Blackened death metal

{{Short description|Fusion genre of black metal and death metal}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Blackened death metal | native_name = | etymology = | other_names = | image = | alt = | caption = | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Death metal|black metal}} | cultural_origins = Early-to-mid-1990s, {{hlist|Central Europe|Scandinavia|North America}} | derivatives = | subgenres = {{hlist|Melodic black-death|war metal}} | fusiongenres = | regional_scenes = | local_scenes = | other_topics = {{hlist|Melodic death metal|blackened death-doom}} }}

'''Blackened death metal''' (also known as '''black death metal''') is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal that fuses elements of black metal and death metal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/ninewinged-serpent-mw0000780983 |title=Ninewinged Serpent - Devian |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=AllMusic |access-date=3 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/hacavitz.htm |title=Hacavitz - Venganza Review |last=Bowar |first=Chad |work=About.com |access-date=3 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527142658/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/hacavitz.htm|archive-date=27 May 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The genre emerged in early 1990s when black metal bands began incorporating elements of death metal and vice versa. The genre typically employs death growls, tremolo picking, blast beats, and Satanic lyrics and imagery. Bands of the genre typically employ corpse paint, which was adapted from black metal.

==Characteristics== [[File:Behemoth 2009 0004.jpg|thumb|right|Orion, bassist of Behemoth performing 2009.]] The genre is commonly death metal that incorporates musical, lyrical or ideological elements of black metal, such as an increased use of tremolo picking, anti-Christian or Satanic lyrical themes and chord progressions similar to those used in black metal.<ref name="Sound, Symbol, Sociality">{{cite book |last1=Unger |first1=Matthew |title=Sound, Symbol, Sociality: The Aesthetic Experience of Extreme Metal Music |page=27}}</ref> Blackened death metal bands are also more likely to wear corpse paint and suits of armour, than bands from other styles of death metal.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gardner |first1=Robert Owen |title=Studies in Symbolic Interaction |page=119}}</ref> Lower range guitar tunings, death growls and abrupt tempo changes are common in the genre.<ref name=":0">{{Cite youtube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_rpgS73sPI |title=Blackened Death Metal band debate with Jason Deaville of Bravewords {{!}} LOCK HORNS (archive) |date=2016-10-05 |last=Dunn |first=Sam |author-link=Sam Dunn |last2=Deaville |first2=Jason |type=Podcast}}</ref> Some blackened death metal bands, such as Goatwhore and Angelcorpse, even take significant influence from thrash metal.<ref name=":0" />

==History== Both black metal and death metal evolved out of the same crop of early extreme metal bands such as Dark Angel, Possessed, Kreator, Sodom, Venom, Celtic Frost and Bathory,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mudrian |first1=Albert |title=Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780306818066 |url-access=registration |date=2009|publisher=Hachette Books |isbn=9780306818066 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=McIver |first1=Joel |title=Extreme Metal II|year=2000 |publisher=Omnibus |isbn=9780711980402 |url=https://archive.org/details/extrememetal00mciv |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kahn-Harris |first1=Keith |title=Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge}}</ref> leading to common elements between the genres being in place. Early death metal groups possessing certain elements in common with black metal include early Sepultura, Morbid Angel, and Deicide. John McEntee, guitarist and vocalist of death metal band Incantation, has noted that he and his band draw influence from black metal.<ref name=":0" /> Seminal black metal band Darkthrone began playing death metal before evolving into the style they would primarily become known for.<ref name="20 of the best black metal albums from the 1990s" />

Blasphemy crossed death metal and black metal on their debut album ''Fallen Angel of Doom'', giving way to the development of war metal.<ref name="20 of the best black metal albums from the 1990s">{{cite web |last1=Patterson |first1=Dayal |title=20 of the best black metal albums from the 1990s |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/20-of-the-best-black-metal-albums-from-the-1990s |website=Metal Hammer |date=20 July 2016 |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> Dissection evolved out of the Gothenburg melodic death metal scene, embracing black metal influences into their music and helping create melodic black-death thanks to their 1993 album ''The Somberlain''.<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" />

