The comments are a cesspool of cringe. “Dis Iz just SaFeSpaCE Bleck Metal” “It’s just apart of the regular norms in society” As I stated in this video numerous times this project Violet Cold is from Azerbaijan! Azerbaijan’s culture norms and America’s (where everyone thinks this band is from which it ain’t cause apparently fuck listening to what I say) norms are different. Azerbaijan’s norm is as anti gay as it gets. Releasing Empire of Love is basically anti-norm with that country and that’s what I’m saying at the end of this video. A lot of you guys as well say “black metal fans don’t care about lyrics” I’d like to think that but a lot of the comments are saying this album isn’t what black metal should be , it’s safespace culture etc. This video wasn’t to say this album is good or bad but just simply bringing up the topic cause the comments from this video alone showcases some the discussions going on with this band.
My comments were educated, informative, and correctly punctuated (haha). Dude, it would be so awesome to have a serious CNN-style 'talking head' discussion on various metal topics (I think you'd would be a good moderator for something like that). 10,000 views...guaranteed!!!
Not necessarily negative, but Black Metal should always have an anti-superficial (i.e. 'genuine') feel to it. I think most people would agree that most mainstream music, movies etc. are sickeningly positive in a very superficial way.
@Goatman death metal and black metal in their BEST form is very Emotional and extremely Compelling....Emperor,Death,Nile, Immolation, Deathspell omega, gorguts,portal, ulcerate...so Its a fucking crime to call It just pure Agression for the sake of..
@@isaackmojica8302 what is the most negative metal? or the blackest. What is the heaviest? Do you think there is metal from the dark web? Or that some songs are censored by society? I have listened to the most extreme known metal music. Cattle depitation, cannibal corpse, infant annihilator, extermination dismemberment.
@@djrbdbdndjwjk5039 Pretty extreme....but i'll always put ULCERATE and PORTAL as the most extreme music around....simply because their are The only ones with few exceptions (DSO, Dodecahedron,Abyssal, Immolation)that The Dissonance is Really Mean and The darkest Emotions Are brough to Life....Atleast to me
Its funny to see black metal fans so up in arms over Violet Cold doing the exact thing with their society that the European pioneers of the genre were doing with theirs: challenging the oppressive conventions of their society, and taking aim at the religion that dominates its values. Theres anger in this album, theres sorrow and rebellion in it, and passion beyond measure. It might be positive but it isn't superficial, and it definitely isn't safe.
ha, I like that you are being very careful and deliberate with your language. this fuss around this reminds me of when the black metal purists find themselves siding with the Catholic Church in their disapproval of Gaahl's lifestyle choices
Personally I don't really care, but I will say that most if not all black metal is centred around very strong emotional experiences: hate, love, lust, anger, or even Melancholy. I don't seen anything inherently "unblack metal" (not referring to christian black metal) about having black metal be positive or about being gay etc etc. My approach is this. People do whatever they want: I make my hateful no fun allowed black metal, you make your happy huggy in the sun metal, no one tells the other one's music is not allowed. You don't have to listen to it, you don't have to make it, but at the same time, I don't have to listen to your stuff and I don't have to make music like you. We are all people, we're all different, we can all do what we want, positive black metal isn't going to make A Blaze in the Northern sky pop out of existence. Sorry for the rant, but as a gay woman who likes extreme metal I feel like everyone gets so uppidy about this shit when the easy solution is, let everyone do what they fucking want. Cool vid Wyatt.
Problem is when something becomes anti-anti, it becomes anti-nothing. Basically nullifies itself because it returns to social norms. That said, it does help in countries where pride is a big taboo.
THANK YOU FOR THIS. I've been trying to make this point forever. I'm fine with separating art from the artist. I listen to a lot of sus black metal bands, because I think their music is good. But it pisses me off when people say that, and then as soon as some perceivably leftist black metal releases, the reactionaries come out. Hipster Black Metal will make a vid on it. Etc. Weird that it happens on one side but not the other. Be consistent or don't claim you're separating anything. Btw, Violet Cold is awesome. Loved him before I even knew about the politics. His last album was great too.
I never thought of you explaining the album cover the way you did in this video at all actually. At first I was all confused by it but now it makes a lot more sense to me now lmao
This reminds me of that time when Niklas (Shining) kissed with Hoest on stage. I like that it's going against the grain and i very much support it. Black metal should be anti-dogmatism, it shouldn't have boundaries on what to do with this style. It should be, as it used to be anti everything. By that I don't mean just anti life, anti human, anti religion... But also anti hate, anti prejudice, even anti war if the artist chooses to do so. Art doesn't have boundaries and should never have them. When you start to push restrictions on to art, the artistry dies. That what happened with the mainstream of art in communist counties. And that can happen to any kind of artistic group. Anyway that was just my take on things.
That shit was hilarious and very much feel the same. I miss the days were doing shit like that was controversial! BTW even though yes Black metal has a dark history with gay men and murder, Gaahl himself said he has been very excepted within the scene, which I for one do think is awesome, even Faust spoke to him about it.
