BLACK METAL ORIGINATES FROM THE 1980·S AND WAS

STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY MANY THRASH BANDS.

Like Celtic Frost, Venom AND Hellhammer.

CULTURALLY THE MUSIC SEEMS TO DESCEND FROM

SCANDINAVIA, LIKE NORWEIGIAN BANDS LIKE MAYHEM.

BLACK METAL MUSIC USUALLY HAS A FAST BEAT/TEMPO

SHRIEKED RATHER THAN SUNG VOCALS.
DISTORTED GUITAR SOUNDS
UNCONVENTIONAL SONG STRUCTURE

Usually quite graphic lyrics.

Bands do not usually perform concerts, if so then

they are very theatrical.

Props are often used, special effects, costume, etc

BLACK METAL IS SEEN AS ¶UNDERGROUND· MUSIC.
IT HAS A STRONG ANTI-CHRISTIAN MESSAGE OR
SATANISM.
MANY PERFORERS WEAR THE CROSS OF ST. PETER OR
THE SIGIL OF BAPHOMET, THE EMBLEM OF THE
CHURCH OF SATAN.

Many black metal bands from scandinavia have

been linked to church burnings, like
gorgoroth who often praise the concept!
Black Metal also has links to
white nationalism
fascist satanism
extreme individualism
national socialism ² nazism

Gorgoroth·s music video of the song

´carving a giantµ
really incorporates many of the symbols.
!
 
 !  

Use of crucifix, slayed bodies, dripping blood

Corpse like appearence, spiked wristbands,
Combat boots, bullet belts, fire burning.

Looks as though set in a cave, giving the

appearence of hell.
Best blACK METAL BANDS:

BURZUM

DARKTHRONE

EMPEROR

BATHORY

BORKNAGAR

GRAVELAND

MAYHEM

IMMORTAL
Codes and conventions of black metal music videos

BURZUM ² DUNKELHEIT... WOLF, DEATH SYMBOLS.

MAINLY DISTORTED GUITAR SOUNDS, NO SINGING VOCALS
MORE BACKGROUND NOISES/TALKING.

EMPEROR ² EMPTY... MENTAL ASYLUM? STRAIGHT JACKET

FLASHING LIGHTS, BLACK AND WHITE CONTRAST TO
UNUSUAL COLOURS E.G. BRIGHT GREEN, PALE SKIN-
VAMPIRIC APPEARENCE. MORGUE, HEARSE. FUNERAL.

BATHORY ² ONE RODE TO ASA BAY... MEDIEVAL, MONKS

VIKING. AGAIN FLAmes burning. Use of religious
symbols. Dark lighting.

Ulver ² it is not sound... Almost animated form of

music video. Dark trees branches. Appear in many
music videos somehow. Monks, religious figures.
Castles, bow and arrow, medieval weaponry.
Night sky, moon and stars.