The year 1998 saw the release of Behemoth's album ''Pandemonic Incantations'', striking a stylistic change in the sound of the band's output from a traditional black metal style with generally pagan lyrical themes into a more death metal influenced sound with lyrics about the occult and Satan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Behemoth |url=https://culture.pl/en/artist/behemoth |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> After continuing this style, their 2000 album ''Thelema.6'' peaked at number 31 on the Polish Albums Charts.<ref>{{cite web |title=sales in the period November 13, 2000 - November 26, 2000 |url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=6&lang=pl |website=OLiS |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> Many of Behemoth's subsequent albums would continue to chart, with ''Demigod'' peaking at number 15,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=227&lang=en|title=OLiS - sales for the period 11.10.2004 - 17.10.2004|publisher=olis.onyx.pl|access-date=26 October 2011}}</ref> ''The Apostasy'' at number 9,<ref>{{cite web |title=sales for the period 02.07.2007 - 08.07.2007 |url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=406&lang=en |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> and ''Evangelion'' and ''The Satanist'' both at number one,<ref>{{cite web |title=sales for the period 10.08.2009 - 16.08.2009 |url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=528&lang=en |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=sales for the period 03.02.2014 - 09.02.2014 |url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=850&lang=en |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> with multiple albums charting worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=BEHEMOTH - EVANGELION (ALBUM) |url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Behemoth&titel=Evangelion&cat=a |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BEHEMOTH - EVANGELION |url=https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Behemoth&titel=Evangelion&cat=a |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40 |website=OfficialCharts.com |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20140209/112/ |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Chart History |magazine=Billboard |date=22 January 2015 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/behemoth/chart-history/tlp/ |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> American band Skeletonwitch's third, fourth and fifth albums peaked at numbers 151, 153 and 62, respectively, on the Billboard 200 charts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/Skeletonwitch/chart-history/billboard-200 |title=Chart History |publisher=Billboard 200 |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-date=10 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810150228/https://www.billboard.com/music/Skeletonwitch/chart-history/billboard-200 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Thy Art Is Murder, a band which previously played deathcore, moved into a style more similar to blackened death metal on their fourth album ''Dear Desolation'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Senior |first1=Nicholas |title=Album Review: Thy Art Is Murder – Dear Desolation |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/review-thy-art-murder-dear-desolation/ |access-date=8 August 2018|date=15 August 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Redmond |first1=Josh |title=REVIEWSREVIEW: Thy Art Is Murder – "Dear Desolation" |url=http://www.itdjents.com/reviews-2/review-thy-art-murder-dear-desolation/ |access-date=8 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808172333/http://www.itdjents.com/reviews-2/review-thy-art-murder-dear-desolation/ |archive-date=8 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> charting in eight different territories, including a peak at number five on the Australian Albums Charts and number seven on the New Zealand Heatseekers Albums.<ref>{{cite web |title=THY ART IS MURDER - DEAR DESOLATION (ALBUM) |url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Thy+Art+Is+Murder&titel=Dear+Desolation&cat=a |access-date=10 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=OFFICIAL TOP 40 ALBUMS |url=https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/albums?chart=4390 |access-date=10 August 2018 |archive-date=10 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810144245/https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/albums?chart=4390 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Similarly, New Jersey's Lorna Shore also began to tread into blackened death metal territory with their sophomore album "Flesh Coffin".<ref>{{cite web |last1=KENNELTY |first1=GREG |title=LORNA SHORE Gets Blackened And Technical On Its New Song, "Denounce The Light" |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/av/lorna-shore-gets-blackened-and-technical-on-its-new-song-denounce-the-light |website=Metal Injection |access-date=10 August 2018|date=16 November 2016 }}</ref>

