Wahn_nhaW wrote:
hakarl wrote:
In the last 10-15 years, a certain segment of metal bands have started to master the use of dissonance in creating the nightmarish soundscapes that extreme metal has always evoked. From Deathspell Omega to Ulcerate and all the way to Throane, as well as entire scenes of dissonant black metal especially in Iceland and France.
Post-metal has brought in a greater understanding of dynamics into metal. I still see a lot of potential in developing the use of dynamics in metal. To use orchestral music an an analogy, metal's development is still in the baroque phase where the use of dynamics is limited to altering between passages of varying dynamics, where the loudness and quietness of each passage, individually, is uniform. There are really no technical hurdles to overcome in order for overdriven electric sounds to be used in a more dynamically fluid way, as there may have been in the 80s and 90s. The only obstacle for this development is creativity, skill, and the interest of listeners.
Excellent post! What do you recommend from the three bands you mentioned? Like, give me an album/EP from each. What should I pay attention to? And I've been hearing about the Icelandic black metal scene, but I don't know where to start.
Must admit I've only intermittently followed new releases in the past 10-15 years. I'm definitely set in my ways, but I could use some new stuff. Of the obstacles you mention, I think the last one, the interest of listeners, is the crucial problem. I know it, because I'm part of the problem.
From Deathspell Omega, I'd recommend Chaining the Katechon as a starting point. It makes very clear the artistic statement that drives the main body of their work, but by not being the most developed example of it, it leaves a lot of room to explore their discography. After that I'd recommend the Trilogy, but in reverse order: Paracletus, Fas, Si Monumentum Requires.
Ulcerate's discography is much simpler. The first album is chaotic tech-death, then Everything Is Fire is the first one in the style that the band is famous for. It's somewhat more streamlined and less atmospheric than some of the following albums, but it can be a great starting point. The new album is also a great starting point.
Throane has just two albums and an EP. I recommend starting with the debut album.
As for the Icelandic scene, I see Svartidauði's Flesh Cathedral as a sort of centerpiece of that whole movement. It's the earliest full-length, and arguably the boldest artistic statement at the time. I consider Zhrine to be the crown jewel of the scene, and then bands like Misþyrming and Carpe Noctem have made excellent albums that I'd recommend exploring next.