Old School Black Metal
Reading about, writing about and listening to old black metal!
Michael Moynihan & Didrik Soderlind – Lords of Chaos (Feral House, 2003)
I’m almost done with the book, but, unfortunately, even though it’s basically the seminal text on black metal, I’m pretty disappointed with it. The book is much more concerned with the crimes associated with black metal than the music itself, so, instead of getting an idea of what Oystein Aarseth, aka Euronymous, guitarist of Mayhem was like, what motivaed him, etc., I get the sordid details of church burnings, murders and grave desecrations. As a music biography, it’s severely lacking, but it works as a true crime book.
Bathory – Bathory (Under One Flag/Black Mark)
Bathory’s first album took Venom‘s bastardization of Motorhead to an even more extreme level. Raw production and ridiculous Satanic lyrics with memorable Fast Eddie Clarke-style riffs make this album more punk than metal.
Hellhammer – Apocalyptic Raids EP (Noise)
Before Tom G. Warrior and Martin Ain formed Celtic Frost (see below), they were Hellhammer. Another band that was more punk than metal, this EP would fit right in with your ’80s hardcore collection. The only real difference is that the lyrics are about Satan instead of politics.
Sarcofago – INRI (Cogumelo)
This Brazilian band basically defined the black metal image as we know it today, was a huge influence on Euronymous from Mayhem and they barely got a mention in Lords of Chaos! Sacrilege (and not in the good way)! This album is about as intense and brutal as they come. An over-looked metal classic.
Celtic Frost – Morbid Tales/Emperor’s Return (Noise)
Celtic Frost’s first two EPs were only slightly more metal than their previous band, Hellhammer (see above).
Sodom – In the Sign of Evil EP (Steamhammer/SPV) & Obsessed By Cruelty (Steamhammer/SPV)
These first two releases from Sodom were sloppy, ridiculously fast Motorhead worship with “evil” lyrics. Another very punk metal band. Euronymous was such a huge fan that he named his record label Deathlike Silence Productions after one of their songs (which, oddly enough, wasn’t mentioned in Lords of Chaos – it’s like they didn’t really listen to the music they were writing about).
Mercyful Fate – Don’t Break the Oath (Roadrunner/Combat) & The Beginning (Roadrunner)
King Diamond is the Frankie Valli of metal and Mercyful Fate were awesome.
Destruction – Sentence of Death EP (Steamhammer)
These guys could actually play, so there are some wanky guitar solos, making this EP more metal than punk, but it’s still filthy, fast and furious.
Sodom – Persecution Mania (Steamhammer/SPV)
On their third release, Sodom were finally a tight-knit unit. They even covered Motorhead’s “Iron Fist” and pulled it off!
Bathory – Blood Fire Death (Under One Flag/Black Mark)
Bathory’s fourth album and the first to move in a viking metal direction. It has some really good songs, but I prefer the rough and brutal early sound.
