American black metal part I: The beginning.

So this is the first in a series of posts in where I will celebrate american blackmetal bands of my liking. I know that it is not true-necro-cult to praise black metalbands that dont have their origins in Scandinavia, but I have taken a liking to the (sometimes) unique sound that springs from the roots of the american blackmetal scene.

First up is two classics that are sadly not very well known despite how absolutely, goat-worshippingly, ungodly amazing they are. San Fancisco's Weakling pioneered the sound that would later shape bands like Wolves in the throne room. That fact in it self should be enough to get most peoples interrest. Featuring John Gossard from Asunder (look elsewhere in this blog) on guitar and vocals, Weakling has a slightly more dirty sound than Wolves in the throne room and the vocals are more hysterical. There is, however no doubt where the Wolves have gotten their quecards from when they founded the band.

They only did one real full lenght record called Dead as dreams, featuring five amazing songs. That is enough talk, no go listen to it, AND BE AMAZED!!!!!.........please...

Due to the length of the songs I've had to split it into two different links. The first is in the cover of the record and the next is here:


Next up is a totally overlooked band called Twilight. Here we are dealing with a band that spawned numerous notable solo blackmetal acts upon disbanding. In short:

• Wrest is known for his solo works as: Leviathan & Lurker of Chalice
• Malefic is known for his solo works as: Xasthur
• Hildolf is known for his solo works as: Draguar
• Imperial is known for his solo works as: Krieg
• Azentrius is known for his solo works as: Nachtmystium

What is interresting, is that all of these acts, especially Lurker of Chalice and Xasthur took a bit of Twilight with them into their soloprojects. A post will follow soon with some of the post-Twilight acts.

Musically we are dealing with heavily distorted blackmetal, mixing equal parts of the Scandinavian sound with their own approach to the genre. The words to best describe this record is encapsuled in the title of the closing track: "Beautiful and malignant". Fucking incredible!

Now turn off your computer, and go praise the goat!