Personally, I just think that a lot of Black Metal fans just take themselves and their scene way too seriously. Can't wait for Black Metal to get their Steel Panther equivalent.
Good video as always. It's interesting to see the reaction to this release. Dudes be like "this genre isn't a safe space you snowflake don't be a coward I don't even care about a bands lyrics or imagery" until a band puts a rainbow on their album art or talks about being gay, at which point they write essays about how you shouldn't say or do certain things in metal. Really strange.
The absolute hypocrisy of metalheads trying to police what should and should not be said - not realizing that that turns them into the very same ignorant idiots that our idols rebelled against years ago. As you said it, there should be no limits to art, let the creator do whatever they want to do.
Limits will always be set though that is just human nature. This idea of Black metal being very limiting in its structure is also very absurd, and its not understanding the Geist of the music being of the upmost importance over following a simple structure. Starting with Arcturus and Ulver from their peers in Fleurety, Manes, and Ved Buende Ende, to Spektr, Nortt, Empire Auriga, Lux Occulta, and Oceans...the list goes on and on SECHT I mean come on. Black metal has no rules but be Black metal, and again that is not something you can simply copy its something that embodies the music beyond the simple ideas of style or even genre.
This is awesome. Can’t wait to check it out , thanks Wyatt. It’s the most insanely rebellious album cover they could have possibly thought of. And that’s badass. And downright dangerous which is inherently black metal af
I find it interesting that the same people who only a few years ago were shitting on Islam and so on are now on the same page with Islamic Fundamentalists in regards to this album...
I mean by that reasoning, the people that critized Taake for bashing islam are now supporting a band that does the same but its okay because they use a rainbow flag?
Great video! Plenty people commenting here still don’t somehow see the irony with having such a narrow view of what black metal “has to” be - when it’s imagery or a message they don’t like
Noir Kid's album Violet Cold, was pretty fucking good. I did have to do a double take because this album art looked like a shitpost at first, but listened to it and realize it's not. It's more of a post-black or "blackgaze" type of metal, despite how ridiculous that tag sounds. It's just if you don't like an album, just don't listen to it. It's just weird how people were quick to jump on something that breaks the norms of what we're used to seeing, and then try to immediately disregard it for what it is. It's more nerds fighting with each other about it. It did bring out the hypocrites pretty easy but it's hilarious how it's triggering people, whether I support it or not, it's just a highlight of 2021 being weird
I wouldn't even call all of BM negative to be honest, it's dark for sure but there are a lot of songs and album that really feel uplifting to me, especially the more melodic styles. Also it can be really empowering
You explained exactly how I feel about some black metal fans, they always pride about rebelling, but as soon as they see something they get offended by, they become hypocrites
@@Mothlover69 the case is that the album is the oposite of what black metal in general is and would be approved by mainstream culture cause it panders to mainstream beliefs. It apeals only to woke metalheads because of the message cause music is mediocre at best
Hey Wyatt, I dont know how to send messages on youtube so I'm posting this here in Hope's you see it. Do you (or anyone reading) happen to know where I can get a Reek Of The Unzen Gas Fumes t-shirt? I've been seeking high and low to old, sold out listings or split shirts (which I'm not really a fan of). Preferably in the West (Freaking wishful thinking). I know this is a long shot, but I thought I'd give it a try.
Imagine being offended about a Pro-LGBT/Pride album that was created in a country that is rated as the absolute worst place to be LGBT in Europe as theres absolutely no legal protection for people there. The guy that created this album has more guts than any ridiculous American or Central European teenager listening to his Burzum album for the 53,000th time that faces absolutely no oppression in his day to day life other than the oppression of his parents telling him to clean his room.
@@damnedbelowjudas_ Its not really though. How does it feel to be triggered by a guy making music though? You sound like the Christians during the whole "Satanic Panic" thing that wanted to keep music all nice and conservative. Black Metal and really metal in general spawned from people going against the grain of their typical conservative Christian households but hey, LGBT music bad, right? You and the average conservative christian have a lot in common
3:50 Been saying this for a long time. This is kind of what happened to every community. They go against the grain, develop norms inadvertently, and then push out anyone who doesn't conform. Then those people create communities and do the same.
Yep, we all do it. Its one of those things we point fingers at others for doing than we are like, oh yeah, wait a second. Go to a black metal show, goth show, punk show, how people look will be very predictable. But Black metal has also always encouraged the oddballs who just do whatever they want too!
It's very ironic that fans of a subgenre that's meant to be anti-establishment are getting offended and angry over something that is still against the norm in our society.
being LGBTQ is against the norm ? LOOOOL! what's planet you live on ? Multimillionaire corporations pushing everything they'll can about alphabet people, kids teachings to be gender fluid. LGBTQ is more than ever trendy. If you wanna be offensive preach intolerance against lgbtq, criticism islam and makes hateful racism remarks, you really going against the grain. LOL! another American didn't understand black metal and politics.