==Stylistic divisions== ===Melodic black-death=== {{Infobox music genre | name = Melodic black-death | other_names = {{hlist|Blackened melodic death metal|melodic blackened death metal}} | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Melodic death metal|black metal}} | cultural_origins = Early to mid-1990s, Scandinavia (particularly Sweden) | derivatives = | subgenres = | fusiongenres = }} '''Melodic black-death'''<ref name="Dissection Clones" /> (also known as '''blackened melodic death metal''' or '''melodic blackened death metal''')<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> is a genre of extreme metal that describes the style created when melodic death metal bands began being inspired by black metal and European romanticism. However, unlike most other black metal, this take on the genre incorporates an increased sense of melody and narrative. Additionally, the use of the reverberation effect on the vocals is more common in this style.<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson">{{cite web |last1=ANDREW |first1=J |title=Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/lists/blackened-melodic-death-metal-a-history-lesson |website=Metal Injection |access-date=25 July 2018|date=19 February 2015 }}</ref> Some bands known to have performed the style include Dissection,<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /><ref name="Dissection Clones" />{{sfn|Ekeroth|2008|p=267}} Sacramentum,<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /><ref name="Dissection Clones" /> Naglfar,<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> Dawn,<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> Unanimated,<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> Thulcandra,<ref name="Dissection Clones" /><ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> Skeletonwitch,<ref>{{cite web |last1=WIEDERHORN |first1=JON |title=SKELETONWITCH: HOW AN ANTON LAVEY–LOVING EX–CHOIR MEMBER PUSHED THRASHERS TO NEW LEVEL |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/skeletonwitch-how-anton-lavey%E2%80%93loving-ex%E2%80%93choir-member-pushed-thrashers-new-level |website=Revolver |access-date=25 July 2018|date=18 June 2018 }}</ref> and Cardinal Sin.<ref name="Dissection Clones">{{cite magazine |last1=D |first1=Chris |title=Top 5 Dissection Clones |url=http://decibelmagazine.com/featured/36966/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325001026/http://decibelmagazine.com/featured/36966/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 March 2016 |magazine=Decibel |access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref>

Sweden's Dissection evolved alongside melodic death metal bands such as At the Gates and In Flames, by building upon the musical foundation laid by death metal and incorporating guitar melodies and harmonies amongst the standard brutality of the genre. However, unlike the other bands, Dissection began incorporating influences from black metal into their music,<ref name="Swedish Death Metal">{{cite book |last1=Ekeroth |first1=Daniel |title=Swedish Death Metal |page=267}}</ref> which lead to their debut album ''The Somberlain'' influencing a plethora of subsequent bands and Metal Injection dubbing them "one of the most important extreme metal bands of all time".<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> Sacramentum's debut and second albums ''Far Away from the Sun'' and ''The Coming of Chaos'' would then continue Dissection's style of black metal-infused melodic death metal, based around middle of the neck guitar riffing and howling vocals, while Vinterland would lean even more upon their black metal predecessors like Norway's Emperor.<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" /> Naglfar would base their sound primarily within that of Gothenburg metal bands like In Flames and Dark Tranquility, by taking a brighter and thrashier take on the style.<ref name="Blackened Melodic Death Metal: A History Lesson" />

===War metal=== {{Infobox music genre | name = War metal | native_name = | etymology = | other_names = {{hlist|Bestial black metal|war black metal}} | image = | alt = | caption = | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|First wave black metal|death metal|grindcore}} | cultural_origins = Late 1980s to early 1990s, Brazil, Canada, Finland | derivatives = | subgenres = | fusiongenres = | regional_scenes = | local_scenes = | other_topics = }}

[[File:Blasphemy @ Eindhoven Metal Meeting 021.jpg|left|thumb|Pioneering war metal band Blasphemy performing in 2017]]

'''War metal'''<ref name=mh112011>Robert Müller: ''Wollt Ihr den ewigen Krieg?''. ''Der tote Winkel''. In: ''Metal Hammer'', November 2011.</ref><ref name=wbm/><ref name=rh304>Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: ''SARCOFAGO''. ''I.N.R.I.'' In: ''Rock Hard'', Nr. 304, September 2012, p. 73.</ref> (also known as '''war black metal'''<ref name=wbm>Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: ''War Black Metal: Die Extremsten der Extremen''. ''Was bleibt, ist Schutt und Asche''. In: ''Rock Hard'', no. 279, pp. 71-73.</ref> or '''bestial black metal''')<ref name=rh304/> is a genre derived primarily from first-wave black metal,<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/> while incorporating elements of death metal and grindcore.<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/> It is aggressive,<ref name=wbm/> cacophonous<ref name=mh112011/> and chaotic<ref name=mh112011/><ref name=wbm/> and includes musical characteristics including tremolo picking, blast beats, growled or screamed vocals and lo-fi production.<ref name="Hoad, 2021" />

