Coherent Black Metal Philosophy

[Clisthert]

I have been into black metal for many years now, and the philosophy was just as important to me when I first got into it as the music was.  But as time has gone on, I have realized that black metal does not seem to have one coherent philosophy, but many different ones that vary from subgenre to subgenre and even person to person.  But if one of the central things that is supposed to distinguish black metal from weaker forms of music is its central philosophy then shouldn’t it have one coherent philosophy?

If it is possible to have several different philosophies in black metal, then how are we to distinguish which ones fit and which ones don’t?  We certainly shouldn’t have any contradictions, which is one of the problems such pluralism could lead to.


What philosophy do you get from black metal?  Why do you pick that one above the others?  Which ones do you think must be rejected and on what grounds?

[Cargést]

http://www.anus.com/metal/about/philosophy/

I think this provides a pretty good overview of Metal Philosophy in general.  Black Metal Philosophy is the furthest refinement of the "general" Metal philosophy.

[Clisthert]

The section under black metal in that article talks about rejecting the comercialism of death metal and music influences.

I meant more the actual philisophical ideologies found in black metal like existentialism, nihilism, satanism,individualism, atheism, antitheism, paganism, nationalism, misanthropy ect...

[lord.aspie]

The section under black metal in that article talks about rejecting the comercialism of death metal and music influences.

I meant more the actual philisophical ideologies found in black metal like existentialism, nihilism, satanism,individualism, atheism, antitheism, paganism, nationalism, misanthropy ect...

Don't look at the lyrics, album art or interviews for insight into the philosophy, although they do play their part (the lyrics for Hvis Lyset Tar Oss for example).

Look at the actual spirit of the music for it's philosophy. When you start connecting with the atmosphere and the emotions it evokes, the philosophy of the genre and metal as a whole will be much more clear. You will start seeing what unifies it all.

[Reginald Gillette]

... if one of the central things that is supposed to distinguish black metal from weaker forms of music is its central philosophy then shouldn’t it have one coherent philosophy?

Supposed by whom?  If this IS supposed, who would have developed/codified the coherent philosophy? As far as I can tell, the originators were late-teenagers who had a range of closely-related opinions and ideas (Mayhem, Burzum, Immortal, Darkthrone, etc.).  They were not philosophers, or even crafters of philosophy.  That's the purview of Anus.com.   (And Liturgy HAWWWWW.)

This shouldn't de-legitimize black metal.  It actually shows unwitting genius, blended with feral headbanging.  YES! 

An interview with Quorthon (of Bathory) may illuminate:

I have personally never allowed for any personal ideologies to influence my music or lyrics...I am not religious and have no political ideals, so for myself personally, writing lyrics is just painting with words and creating a scene...

I do not think in terms of "genuine" or "true" metal versus "not-so-genuine" or "untrue" metal. My philosophy is; the more versatile and innovative a scene is, the more the audience will get out of it. It would be a very poor testimony if a scene were to contain only one style of music played exactly the same way, with the very same type of lyrics ...

http://www.anus.com/metal/about/interviews/quorthon/

[icKx]

They were not philosophers, or even crafters of philosophy.  That's the purview of Anus.com.   (And Liturgy HAWWWWW.)

Liturgy is like, really deep, like, transcendental black metal, man.

Fair warning -  I'm not responsible for any damage incurred by fists or objects thrown at your monitor as a result of watching this interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA_p2RLfpsk

[aquarius]

I meant more the actual philisophical ideologies found in black metal like existentialism, nihilism, satanism,individualism, atheism, antitheism, paganism, nationalism, misanthropy ect...

They should be viewed as different sides of the same coin rather than distinct ideological offshoots of black metal.

[imperialomen]

maybe the only philosophy of black metal is do what you want and express your freedom. And forget what crap anyone else wants to tell you is considered a rule for black metal ( there are no rules black metal can be necro and intense or symphonic and sad)

[Cargést]

maybe the only philosophy of black metal is do what you want and express your freedom. And forget what crap anyone else wants to tell you is considered a rule for black metal ( there are no rules black metal can be necro and intense or symphonic and sad)

Maybe...

But no.

[freshblood]

I think that this may be kind of impossible, because (IIRC) one of the original tenets of black metal was that no two bands were allowed were allowed to sound the same...

Personally, I've always viewed it as a 'family resemblance' (the Wittgenstein theory) as opposed to a 'essence', as in there are a collection of features that black metal bands have, and to be defined as such you have to feature a certain number of them.

[Ksatria/Gang_Rapist]

Wittgenstein and analytic philosophy in general, while interesting, seem superfluous in a study of Black Metal. Nietzsche's Antichrist is still the best starting point, a whirlwind of art-philosophy that makes of life a choice - the unexplored North is for the few.

In my opinion only: Black Metal is dwelling in the abyss of the spirit to create out of nothingness aural spectres that sing the structure of the inherent, lifting the veil of subject separated from object to marvel at its transcendent beauty. Oh, and kill the Chrisitans.

[freshblood]

Wittgenstein and analytic philosophy in general, while interesting, seem superfluous in a study of Black Metal. Nietzsche's Antichrist is still the best starting point, a whirlwind of art-philosophy that makes of life a choice - the unexplored North is for the few.

In my opinion only: Black Metal is dwelling in the abyss of the spirit to create out of nothingness aural spectres that sing the structure of the inherent, lifting the veil of subject separated from object to marvel at its transcendent beauty. Oh, and kill the Chrisitans.

My comment had nothing to do with Wittgenstein in regards to what the actual elements of black metal are, only as a method to helping define the term.

[scourge]

Search is our ally.

Ignore the end user spoo and read admin's answers: What is "Black" to you?

Some additional groundwork: Nietzsche's Moral and Political Philosophy

This was an attempt to address the How that entirely neglects the Why, which in my view is the most important aspect to explore.

[Transcix]

Although often I enjoy listening to different kinds of black metal because it's not always sonically obvious what the music's motivating ideologies and beliefs are, ideally I reject all black metal that finds worthiness in suffering, misery, weakness or ignorance or that treats the true nature of reality as cold, barren or tormenting. I appreciate black metal for its directness, severity, aggressiveness, passion, sense of strength, victory and nobility and for how it portrays certain facets of the divine's impersonal nature in an experientially cathartic / transcendent way.

[omen_of_deth]

its a really good subject to be talking about, i felt like you that either many dont get it or there is just too many philosophies that was later brought to black metal, to me the main principals for black metal are hate, individualism , and anti religion its emphasize more in black metal, than in any other form, and unlike other genres that started out against conformity and became apart of it, black metal has stayed pure the longest, so add to all that underground, and you got the black metal philosophy, black metal is too deep to have just one general idea logy, so there is a lot of place for expansion and even for posers to sneak in and taint it...