@@GrossePutea5Dollards so far i live on planet earth. Specifically in a country where the Gay Panic defense is still relevant, hate crimes still exists and are frequent in many other nations, conversion therapy is still a thing, and many political and religious leaders and public figures are trying to take away rights for these groups of people. Being anything other than straight and cisgender is seen as a crime in other countries as well (some places consider it a crime that's worthy of the death penalty). Should i go on? On top of that racist remarks are a thing in black metal, look at NSBM. Criticism against LGBT is the norm and a clear example of this is the black metal fans getting offended over this album cover and your blatant transphobia. Need i say more? Maybe it's you that doesn't understand black metal or politics.
@@Jesusblowsme666 I understand both sides of your argument but it seems to be more or a dichotomy between 'old world' and 'new world' thinking. Traditional Black Metal philosophy (to me) represents 'old world' thinking...a connection to the primal self (survivalism of a cold winter season, and in the cycles of war of old Europe for thousands of years to protect homeland and your fellow 'people', etc.). If you're familiar with medieval lifestyle and traditions (not romanticized stories of royalty)...there really wasn't much time or reason to contemplate wether you "identify as more as male or female" as you'd only maybe live to be 40 yrs old (it was much more important to raise or forage for food to be able to eat that day or learn how to use a weapon if fighting with enemies broke out). It basically shows how domesticated, comfortable and sedimentary modern society has become to be able to sit in front of a screen and question your sexual preferences after some leftist leaning influencers told you it's 'so' important. Back in the old days...you'd be severely punished or probably just killed just for exploring this subject matter with the militant church dominating everyday aspects of life. I think traditionally, Black Metal is the epitome of 'old world no BS thinking' when men (and women) were truly making a difference between life and death situations and ensured the survival of their people and traditions that are deeply embedded in our spines. This would explain most lyrical themes of BM...respecting and living with nature, hatred towards your enemies, battling with enemies, and honoring those who have come before us with inspiration to be self empowered as from Norse gods, warlords like King Rollo of the Vikings or Vlad the Impaler, and even making the point of artistic extremities and dominance of the times...as in music (Bathory, Immortal, Emperor, Marduk, etc). But also, in religious countries in South America where bands publicly going against the church was a quite a statement in their society. Personally, I believe BM fans should reject this domestication of the genre (the violence, church burnings, and murders were what put it on the map) and for it to be pathetically emulated by corpsepaint-wearing hipsters in suburban America just ruins all the mystique it once had. I am definitely liking the the rise and popularity of DSBM as it embodies nihilistic atmosphere and hopelessness which has a much deeper connection to the early 90s Norwegian scene rather than modern 'easy-listening' shoe-gaze BM styles (in my opinion). But at the same time...a band like Venom (a band which both sides seem to love) represented pure rebelliousness and didn't care what you think about they did or thought. If you don't have some fun here and there (is anything worth the time?). So if this is your preferred version of BM then it could be used to go against the structured and traditional themes of all-out rejection as the Norwegian scene molded in the 90s. Venom didn't seem to take anything too seriously and to be honest...basically ripped off the punk band GBH (just listen to early GBH demos). Knowing history can really help you form an insightful opinion. I don't have to agree with everything that Varg Vikerness says but I also totally respect his views, observations, and wisdom from being an individual who walks his own path. His thinking isn't just a phase like so many others. Ask yourself this...is it better to honor our strength and tradition or to question our strength and tradition? (This is what I mean by the clashing of 'old world' and 'new world' thinking). The current state of Black Metal is a perfect example of this modern day philosophical dilemma. -Devon (Somnolence, Subterranean Drift)
@@GrossePutea5Dollards Intolerance against the LGBT community and racism isn't against the grain, that's literally been the fucking norm of society for a very long time.
The fact this project is offending black metal fans and non bm fans says alot, the same thing is going on with Saidan, he offended the supposed tRo0 elite "I don't get easily offended" people, that seems pretty black metal to me.
I dont think that the term that the offended someone is right. In my opinion all the drama comes from him directly. All the anti nsbm stuff and than signing to a label that has a bunch of nabm bands. Im my opinion its cool that labels have alot of variety, the more the bands the better. But using terms like ''crush nazi's'' and than signing up on this label kinda contradicts the first message. As i also understood, and as i read my self, if memory serves me right, first insta posts were kinda written in broken English, which made the assumption that he is actually from Japan, which he is not. Dunno, when you create so much, lets call it, fog around yourself, its bound to have some backlash when it clears...
@@hellswampkommando9203 that's why so many are pissing and moaning on Instagram, ninja man can do whatever the hell he wants to but the fact people go out of their way to bitch in moan says alot about BM fans, he said something that scorched the taints of BM fans and they threw a shit fit (Still are mind you) the same people who say "I separate the art from the artist" couldn't seperate the art from the artist and decided NAH imma start complaining, that's some grade A baby shit right there.
Are you going to the Legions of Metal Fest in Chicago on October 23rd? If so let me know...Destructor rules...message me on FB. Black Metal? Meh...personally Venom 1st Wave and Mayhem for 2nd Wave is enough for me...or a bit of Burzum...or Hellhammer and Celtic Frost
Tbh I've never considered Violet Cold as just Blackgaze because they play a lot of stuff sometimes at the same time. Also, I mostly consider it a part of post rock rather than black metal, although VC actually play black metal alongside too. Also, that album is actually great I really enjoyed it.
