I'm not that much into Black Metal, especially the "raw" subgenre, but wish to expand my listening of the genre. I currently own both Emperor's and Mayhem's studio albums and some by Satyricon and Enslaved.
Taking that into account, which album by Marduk, Darkthrone and Immortal should I buy first? From what I gathered from a few metal friends IRL, it should be "La Grand Danse Macabre", "Transylvanian Hunger" and "Sons of Northern Darkness".
Thanks in advance for your help!
I would get "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" by Darkthrone first, and "Pure Holocaust" by Immortal if you're looking to widen your appreciation of raw black metal. While "Transilvanian Hunger" is a classic obviously, I think that "A Blaze..." has the best songwriting and depth of their early period. I don't like or listen to Marduk, so I can't really help you there. Also, if you can look past his extra-curricular activities, the first four Burzum records are absolutely essential.
Chris McDonald: I would get "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" by Darkthrone first, and "Pure Holocaust" by Immortal if you're looking to widen your appreciation of raw black metal. While "Transilvanian Hunger" is a classic obviously, I think that "A Blaze..." has the best songwriting and depth of their early period. I don't like or listen to Marduk, so I can't really help you there. Also, if you can look past his extra-curricular activities, the first four Burzum records are absolutely essential.
This pretty much fits my recommendations, too. Marduk isn't that great past Heaven Shall Burn...
Chris McDonald: Also, if you can look past his extra-curricular activities, the first four Burzum records are absolutely essential.
Also, if you can look past his extra-curricular activities, the first four Burzum records are absolutely essential.
I'm pretty familiar with Burzum's discography. Frankly, I don't find the music that engaging, and I believe that without the "extra-curricular" factor, maybe this band wouldn't be so well known, but that's just a hypothesis because there's no way we can know now, I guess. Anyway, I don't want this to degenerate into a Varg thrashing thread, since if the music's so popular, it must have a lot of value that I don't get. Your recomendation is very appreciated, nevertheless.
The two Marduk albums worth looking into are their first and third, Dark Endless and Opus Nocturne. Anything beyond that is only worth hearing if you become a fan...there's nothing essential about 'em.
As for Immortal, At The Heart of Winter and Sons of Northern Darkness are great starting points. I'm in the minority, but I think their earlier, rawer stuff sucks ass.
Reverend Campbell: The two Marduk albums worth looking into are their first and third, Dark Endless and Opus Nocturne. Anything beyond that is only worth hearing if you become a fan...there's nothing essential about 'em. As for Immortal, At The Heart of Winter and Sons of Northern Darkness are great starting points. I'm in the minority, but I think their earlier, rawer stuff sucks ass.
That's because you're wrong.
Twilight Frost: Reverend Campbell: As for Immortal, At The Heart of Winter and Sons of Northern Darkness are great starting points. I'm in the minority, but I think their earlier, rawer stuff sucks ass. That's because you're wrong.
Reverend Campbell: As for Immortal, At The Heart of Winter and Sons of Northern Darkness are great starting points. I'm in the minority, but I think their earlier, rawer stuff sucks ass.
Never claimed to be right.
I think I need to go back and revisit PH and DFM before I can write them off for good, but Blizzard Beasts and Battles in the North are going to be collecting dust on my rack for the forseeable future.
Reverend Campbell: Twilight Frost: Reverend Campbell: As for Immortal, At The Heart of Winter and Sons of Northern Darkness are great starting points. I'm in the minority, but I think their earlier, rawer stuff sucks ass. That's because you're wrong. Never claimed to be right. I think I need to go back and revisit PH and DFM before I can write them off for good, but Blizzard Beasts and Battles in the North are going to be collecting dust on my rack for the forseeable future.
If you don't at least like Pure Holocaust, there's probably something wrong with you. DFM is a different animal from all of their other releases.
While I do enjoy them, I'd have to agree that Blizzard Beasts and Battles in the North are Immortal's worst albums.
As for Marduk, I've always been a fan, but I'd suggest going with their newest one, Rom 5.12. It Rips.
What can I say about Darkthrone. For a true BM fan, pretty much everything after Soulside Journey is essential IMO.
Reason's Voice: While I do enjoy them, I'd have to agree that Blizzard Beasts and Battles in the North are Immortal's worst albums. As for Marduk, I've always been a fan, but I'd suggest going with their newest one, Rom 5.12. It Rips. What can I say about Darkthrone. For a true BM fan, pretty much everything after Soulside Journey is essential IMO.
Soulside Journey, on the other hand, is essential for the true death metal fan. Great old school DM record.
I can't stand Marduk. Mar Duk Hurtz. Ba dum psssh.
I never really got into Immortal either, unlike most people. I'd feel kind of dumb as a metalhead if I didn't listen to their entire discography though. They're one of those bands.
Darkthrone, on the other hand, I am big on. Yeah, get the early stuff, but make room for the last three. I like stupid, sloppy, punky, rock n' roll and them albums are grand.
Not a giant fan of most black metal myself, esp the "raw" stuff, i'm not sure how valued my input is on this. Oh well, your getting it anyways!
Marduk's newest is pretty decent, but doesn't stay in regular rotation or anything. My fav track on that is the one with Nemtheanga from primordial on it. Definitaly not a fan of marduks vocals.
As for Immortal, I have to agree that their earlier stuff isn't that great IMO. Later stuff is amazing though. At the Heart of Winter and Sons of Northern Darkness would probably tie for my favs, w/ Dammed in Black a close second.
I need to hear more Darkthrone before i can make up my mind about them....
I associate "raw" with "cool riffs" so I tend to gravitate toward that "stuff."
Munnin: Chris McDonald: Also, if you can look past his extra-curricular activities, the first four Burzum records are absolutely essential. I'm pretty familiar with Burzum's discography. Frankly, I don't find the music that engaging, and I believe that without the "extra-curricular" factor, maybe this band wouldn't be so well known, but that's just a hypothesis because there's no way we can know now, I guess. Anyway, I don't want this to degenerate into a Varg thrashing thread, since if the music's so popular, it must have a lot of value that I don't get. Your recomendation is very appreciated, nevertheless.
I am a huge fan of Burzum's first four albums, and I feel like I let Varg's extracurricular activities deny myself great music for years, which was a mistake. Gotta separate the art from the artist. Besides, no one talks about Frank Sinatra with murderous black metal dudes or gangsta rappers, but he was mafia backed and had people whacked. So fuggedaboutit.
If you are dead set on Marduk I would definitely agree Rom 5:12 is worth checking out. Nothing else they've put out really did much for me.