Brazilian band Sarcófago's debut album ''I.N.R.I.'' (1987), was a major influence upon the development of the genre.<ref name="mh112011">Robert Müller: ''Wollt Ihr den ewigen Krieg?''. ''Der tote Winkel''. In: ''Metal Hammer'', November 2011.</ref><ref name=wbm /><ref name=rh304>Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: ''SARCOFAGO''. ''I.N.R.I.'' In: ''Rock Hard'', Nr. 304, September 2012, p. 73.</ref>

The genre was pioneered by Canadian band Blasphemy on their debut album ''Fallen Angel of Doom'' (1990).<ref name="mh112011"/><ref name=wbm/><ref name=rh304>Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: ''SARCOFAGO''. ''I.N.R.I.'' In: ''Rock Hard'', Nr. 304, September 2012, p. 73.</ref> Kansas City, Missouri band Order from Chaos and many of the acts on the record label Ross Bay Cult were also early proponents in the genre.<ref name="Williams, 2017" /> The genre quickly developed a scene in Australia, with Sadistik Exekution and Bestial Warlust.<ref name="Hoad, 2021">{{cite book |last1=Hoad |first1=Catherine |title=Heavy Metal Music, Texts, and Nationhood (Re)sounding Whiteness |date=25 October 2021 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |page=163 |quote=Bands such as Bestial Warlust (formerly Corpse Molestation), Deströyer 666 and Sadistik Exekution were notable proponents of this style-short, fast songs, 'chaotic' sounds (heavy distortion, rapid tremolo picking, blast beats and growled or screeched vocals), and low-quality production are all generic conventions. This combination of thrash and death metal influences with the lyrical themes common to early black metal is regarded as a 'particularly Australian one' (Phillipov, 2008: 219).}}</ref> It was the members of Bestial Warlust who coined the name "war metal".<ref>{{cite web |title=Metal Scene Report |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/metal-scene-report-australia/ |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref> At this time, the Finnish scene was home to war metal bands Archgoat and Beherit.<ref name="Williams, 2017">{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Rhys |title=2017.Cult.Supremacy: The Year In War Metal |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/2017-cult-supremacy-the-year-in-war-metal/ |website=Invisible Oranges |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref> According to ''Invisible Oranges'', some see the genre as having begun with the 1996 formation of the Canadian band Conqueror, and as having concluded with the band's 1997 disbandment.<ref name="Williams, 2017" />

Other notable acts in the genre include Revenge, Diocletian, Teitanblood, Black Witchery, Axis of Advance,<ref>{{cite web |title=Microgenres: War Metal - A Primer |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/microgenres-war-metal-a-primer/ |website=Invisible Oranges |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref> Goat Semen,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Kim |title=Goat Semen Will See You in Hell |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/goat-semen-interview-2015/ |year=2015 |publisher=Vice}}</ref> Impiety,<ref name=wbm/> In Battle<ref>{{cite book|last=Ekeroth|first=David|title=Swedish Death Metal|year=2008|publisher=Bazillion Points|isbn=978-0-9796163-1-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jRRvfWp95FIC|access-date=13 March 2012|page=359}}</ref> and Zyklon-B.<ref>{{cite book|last=Christe|first=Ian|title=Sound of the beast: the complete headbanging history of heavy metal|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-380-81127-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWRv3E59V0YC|author-link=Ian Christe|access-date=13 March 2012|page=281|date=17 February 2004}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Blackened death metal Category:Culture of Europe Category:20th-century music genres Category:1990s in music Category:2000s in music Category:2010s in music Category:21st-century music genres Category:Heavy metal genres Category:Extreme metal