I was at a black metal concert last night and could not help but think about this video. What I saw were people patting each other on the back, putting their arms around each other and head banging, hugging, smiling, talking, laughing, you get the picture. Even the corpse painted bassist could not help but smile, it was clear he was enjoying himself immensely and it wasn't brief or just once but multiple times. So this idea of black metal being all grim and negative, well, that's maybe true for the true if you know what I mean. People who play live and are going to shows, without rare exceptions (was it the One Tail One Head band that yelled at people for smiling at a show?) are there to have a good time and enjoy themselves, far from negative. I do remember the bassist to Inquinok back in the day getting some crap for smiling while playing live, so maybe just bassists are happier people?
I don’t care if you write a black metal song about unicorns, just make it a good song. The problem is a lot of these bands aren’t very good songwriters (hello Ghost Bath)
I personally don't like the music, but I realize it's an obvious troll to piss off "trve" metal heads and it worked like a charm so props to the person behind the project for that.
I jus wanna know on the 3rd track of the album, “be like magic” like half way through it switches into a trap beat kinda with a low ass deep voice rapping? It sounds like A$AP rocky on the song Goldie. It just completely through me for a loop. If anyone has the lyrics for the album I’d love it, maybe it’ll help me appreciate the album a little more
To answer your question. I don't think black metal should always be negative. To be honest I found most of the music a positive to be for some reason. To me the tremolo picking guitar riffs symbolises over coming something that is holding you back in life. That said when your in a music genre that is called extreme music one would believe rules will be broken and if music genre has to be about being 'negative' (which I don't believe that being negative is key part of black metal) then that rule will be broken by someone or by some band. Anyways am going to check this band Violet cold out.
I've stopped caring about the worry for conformity onto reaching new areas be it for shock value or simply put new territory. As I meant before I'm not sure if you see my comments I did for this and the last couple due to time differences not being American but I could be if I wanted to. ;) What matters most is the final output in being as an individual, engaging and memorably unique as possible in all areas of art. I can't help but find your concern of the art separating the artist be about pure enjoyment and unintentionally conform to its meaning with the points brought up.
I feel like album covers have been one of the most trendy and controversial thing's part of the metal genere. It kind of reminds me of that one time when Marilyn Manson's Holywood album cover was getting unlimited back-lash do to the so called lack of "Positivity" and overall Christianity inside of it, because back then he was being brutally despised for being himself and the person he wanted to be and that credit all goes to the Christian's that were just too damn sensitive about looking at a different perspective made up from art and imagery..... I personally think what this particular band is doing is great and I think they deserve a big thumbs-up for actually attempting to equip some different imagery and perhaps meaning possibly, it's better than using the same repetitive and regurgitating imagery everytime that honestly represents nothing but violence, anger, demons/daemon, hell, anti-christian, anti-human, anti-social, and all of the above it's literally the same thing everytime with just a dab of a different code of paint. I also just hate how the black metal fan's sort of act like they seem to care about the underground metal rules whether that's being metal needs to remain underground at it's present or that it needs to exactly be dark and edgy and anti-christian and all of that with they're also being Satanism, like to me that's just very and extremely hypocritical especially knowing that it really contradicts what half of the black metal fan's were claiming to have been true or just people in general towards the metal era that were stating their own opinion with that being you can separate art from artist and there wouldn't be a problem but in this situation I can already make an assumption logically that they'll all change that perspective just due to all of the countering that would be the outcome from their argument itself.
I agree with your statement bout black metal going against the norms. words from vothana, not that he would like this album art lol, but i agree whole heartedly that black metal is "poisonous black art to stimulate the mind, to stimulate the unthinkable." Its supposed to get you to think and i thats what the album did a good job on.
@@wyattxhim well that’s great point. But also if you look at things like journalism and it’s ability to change things simply by reporting or pointing at the current state. Or even like education and learning. Those are just simply facts and that’s what can lead to things like civility and morality.
Totally agree with you. I'm not a fan of the almost glorification of lgbt in western social media. But with the context of the country & religion, I think this fits black metal very well.
Yeah, it’s weird how punk melded with Metal, and spawned all the subgenres we cherish today (Yes, Even Black Metal, *cue Fenriz listening to Rock and Roll Gas Station* ) yet the actual philosophy of punk has really just been limited to the Grind scene. I find that Black Metal fans are honestly just more conservative than they claim to be... excluding the obvious sect that have “artists that need to be separated from their art”. It makes me curious about what the actual purpose of this music is for the many people who are so strict with their genre. Probably just tribalism of outcasts, who in a different world, would be content to be a cog in a system that persecutes arbitrarily.
That's why Punks hate Hardcore, because it has a lot more in common with Metal, especially today. And you're right about the Grind-thing: Powerviolence is the only genre, where the original spirit of the Punks-scene is still alive (and maybe some Crust-bands).
