One of my first posts on this blog detailed my obsession with the extreme metal genre known as black metal. (You can read that post here.) While I’ve since moved on to other styles of music, I still keep an ear out for powerful black metal, and, in light of recent events in the news, I believe the time is right to begin my series on Middle Eastern black metal.
For all things metal, the best online resource by far is the Encyclopaedia Metallum which lists just about every metal act ever spawned since the genre came into existence, from bands that released a demo in 1981 and disappeared to the established names that have come to define heavy metal as a whole. One of the most fascinating aspects of the site is the ability to search by country, which really opens the eyes to the extensive reach of metal. If you create a free account, you can refine the search even further, which is how I discovered Iran’s black metal scene.
As I delved deeper into this seeming non sequitur, I found THE MISTY GRAVEYARD, Iran’s “first black metal magazine-label” which offered free downloads of its releases. Sadly, The Misty Graveyard is gone, having shut down June 7, 2009, perhaps in expectation of the coming election. (This is pure speculation on my part – I have nothing to back this up.) I had the good fortune of downloading several MG releases while they were still around, though, and I was completely floored by what I heard. Also, it seems that most of the MG catalog has moved to the Antihuman-Antilife blog where it remains available.
Here are the three Iranian black metal releases that grabbed me the most:
ARAS – Depressive Rebellion (Misty Graveyard)
Depressive Rebellion opens with “Perplexity in Isthmus,” a folk-inspired instrumental played on a traditional Persian instrument. Right away, I was impressed. Scandinavian black metal bands have been known to use traditional folk elements in their music, but hearing a Persian twist staunchly defined the music as Middle Eastern. The album then launches into Aras’ loud, raw, depressive black metal. Here, lone band member LORD ARAS delivers atmospheric paeans to deep, dark emotional turmoil creating a soundscape that is both dreamy and nightmarish. The music is almost psychedelic, with layers of guitars in the forefront augmented by heavily distorted keyboards and propelled by a driving rhythm section. The vocals are an incomprehensible growl just underneath the guitars. Aras easily ranks up there with XASTHUR in the depth of songwriting and emotional delivery. This is an excellent black metal album that deserves recognition from the West. You can hear Depressive Rebellion here.
DE MYSTERIIUM – “The Slaughter of Holy Flesh” EP (Misty Graveyard)
De Mysteriium are different in that they’re an instrumental black metal duo comprised of IMPALER (guitar/programming) and HELLION (bass). Their music is epic, majestic and ethereal while retaining the edge, darkness and misery of the best black metal. Actually, the four songs on this EP could provide the soundtrack for a violent Dungeons & Dragons-type fantasy film, especially the eerie final track, “The Dark Spirit of the Night.” Unfortunately, this EP hasn’t been moved to the Antihuman-Antilife blog, but you can download the equally excellent, though less fantastical, Cold Days in Experience album here.
SORG INNKALLELSE – Into the Dark Tower (Hexenreich)
The duo of MURKMYTH (vocals/bass) and SADSOUL (guitar/programming) create some some great atmospheric black metal that combines the technical brutality of GORGOROTH with the majesty of BURZUM and the lo-fi/DIY aesthetic of ILDJARN. The slight delay on the grim, growling vocals and the epic, droning quality of the songs give Sorg Innkallelse a psychedelic edge. “With Ancient Torches in Our Hands” and “Lethal Invasion” provide driving, memorable riffs, while “Cryptic Signs of Demise” and the title track are sheer aggressive onslaughts. This album isn’t available for download, as far as I know, but it is still available as a CDR from Hexenreich Records, which is how I have it. (Get it before it goes out of print.) You can, however, sample the unique Sorg Innkallelse sound here with the excellent “Cut the Treacherous Head” single.
And while it’s none of my business as I don’t have a drop of Persian blood in me, I’m not ashamed of saying that I agree with the protesters and Ahmadinejad has to go. I wish you all the best of luck.
