Decay as a black metal symbol

Abstract

C o p y r i g h t I n t e l l e c t L t d 2 0 1 8 N o t f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n mms 4 (1) pp. 00-00 Intellect Limited 2018 metal music studies Volume 4 Number 1 ABSTRACTThis article intends to dissect black metal's interestingly twisted relationship with decay. A deep study encompassing symbols of atrophy, with the eventual intention of observing and analysing them through a kaleidoscope of philosophical thought, influenced by, amongst others, the musings of Bataille, Kant and Nietzsche. Issues appearing in both the real and the metaphorical will be placed under inspection, and a suitably blackened light will be shone towards the extent of how black metal exists and thrives in the organic collapse of matter and sound. There will be discussions on how black metal has itself become attuned to decay and how the two processes feed off each other, exist in harmonic conjunction and on rare occasions, oppose the other's being. How black metal has metastasized with atrophy. Here we shall see two forces inexplicably intertwined, the numerous links given exposure and attempted understanding in the realm of black metal theory.Walking through genocidal remnants With a hate-fuelled heart Stabbing even at the tears of withering corpses, Will there even be a word known as death anymore, When left is nothing to kill? 1 1. Xasthur (2004). KEYWORDS black metal decay atrophy subculture entropy metal Decay as a black metal symbolC o p y r i g h t I n t e l l e c t L t d 2 0 1 8 N o t f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n Kevin Hoffin 2 metal music studies 7. Celestia (2008).

Music and Identity: Immortal Rites’ Art as the Narrative of Contemporary Kejawen Identity

“…Meanwhile, the essence of the Black Metal itself is a resistance, a "child, conceived from the promiscuous intermingling of number evil seeds, with only the general of Heavy Metal as its fecund womb" (Hjelm et al, 2012;Moynihan & Soderlind, 1998, p. 23). In its aesthetics, Black Metal mostly heightens a greater sense of evil, hate, horror, darkness, violence, noise, misanthropy, and terror rather than Heavy Metal (Floeckher, 2009;Hoffin, 2018;Kahn-Harris, 2007;Masciandaro & Connole, 2015;Moynihan & Soderlind, 1998;Patterson, 2013;Podoshen et al, 2018;Vrzal, 2017;Williams, 2012). Black Metal became the main and foremost medium for propagating "left-hand" sentiments, such as the discourse of paganism, occultism, satanism, anti-religion, fascism, radical environmentalism, atheism, and even monotheism (Cordero, 2009;Fischer, 2022;Granholm, 2013;Hagen, 2011;Irtenkauf, 2014;Manea, 2020;Moynihan & Soderlind, 1998;Noys, 2010;Wilson, 2010).…”

Attitudinal meaning and social struggle in heavy metal song lyrics: a corpus-based analysis

“…Frandsen (2010) compared such self-destruction to rituals of rediscovering one's true self, from being alienated to finding fellow metalheads and sacrificing for the community. In fact, the extensive depiction of "decaying bodies" (negative reaction), according to Hoffin (2018), symbolises the metal belief that decay/destruction brings about new consciousness. This is consistent with British metal bands' inclination to portray dystopia for the sake of criticising and rectifying social wrongs (Taylor 2009).…”