The way I look at it is this: I agree that art should have no limitations whatsoever. Black metal can be anything it wants to be. I think the genre would be boring if all black metal bands today sounded the same, regaledless of style or lyrical content. If diversity didnt exist, we wouldn’t have great bands like Alcest, Deathspell Omega, or the like, nor would Chrisitan black metal exist. I mean Hellhammer played drums for Anestor for a time, since he stated that black metal is black metal. And eventually some black metal musicians who adopted the satanic, anti-life ideaology back then have matured, realizing it was foolish. Ihsahn is a good example, as he stated before that he associated the Satanic with his youth, and now advocates Individualism. But then you have those who pretty much base their life and music around the satanic philosphy. Infernus from Gorgoroth, is the only example I can think of. Now while i consider him a fool for thinking like that, he is without a doubt a phenomenal guitar player. King ov Hell is just as a much of a moron. He thinks that only the message and not the music is the primary aspect of black metal. Clearly demonstrated when he left Abbath due to conflicts about the lyrical content for Outstrider (which are pre-Christian if I remember correctly). To sum it all up, black metal does not strictly have to revolve around negative themes and can be anything it wants to be, and anyone thinks otherwise needs their heads examined.
7:12 was my initial takeaway from the artwork... Admittedly I haven't heard the album or read the lyrics. But that was my takeaway from the artwork. That's why I thought it was very interesting in a way.
The way I view it is just like I view any other band, album or song, does it sound good? If it does then it does, if it doesn’t then I don’t have to listen to it 💀 I really don’t care about the “meaning” behind it. That’s how I view music for the most part anyways, how it sounds. For that reason my liked song always consists of random ass shit like 80s pop music one moment then new york death metal the next 💀
Yeah absolutely! People tend to get too fucking annoying with music having " meaning ". Lyrics are so disposable, I don't need words in my music to catch a meaning or feeling.
@@thatsprettylunchean Most of the electronic music genres, Industrial and Jazz are instrumental and don't need vocals and lyrics, and are all the better for it.
The artwork itself has the message of peace, kindness, love, unity, equality, diversity, etc. If I ever wear that merch in public, ironically I might get beaten up. But definitely, be ordering it to mock people XD. Enjoy listening to this album a lot. I find it refreshing, groovy, dreamy, beautiful and kind of psychedelically atmospheric. Who says BM don’t make whole lotta noise anymore and this cover does! Even though it’s very opposite of Dawn of the Blackhearts. Releasing this album could lead to something deadly or imprisonment to him if he is still in his country, so I salute Violet Cold.
I remember seeing that album show up in my recommended feed on UA-cam because the Black Metal Artists channel posted a stream of it a while ago. I reached the same conclusion regarding the album art that you did, and also thought to myself, "I bet that this will not only piss off whatever homophobic society of the country they're from, but also black metal purists too". Turns out I was right after watching this video. Also, I agree with you, I too believe black metal doesn't always have to be negative. Hell, I even have my own black metal project that writes songs with lyrics based on a video game series called Fire Emblem!
But is it negative in the first place thou, i dont think it has been strictly negative for a long time. Take all the nature themed bands, like Elderwind for example, dont think there is any negativity in that at all, or some cosmic bands, who just sing about cosmos and void. So i dont think it ever was strictly negative.
I have not heard this album but I have thoughts on this subject as a whole. On the one hand, the way that I personally define Black Metal involves a dark atmosphere. On the other hand, Black Metal is far from the only good form of music. It might be an amazing album, but I personally would not consider it Black Metal based the former criteria. That all said I have a lot of respect for what they are trying to do.
As far as "separating the art from the artist" I kind of do in a sense but don't in another sense. As in, I do pay attention to the artists, I look into who they are, what they believe and what they have done. Unlike a lot of "separate the art" people who just straight up ignore anything other than the art. But on the other hand, although I recognise the artist and their controversies, I don't get pissy when I disagree with them. I guess it's just my personality, I'm quite passive in a sense and don't take anything personally. So I can recognise the artist and their views for what they are, but I can also enjoy their art for what it is regardless of if I disagree with their views. Not ignoring the subject matter, but just not getting butthurt over it either.
I don't really understand how you look at the anti-conformist aspect of BM. Ive always seen black metal as anti-conformity as anti society. Black metal is supposed to reject popular and mainstream social norms not social norms in this unique little clique which is the black metal community. In the 90s black metal rejected popular social norms by burning churches and being open satanists and after that alot of black metal bands started using ns imagery to upset and rebel against mainstream ideas. I also haven't myself seen alot of this ''anger'' towards this album ive just seen people call it stupid and gimicky and nothing more i dont really think someone gets really offended by this unless they are truly a nazi.
And yet the majority of Black Metal bands sell merch make albums on vinyl, cassette and CD to sell and Tour to make a living. That sounds pretty non conformist and social to me while remaining fairly unpopular outside the underground music scene, i'll give them that.
@@Ghoulstille I think bands should go up and rape people in the audience and then after the show give them a usb of new material. or bands could rob people of money in the park and give out usbs of new songs to spread their music. I think that would be non conformist and based.
