The Atmospheric Black Metal Thread

I'm a big fan of "Dead as Dreams" although I do find it to be a touch overrated by the Americans as I don't think it's quite as classic as it's often made out to be. It's certainly a very solid & highly enjoyable black metal record though. I've not too sure it should qualify as ABM. It's always seemed closer to conventional black metal to my ears. 4/5

I'm a big fan of "Dead as Dreams" although I do find it to be a touch overrated by the Americans as I don't think it's quite as classic as it's often made out to be. It's certainly a very solid & highly enjoyable black metal record though. I've not too sure it should qualify as ABM. It's always seemed closer to conventional black metal to my ears. 4/5

Coulda been the headphones I had.  Sounded pretty atmo with the Onn gaming set.  Not amazingly atmo, so I get you on this one.

Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss (1994)

Genres: Atmo-Black Metal

Looking at old reviews for albums is a good way to see just how much you've changed. In this instance, it's one of Burzum's crowning gems, the one he wrote right before his legendary (tho overrated IMO) Filosofem. The name is Hvis lyset tar oss, which is Norwegian for "If the Light Takes Us." At this point in time, much like Filosofem, I can't say I like this one as much as I used to. I even knocked off a whole star from my Filosofem rating when I heard it. But I don't think I'll go quite that far. Back then, I liked Filosofem more, by a 2/100 edge (92 vs. 90). This time, I'd say I like this much more than Filosofem, which only had a 93.

In my old review, I mentioned that Burzum expressed his anger perfectly. I really don't think so anymore. Hearing so many professional and even frightening shrikes and growls in my time as a metal fan, now Burzum's voice sounds unpolished and even a little dorky, like he's trying either too hard or not hard enough. Otherwise, the music itself is pretty good. I got it right in my older review when I said that Burzum delivers on the basics of atmo-black well enough. This album is cold and treacherous, much like an actual blizzard. There are synths in the back but they're typically faint and not forced, working just well enough to add a little spice to these four epics. But the thing about these epics is that they largely have a one-track mind, so once again, it's more about the atmosphere than the music. Still, it's a careful, though not too experimental, blend of atmo, depressive and traditional black metal with a little dungeon synth on the side.

So I would say in my current state as a music buff that Burzum's album right before Filosofem has the edge. I didn't really expect to like it more than Filosofem at first, but I'd say that this one feels more like an actual music album, and it doesn't have an overdone 25-minute ambient track at the end, but rather a synth track which feels like something out of a Tangerine Dream album (it has a 14-minute one, which is still overdone but easier on more melodic ears and actually showing clever shifts in gear).

76

Wolves in the Throne Room - "Diadem of 12 Stars" (2006)

It's easy to overlook the debut full-length from these highly regarded Cascadian black metallers from Washington in the wake of their much more classic sophomore record "Two Hunters" but "Diadem of 12 Stars" is still a very solid effort with a lot of high-quality ideas. I particularly enjoy the vocals & the more brutal blast beat sections. Unfortunately, the clean female vocals that appear sporadically across the album are pretty ordinary & the tracklisting starts off a little slowly, not really hitting its stride until the back third of the second of the four lengthy tracks. The B side is where all of the action is though &, even though each song contains its weaker sections, there's just enough premium black metal on offer to make "Diadem of 12 Stars" a minor treat for our The North members.  While the rumours of "Diadem of 12 Stars" being a genuine classic may be misguided, I wouldn't suggest that it's overrated either.

For fans of Altar of Plagues, Panopticon & Weakling.

4/5

Summoning - "Stronghold" (1999)

Is this the best release from Austrian epic/atmospheric black metal duo Summoning? Perhaps. Does that mean that it doesn't suck? Nup. Still cheesy as fuck. There are a couple of decent tracks here though, namely "Long Lost to Where No Pathway Goes" & closer "A Distant Flame Before the Sun" (my personal favourite). That leaves "Stronghold" feeling like a step up from some of Summoning's other popular releases like 2001's "Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame".

For fans of Caladan Brood, Emyn Muil & Elffor.

3/5

I think it's a good step forward for the dungeon sound, but I've fallen a little out of favor with them after having so much black metal under my belt now.  One of the first symphonic black metal albums I ever heard.

Negură Bunget - "OM" (2006)

I first encountered Romanian black metallers Negură Bunget through the tape trading scene back in the mid-1990's with their 1996 "Zîrnindu-să" debut release not doing very much for me to tell you the truth. I wouldn't encounter them again until Ben introduced me to their fourth full-length "OM" upon my return to metal from a decade-long hiatus in 2009 & I have to admit that I initially found it to be a challenge for a few reasons. Time saw me warming to it though & I now find myself returning to "OM" semi-regularly, if not claiming it to be the masterpiece that many punters would have you believe it is.

"OM" possesses a very clear personality that's all its own with its array of different sounds & influences being presented in a fairly coherent way throughout & the main attraction being the full, lush synthesizer sounds of front man Hupogrammos (Dordeduh/Sunset in the 12th House) & fellow guitarist Sol Faur (Dordeduh/Sunset in the 12th House). Hupogrammos' vocal performance is passionate & authentic too which fits the requirement nicely. Unfortunately, all is not roses though with the thin rhythm guitar tone & weak snare sound leaving a little to be desired & not doing a very good job at masking the instrumentalist's obvious technical limitations. The six-string performances of both men are fairly sloppy at times while drummer Negru's blast beats are an absolute rabble that should never have been attempted on the evidence presented here. Thankfully though, the atmospherics on display throughout "OM" are generally quite stunning which allows the album to overcome those deficiencies reasonably comfortably. It certainly helps that the opening three tracks are nothing short of marvelous & it's a little disappointing that the quality dial never quite reaches those heights again for the remainder of this lengthy 67-minute release. Progressive folk metal number "Hora soarelui" is the only genuine disappointment included though with its bouncy folk melodies being a little too much for this battle-hardened extreme metalhead to cope with.

For all its failings, I find "OM" to be an endearing listen these days, as well as being the clear career high-point of Negură Bunget's inconsistent recording career overall.

For fans of Dordeduh, Marțolea & Darkestrah.

4/5