal sound is all about, with some strong melodies to offset the mid-paced riffs. While not reinventing the wheel, I can hear plenty to draw in fans of Satyricon, Gorgoroth, Ulver, and the like.
Tartaros - The Grand Psychotic Castle:
Despite Charmand Grimlock playing live keyboards for Emperor on their famed Empyrial Live Ceremony album/DVD/tour, very few seem to be familiar with his work outside of the band. He handles all instruments and composition in Tartaros, and while this is technically the same genre as Emperor in that period (symphonic black metal), this is quite a different animal. Some might find this to be a bit too campy and cheesy, but I absolutely love how this sounds like a black metal haunted house attraction. It just oozes with drama, symphonic grandeur, and spooky horror. He has a lot more room to stretch his influences here than he would have in Emperor, with even some electronic elements making their way in, but I would think that any symphonic black metal fan or gothic metal fan that might allow themselves to crack a smile really needs to give this a listen. I guess you could take it seriously if you want to, but it's a lot more fun to experience this like you would a haunted house and just have a bit of fun with it.
Tearstained - Nightmare Visions:
I don't think anyone would ever accuse Tearstained of being the most professional of metal bands, especially when factoring in the often amateurish vocals and lyrics, but I personally have a hard time arguing with anyone combining prime Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, and Bathory for just about any reason. Mikael is handling everything himself here, as many other black metal bands have, which is a difficult proposition and not one that everyone is capable of handling. Sometimes his reach exceeds his grasp, so I can't fault anyone for not getting into this, but I enjoy throwing it on when I'm in the mood for some first wave worshiping black metal. 
Thantifaxath - Sacred White Noise:
There will always be deniers and detractors from progress out there who think that the glory days of black metal are behind us, but honestly, it has to be hard to see anything but what's behind you when your head is wedged up your ass. Seriously, consider how much black metal had to evolve to get to the second wave point that these people want to cling to forever. Was it supposed to stop growing and evolving? Not as far as I'm concerned. Thantifaxath is one such band pushing the genre forward to exciting new horizons, building upon the foundations set before them and blazing new trails into the unknown. Some parallels can be drawn to the likes of Blut Aus Nord or Altar of Plagues, but Thantifaxath is really off in a world of their own. This is the kind of thing that gives me hope for the future of black metal, and shows us that there is always more to explore.
The Abyss - The Other Side:
The Abyss is a side project of Hypocrisy which featured all of the same members in different roles than in their main band. Despite being all of the same people, this avoids sounding like Hypocrisy playing black metal, and rather embodies a similar sound that is fairly typical of mid-90's Swedish black metal. This alternates between the more brutal blasting assaults of Marduk or Dark Funeral and a more melodic mid-paced style that has a bit more in common with the Norwegian scene from the time. All in all, it's a pretty solid listen, and it's too bad that they wouldn't continue with the band after two albums. 
The Black - The Priest of Satan:
The Black is another one of those bands that nobody would have heard of if not for a connection to a pretty well known musician in the scene. This is still a pretty obscure album, but it has made it into the hands of a few because Jon Nodtveidt of Dissection handles the vocals and guitars here. This is a great deal more raw and less complex than Dissection, but its "less is more" approach is actually pretty damn satisfying. Nothing world shattering here, but a great album for fans of Dissection or raw black metal to hear. 
The Royal Arch Blaspheme - The Royal Arch Blaspheme:
For those of you on the search for rotten and blasphemous sounding black metal, The Royal Arch Blaspheme is the answer to your... well, not prayers, I suppose... Anyway, this is truly some grisly and violent sounding black metal from Neil Jameson of Krieg and John Gelso of Profanatica. Thankfully, this is much more in line with the Profanatica side of USBM than the less interesting blasting style that we're accustomed to hearing from N. Imperial's Krieg, but this seems a bit more mid-paced and deliberate overall. The sound is still harrowing and filthy though, despite the clean production and tight performance, and would honestly appeal just as much to fans of raw death metal and war metal as to USBM fans. 
The Ruins of Beverast - Rain Upon the Impure:
The Ruins of Beverast might very well be my favorite black metal band of the modern era. Started by Alexander Von Meilenwald after the dissolution of his prior band Nagelfar, The Ruins of Beverast plays an extremely dark, gloomy, and personal form of atmospheric black metal with lengthy compositions that have a way of seducing you and drawing you into their bleeding arms. The band would incorporate more doom and death metal elements as they went along, and the atmosphere often coincides with the despair and mourning of funeral doom metal, but always in a way that is distinctly theirs. Every one of their albums are breathtaking, and they're easily the heaviest live band I have ever seen in my life. Stop what you're doing right now and hit the play button on this link, then buy all of their albums. You won't regret it.
Thorns - Thorns:
Thorns is the band of the infamous Snorre Ruch, who is most well known for driving Varg to and from the scene of the murder of Euronymous. Prior to this, he had recorded some demos as Thorns and Stigma Diabolicum, which were not only excellent, but also highly influential upon the nascent Norwegian black metal scene, before joining Mayhem on guitar. After his release from jail, he hooked up with Satyr to create this album of very forward thinking and industrial influenced black metal that is a lot like Satyricon's Rebel Extravaganza, but much better. That's not to say that I don't like that album, but this is head and shoulders above it to me. Hopefully there will be a followup one day, but if this is the only Thorns full length that we are left with, then I can't complain. 
Treblinka - Crawling in Vomits:
Before they became the mighty Tiamat, one of the earlier extreme metal bands to transition to exploring the still new territory of gothic metal, the band was known as Treblinka. Despite being named after a concentration camp, the band doesn't have any affiliation with Nazi ideology, but they did have a pretty classy and well arranged first wave black metal style that made them underground legends. The track above is from their first demo, but is more concise and better performed than what many of their peers were doing at the time. This is a cult classic, and a must have for first wave black metal fans, or anyone who thinks Bathory was the only Swedish black metal band of the 80's.

Nice, Immolation rules, especially "Here In After" and the couple albums right after that. I used to really love Hypocrisy but I haven't listened to them much in a long time. My listening really depends on my mood. Lately it's been dark old-school Finnish DM like Demilich, Convulse, Depravity, and early Amorphis, but I love more melody-driven prog death like Opeth, Edge Of Sanity, Akercocke, Disaffected, Death, and Atheist, and I'm also into a bunch of the dissonant stuff that's been gaining more steam over the past few years - Gorguts, Ulcerate, Ad Nauseam, etc.
With black metal I'm similarly all over the map - Bathory, Celtic Frost, early albums from Satyricon, Ulver, Rotting Christ, Darkthrone, a little bit of LLN stuff, melodic 90s bands like early Sacramentum and Naglfar, more recent melodic/progressive/atmospheric bands like Furia, Fen, Drudkh, and Wędrujacy Wiatr, and some dissonant stuff like DSO and Jute Gyte. 

I've been on here for several years, and while it doesn't have anywhere near MA's traffic, it doesn't have anywhere near the level of trolling or childish bullshit either. There's a small, but cool collective of regulars and a good vibe, and I know that you have good taste, so I think you'll be a great fit with us.

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