Really I see this album as somewhat like the Dmaar album. What made it stand out so much is just how much it went against the culture that the artists were from. Everyone in the BM scene praised that album to no end, not just because it was good but also because of how much of a fuck you it was to the culture. This is exactly the same thing really, but just more of a positive record.
Was never a fan of Violent Cold, simply because nothing of theirs resonated with me. That changed with this album. I enjoyed the from the first listen, it reminded me of Astronoid. Personally I don't view this as a BM album, similarly as with Astronoid and Entropia's last album, all really good, I greatly enjoy them, but I don't get a BM feel from them. There may be moments here and there, but just not enough for me. Long may Violent Cold continue. As for the negativity, that depends on the context. In this case as you brought up, one can argue it's centralised on the negativity in Azerbaijan, for their own standards, or views of sexuality. In that sense it could be viewed as both a positive and negative album.
In rehearsal other day .I stared at my mate who's guitar ..he stared back as I'm bass...then we both stared at another mate..who's drums..he was fucking around doing something ..then looked around and saw us both staring at him...he's looked at us both ...and said ....how the fuck...am I ment to play that .
Let me preface this by saying that I am in fact a black metal nerd and have been for over 20 years. So I knew nothing about this release is for me, so I just didn't listen to it. The same way I don't listen to a lot of the bandcamp BM bands that people fellate on the internet, because I feel like they're cash grabs and created by people with no stake in the culture (Which was recently proven correct) I am going to listen to the stuff that actually seems genuine, regardless as to the subject matter. Am I a fan of blackgaze? No. Am I a fan of projects that eschew traditional BM values and aesthetic, sometimes, but it truly depends on whether or not it works for me. People are free to make whatever it is they want, the same way I am free to entirely ignore it. Black metal is about passion and emotion, and if you choose to use it as a vehicle for your expression, the only ask I have is that you make it genuine and from the heart, I don't want anything to do with sterile and formulaic BM. Whether the emotion and intensity is from love, hate, fear or sadness, it doesn't matter as long as it's genuine in its execution and presentation.
@Goatman I gathered that from the comment section, and I stated I don't like blackgaze. I agree, blackgaze isn't BM, it's significantly watered down, as I always say it's BM to people who don't actually like BM.
I couldn’t agree with you more. We could get into the politics & hypocrisy of a lotta die hard black metal elitists but we mostly know all that already so this “controversy” is not surprising. I’ll just say this: I love classic black metal, classic sounding black metal like Lamp of Murmur or Hulder, but I really enjoy any black metal that challenges that old mindset & tries to do something new. Whether it’s Deafheaven, Blut Aus Nord, Liturgy, Dawn Ray’d, Underdark or any of the RABM (red and black metal/anti-fascist black metal) stuff. So this Violet Cold album is no exception & honestly I think this stuff keeps black metal fresh & reinvigorated.
this brings out many questions. if bm is about going against society and mainstream, what society? what mainstream? because "mainstream" is very different in Azerbaijan and America, but also very different in the bm community and say the general music community etc. so we have here an album that is against the mainstream in Azerbaijan being listened to by people that are for example in Sweden, where this message is very much mainstream. but also, this album is against the mainstream of bm community, but this is a mainstream it's hard to be against, because if all the bm bands will be against the mainstream of bm community there will be no bm community. very interesting to think about these things. I don't know what my opinion is.
So I’m not trying to start an argument with you, or necessarily disagree, but what I can’t for the life of me understand is *why or how* this album is “against the black metal community”... Like, do you mind explaining exactly how it is “against” anything other than what the artist intended it to be against? I mean, Wyatt explains in this very video how it is pretty ironic and hypocritical for someone to think this “goes against black metal”.. *but what you (and others) are saying isn’t exactly the same thing.* You (and others) are saying it’s against the BM community, and I think there’s a distinction there vs it being against what black metal is supposed to be... So my genuine question to you is “why” and “how” is this the case? To put my cards on the table, I can’t even comprehend how someone can say there is *a* black metal community”, as if it’s one thing in and of itself, with a singular culture, and norms, or that it is something monolithic in any way. It was, but those days have been over for a looong time from where I’m sitting.. it’s not the 90s anymore, and the scope of the culture/community has broadened quite a bit.. This would at the very least mean that the only real constant of a singular black metal community, if we’re calling it one monolithic thing, is a love for black metal. Outside of that, you have to start breaking it down into various subcultures within a broader community, or various communities within a subculture.. however you prefer.. because it’s clear that there is NOT agreement between BM fans over this, just as there isn’t over many other issues related to BM. That says to me very clearly, even objectively, that there is no monolithic black metal community, unless we’re talking super broadly, but then I don’t see how you point to “shared culture” beyond the love of BM... Anyway, again, I’m just curious what your thoughts are about the why/how. I’ve seen several people’s perspectives on this, but most of them just came off as assholes and crybabies to me, and you seem to be more rational and thoughtful about it, so I ask you. ✌️♾🤘
