Symphonic black metal

Symphonic black metal
Stylistic origins Black metal
Symphonic metal
Cultural origins Early 1990s, Norway
Typical instruments Electric guitar - Bass guitar - Drums - Keyboard - Violin - other acoustic and electronic instruments
Mainstream popularity Moderate

Symphonic black metal is a black metal subgenre that emerged in the mid to late 1990s.[1] The genre is known for its symphonic and orchestral elements and is centralized in Europe.

Characteristics

Symphonic black metal is a style of black metal that uses symphonic and orchestral elements. This may include the usage of melodic instruments found in the sections of a symphony orchestra (string instruments, brass instruments, woodwinds and keys). Vocals can be "clean" or operatic in style, song structures are more defined or are inspired by symphonies. However, much of the characteristics of "traditional" black metal are retained, such as shrieked vocals, fast tempos and high-pitched electric guitars often played with tremolo picking. The sound is not always literally symphonic; that simply refers to the thick-sounding instrumentation, arpeggios and dramatic soundscapes. Nor is its connection to black metal always readily audible; although nearly all of symphonic black metal bands started out playing standard black metal, symphonic black metal often bears little surface resemblance to its immediate forebear. Black metal groups began emphasizing the guitar and adding elements of progressive rock (primarily psychedelic rock and space rock) and gothic metal, with its emphasis on a chilling, eerie texture. The result is a sound usually lush, and much more accessible than standard black metal. The symphonic black metal movement remains somewhat limited, partly because of its epic ambitions and partly because it isn't traditionally metallic, but its fascinating synthesis of influences made it an instantly identifiable alternative.[1]

List of notable symphonic black metal bands

Band Country Formed Notes
Abigail Williams USA 2005 [2]
...And Oceans Finland 1995 [3][4]
Anorexia Nervosa France 1995 [5]
Apostasy Sweden 2000 [6]
Bal-Sagoth UK 1993 [7][8]
Carpathian Forest Norway 1992 [9]
Catamenia Finland 1995 [10]
Ceremonial Castings USA 1996 [11]
Chthonic Taiwan 1995 [12]
Cradle of Filth UK 1991 [13]
Crimson Moonlight Sweden 1997 [14]
Darzamat Poland 1995 [15]
Diabolical Masquerade Sweden 1995 [16]
Dimmu Borgir Norway 1993 [17][18]
Dragonlord USA 2000 [19]
Emperor Norway 1991 [20]
Equilibrium Germany 2001 [21]
Graveworm Italy 1992 [22]
Hecate Enthroned UK 1993 [23]
Limbonic Art Norway 1993 [24]
Opera IX Italy 1988 [25]
Shade Empire Finland 1999 [26][27]
Stormlord Italy 1991 [28]
Tiamat Sweden 1988 [29]
Twilight Ophera Finland 1996 [30]
Vaakevandring Norway 1999 [31]
Vesania Poland 1997 [32]

References

  1. ^ a b "Symphonic black metal entry at allmusic". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/explore/style/d11957. Retrieved 2009-04-03. 
  2. ^ Henderson Alex. "In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1411466. Retrieved 2009-09-0. 
  3. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "...And Oceans". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p470289. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  4. ^ Jeffries, Vincent. "AMGOD review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r522347. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  5. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Anorexia Nervosa". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p484074. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  6. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Apostasy biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p295225. Retrieved 2011-04/03. 
  7. ^ Huey, Steve. "The Power Cosmic review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r460872. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  8. ^ Henderson, Alex. "The Chthonic Chronicles review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r826070. Retrieved 009-09-30. 
  9. ^ Serba, John. "Defending the Throne of Evil review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r631728. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  10. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Catamenia biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/catamenia-p560128/biography. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  11. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Ceremonial Castings". MusicMight. http://www.musicmight.com/artist/usa/ceremonial+castings. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  12. ^ Prato, Greg. "Seediq Bale review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r860549. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  13. ^ Bregman, Adam. "Midian review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r505633. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  14. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (2010). "Top 100 Christian metal albums of all time". HM Magazine August: 8. http://www.hmmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/booklet.pdf. 
  15. ^ Prato Greg. "Transkarpatia review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r847277. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  16. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Diabolical Masquerade". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p370248. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  17. ^ Serba, John. "Death Cult Armageddon review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r655155. Retrieved 2009030. 
  18. ^ Jurek, Thom. "In Sorte Diaboli review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1030862. Retrieved 200-09-3. 
  19. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon. The New (Old) Order. Revolver. http://books.google.com/books?id=GfoDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT85&dq=%22dragonlord%22+%22symphonic+black+metal%22#v=onepage&q=%22dragonlord%22%20%22symphonic%20black%20metal%22&f=false. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  20. ^ Angle, Brad. Emperor of the North. Guitar World. http://books.google.com/books?id=I_wDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46&dq=%22emperor%22+%22symphonic+black+metal%22#v=onepage&q=%22emperor%22%20%22symphonic%20black%20metal%22&f=false. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
  21. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Sagas review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1392915. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
  22. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Graveworm". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p484901. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
  23. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Redimus review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r711227. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
  24. ^ Serba, John. "The Ultimate Death Worship review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r606343. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
  25. ^ Henderon, Alex. "Anphisbena review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r729262. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
  26. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Sinthetic review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r717207. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  27. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Shade Empire". MusicMight. http://www.musicmight.com/artist/finland/kuopio/shade+empire. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  28. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Stormlord". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p531226. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  29. ^ Huey, Steve. "Tiamat". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p14500. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  30. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Twilight Ophera". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p413445. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  31. ^ Born, R. "Vaakevandring". MusicMight. http://www.musicmight.com/artist/norway/vaakevandring. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  32. ^ Mason, Stewart. "Firefrost Arcanum review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r676266. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
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