BLACK METAL Meaning and
Definition
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Black metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in the early 1980s. It is characterized by its raw and aggressive sound, often featuring fast-paced guitar riffs, blast beats on the drums, and shrieking or growling vocals. Lyrically, black metal is known for its dark and occult themes, often focused on topics like Satanism, paganism, and anti-Christianity.
Musically, black metal typically incorporates elements of extreme speed and brutality, accompanied by a distinctive cold and grim atmosphere. The guitar riffs often employ tremolo picking techniques, creating a buzzing and eerie sound. The vocals in black metal are usually high-pitched screams or deep growls, adding to the menacing and sinister nature of the genre.
In addition to its musical characteristics, black metal is also associated with a distinct visual aesthetic and ideology. Bands and fans often embrace a dark and occult image, wearing corpse paint (face paint resembling the dead) and adopting a more theatrical stage presence. The genre is known for its rejection of mainstream commercialization and its emphasis on individualism and independence.
Black metal has had a significant impact on the wider heavy metal scene and has influenced a variety of other subgenres. It has garnered both praise and controversy due to its extreme and controversial nature, but remains a popular and influential genre within the metal community.
Common Misspellings for BLACK METAL
- Blak Metal
- Bleck Metal
- Blac Metal
- Blacck Metal
- Back Metal
- Bleak Metal
- Belack Metal
- Blck Metal
- Blec Metal
- Black Metl
Etymology of BLACK METAL
The term "black metal" originated in the 1980s as a genre descriptor for a particular style of extreme metal music. The etymology can be broken down as follows:
1. Black: The word "black" stems from Old English "blæc", and has been used historically to refer to the color associated with darkness, evil, and death. In the context of black metal, the term relates to the dark themes, occult imagery, and sinister atmosphere often present in the music.
2. Metal: The term "metal" refers to the broader genre of heavy metal music, which emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by its aggressive, distorted guitar sounds, complex guitar solos, and powerful vocals. Black metal emerged as a subgenre and extension of the broader metal genre, incorporating more extreme elements and a distinct aesthetic.