One last thing, and I’ll STFU: let’s say, *hypothetically speaking,* that this album is indeed “going against the black metal community”. Before I go further, I feel like I have to go back to the BM community not being a monolith, for if it were, and this was against it, then this would be getting NOTHING but hate from BM fans, and that’s not the case by a country mile, not even close, so I’m going into this hypothetical with the assumption that, *if it is against the BM community, but the BM community isn’t a monolithic single entity, then it must just be against the majority of the BM community, while not being against all BM fans and subculture as a whole.* I think this is a logical, fair line of thought, if we’re taking the aforementioned points for granted, you can tell me if you disagree. Okay, so what else could we infer from that? Well, if BM is indeed “supposed to” go against the mainstream, and this album is going against the majority of the BM community, could we not say it is going against the mainstream of the BM community? If that is the case, then isn’t it doing exactly what black metal is “supposed to be doing”? Obviously, as Wyatt pointed out, that’s definitely the case with the artist’s intentions.. They are from an extremely homophobic country, and the artist is provoking the mainstream/majority of those in their country by combining the Azerbaijani flag (which includes the Islamic crescent moon symbol) with the lgbtq rainbow symbol.. By your own definition, this fits the BM bill, and I agree with you. So, *if* the mainstream/majority of the BM community is against this, and/or it is against them, then how is it not also doing what it “should be doing” by going against them? After all, if we’re going to talk about mainstream here vs there, what is mainstream in one place but isn’t in another, and how that might change the context (it certainly does in terms of individual frame of reference), why aren’t we applying that same scrutiny to the BM community? IMO, if this were all true, and if most BM bands started to do this, it absolutely won’t destroy the BM community, as you put it... instead, it’d just change what the mainstream is in that community, and the current majority would become the minority.. The people who hate this and anything like it would still exist, still be BM fans, etc, but they’d simply become the minority. It could be a drastic change of the BM community, but not it’s destruction. Again, this is all meant as accepting a hypothetical (one that I don’t know I actually agree with), and then following the logic, based on what we’re accepting, to what we could reasonably say.. I point this out because I think it creates a sort of paradox in a lot of this thinking, though I’m hardly the first to do so, and others have done it far, far better than I have.... So now I will REALLY shut up, I’ve spent way too much time on the topic now, but I do find it interesting, hence my engagement. You obviously don’t have to reply to any of this, but I’d be very curious to hear your thoughts on my initial question! ✌️♾🤘
I heard that record a week or 2 ago, saw the cover, and obviously it’s attempting to be provocative to the black metal community. Regardless of aesthetics, I’ll treat it like the album cover is just blank white. The music itself doesn’t sit well with me, it called back to the blackgaze stylings of bands like defheaven and liturgy, and not tastefully like Alcest does it. those bands have always repulsed me. I don’t like the happy sounding progressions they use, and the choice of melody isn’t done tastefully for my ears. Lyrics in black metal really matter next to nothing to me since 99% of the time you can’t understand it even while reading along anyhow. They can make an album however they want just like you said and I agree 100%, but at the same time the scene has every right to reject it. Just like all the bands who release 2 demos and quit with aspirations of being the next Vlad Tepes, it won’t be welcomed, nor will they get the notoriety of the fans if they don’t dig it.
I would probably take this over Vlad Tepes, but I agree. I can see why the Black metal scene instantly would have a reaction to this, and at the same time if I enjoyed it, I would enjoy it. One of my close buddies has been digging the new Liturgy, this dudes tastes are all over the place but when it comes to Black metal, its shit like Akhyls and Dochahedron. You never know what you will enjoy. I actually don't hate the new Deafheaven, glad they are dropping the metal parts mostly. Another difference is that Alcest comes directly from the very cesspool armpit of Black metal, you know who I mean! Sure the scene can be Gatekeepers but anyone is with something that has value to them, the complete dismissal of this idea today is laughable. Its like (white) people who just say no borders (although the Hispanic population largely has different views, oh the irony), obviously borders will exist and laws will be in place around them, you can't just get rid of them but you can make them more intelligent and beneficial to their purpose. Same with the scene, we know the cheese ball kvltists and generally have the same view of them (they are mostly over at Hipster Black metal hahaha!) and we also know what bands were, regardless of what they do actually enjoy or are influenced by, the aforementioned Deafheaven who were clearly jumping on a bandwagon and were hated with good reason.
Black metal nerds: "Black metal is uncompromising and should make you feel uncomfortable! Fuck conformity!" Violet Cold: Black metal nerds: "This makes me feel uncomfortable! You need to conform to standard black metal norms!"
Should Black Metal always be negative? No, I don’t think Black Metal should be themed around one theme in general I think bands should do whatever they want to do, although this can apply to almost any genre, genres should be based on music technicality & style With the exception of I guess Hip Hop which tends to base their genres off of themes like Conscious Hip Hop, Political Hip Hop, Horrorcore or Gangsta Rap
![[柴犬ASMR]曼玉Manyu&小白Bai 毛发护理Spa asmr](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0TsXQ7z2Dh4/mqdefault.jpg)
The comments are a cesspool of cringe.
