Blackgaze

Blackgaze (a portmanteau of blackened shoegaze), also known as post-black metal,^[1] is a style of heavy metal music that developed as a stylistic fusion of the black metal and shoegazing in the early 2000s.^[2] Defined by acts such as Deafheaven with post-hardcore & screamo element and noise band with indie rock influenced Bosse-de-Nage,^[3] blackgaze often incorporates heavier elements common of black metal such as blast beat drumming and high-pitched screamed vocals with melodic elements and heavily distorted guitar styles typically associated with shoegazing. Elements of post-metal such as lengthy crescendi and extended pieces are also frequently found in this style. Blackgaze also contains metalcore & post-hardcore occasionally and the production is characterized by a clearer and more pristine sound. It also tends to feature a more positive, "beautiful" sound than traditional black metal, due to its much more frequent use of major-scale composition.

The lyrical content & imagery directs more emphasis upon peace to focus on personal struggles, internal disputes, love and hardships as opposed to occult and/or anti-religious themes.

Development

Though it is a "geographically loose scene",^[3] Stereogum's Michael Nelson attributes the birth of the genre to the early work of the French musician Neige, who pioneered the blackgaze sound through Alcest, Amesoeurs, Lantlôs, and other projects. According to Nelson, Alcest's 2005 EP 'Le Secret' was "the birth of blackgaze", noting that the EP sounded "like a Cocteau Twins/Burzum collaborative split" and that "Roughly half the time, vocals were delivered in an angelic coo; the other half, they were a raw, distant shriek".^[4] Exclaim!'s Nathalie Walschots likewise credits Neige with pioneering the genre but also argues that the American band Deafheaven has pushed the genre to "greater prominence".^[2] George Clarke of Deafheaven himself cites the work of Burzum as "The blueprint" for Deafheaven's musical direction.^[4]

Reception

Some members of the metal community, most typically fans of traditional black metal, have criticized the genre as being "hipster metal" or "emo's in a black metal disguise" due to the genre's widespread appeal outside of the metal community and the emotional landscape of their imagery distancing itself from the traditional dark themes of black metal; and because of this, traditional fans of the prototype black metal genres feel that themes of love & courage are a cheap attempt to make black metal accessible to a more modern and Post-hardcore audience of angsty teenagers that are not mature enough to understand its cultural aspects or themes and its anti-commercial message stating that genre isn't for everyone.^[5] This reaction was felt most particularly following the release of and widespread critical acclaim of Deafheaven's 2013 sophomore release Sunbather. Despite this reaction from a smaller portion of the metal community, the album was universally well received by critics and music fans alike, and quickly became one of the genre's defining releases^[6][7][8] Blackgaze bands like Deafheaven have also managed to breach into mainstream appeal by way of playing mainstream music festivals, oftentimes being one of the sole metal acts performing.^[9][10]

Notable artistis

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

• Alcest^[4][11]
• Amesoeurs^[12]
• An Autumn for Crippled Children^[13]
• Bosse-de-Nage^[3]
• Deafheaven^[2][3][4]
• Falaise
• Fen^[14]
• Ghost Bath^[3]
• Lantlôs^[15]
• Les Discrets
• Liturgy (band)
• Myrkur
• nullingroots
• Panopticon^[16][17]
• So Hideous (formerly So Hideous, My Love)^[18]
• Vattnet Viskar^[19][20][21]
• Vaura^[2]
• Woods of Desolation^[22]

References

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