“Dis Iz just SaFeSpaCE Bleck Metal”
“It’s just apart of the regular norms in society”
As I stated in this video numerous times this project Violet Cold is from Azerbaijan!
Azerbaijan’s culture norms and America’s (where everyone thinks this band is from which it ain’t cause apparently fuck listening to what I say) norms are different.
Azerbaijan’s norm is as anti gay as it gets. Releasing Empire of Love is basically anti-norm with that country and that’s what I’m saying at the end of this video.
A lot of you guys as well say “black metal fans don’t care about lyrics”
I’d like to think that but a lot of the comments are saying this album isn’t what black metal should be , it’s safespace culture etc.
This video wasn’t to say this album is good or bad but just simply bringing up the topic cause the comments from this video alone showcases some the discussions going on with this band.
My comments were educated, informative, and correctly punctuated (haha). Dude, it would be so awesome to have a serious CNN-style 'talking head' discussion on various metal topics (I think you'd would be a good moderator for something like that). 10,000 views...guaranteed!!!
*"If it has rules, it's not music."*
Grutle Kjellson *(Enslaved)*
Isn't that a rule? :P
@@brimerwelpippy4972 Rule #1, there are no rules.
Not necessarily negative, but Black Metal should always have an anti-superficial (i.e. 'genuine') feel to it. I think most people would agree that most mainstream music, movies etc. are sickeningly positive in a very superficial way.
@Goatman death metal and black metal in their BEST form is very Emotional and extremely Compelling....Emperor,Death,Nile, Immolation, Deathspell omega, gorguts,portal, ulcerate...so Its a fucking crime to call It just pure Agression for the sake of..
@Goatman not agree but yeah when It comes to "emotion" those i mentioned are top of the chain....
@@isaackmojica8302 what is the most negative metal? or the blackest. What is the heaviest? Do you think there is metal from the dark web? Or that some songs are censored by society? I have listened to the most extreme known metal music. Cattle depitation, cannibal corpse, infant annihilator, extermination dismemberment.
@@djrbdbdndjwjk5039 Pretty extreme....but i'll always put ULCERATE and PORTAL as the most extreme music around....simply because their are The only ones with few exceptions (DSO, Dodecahedron,Abyssal, Immolation)that The Dissonance is Really Mean and The darkest Emotions Are brough to Life....Atleast to me
Gaahl approve this album.
Bard Faust not so much.
*Euronymous Approves*
I know you are probably just joking, but actually Faust was one of the first person who spoke to Gaahl after his coming out that he supports him..
@@Tethrys I didn’t know that
Its funny to see black metal fans so up in arms over Violet Cold doing the exact thing with their society that the European pioneers of the genre were doing with theirs: challenging the oppressive conventions of their society, and taking aim at the religion that dominates its values. Theres anger in this album, theres sorrow and rebellion in it, and passion beyond measure. It might be positive but it isn't superficial, and it definitely isn't safe.
ha, I like that you are being very careful and deliberate with your language. this fuss around this reminds me of when the black metal purists find themselves siding with the Catholic Church in their disapproval of Gaahl's lifestyle choices
Personally I don't really care, but I will say that most if not all black metal is centred around very strong emotional experiences: hate, love, lust, anger, or even Melancholy. I don't seen anything inherently "unblack metal" (not referring to christian black metal) about having black metal be positive or about being gay etc etc. My approach is this. People do whatever they want: I make my hateful no fun allowed black metal, you make your happy huggy in the sun metal, no one tells the other one's music is not allowed. You don't have to listen to it, you don't have to make it, but at the same time, I don't have to listen to your stuff and I don't have to make music like you. We are all people, we're all different, we can all do what we want, positive black metal isn't going to make A Blaze in the Northern sky pop out of existence. Sorry for the rant, but as a gay woman who likes extreme metal I feel like everyone gets so uppidy about this shit when the easy solution is, let everyone do what they fucking want. Cool vid Wyatt.
I miss Seth Putnam.
Me too. I sort of knew him as well
Seth was gay.
me too man, me too
He died around the time I was born but I would love to see him today
Problem is when something becomes anti-anti, it becomes anti-nothing. Basically nullifies itself because it returns to social norms. That said, it does help in countries where pride is a big taboo.
Exactly
THANK YOU FOR THIS. I've been trying to make this point forever. I'm fine with separating art from the artist. I listen to a lot of sus black metal bands, because I think their music is good. But it pisses me off when people say that, and then as soon as some perceivably leftist black metal releases, the reactionaries come out. Hipster Black Metal will make a vid on it. Etc. Weird that it happens on one side but not the other. Be consistent or don't claim you're separating anything.
Btw, Violet Cold is awesome. Loved him before I even knew about the politics. His last album was great too.
I never thought of you explaining the album cover the way you did in this video at all actually. At first I was all confused by it but now it makes a lot more sense to me now lmao
Oh, I thought it was the cover of the new Arghoslent album.
HAHAHA
This reminds me of that time when Niklas (Shining) kissed with Hoest on stage. I like that it's going against the grain and i very much support it. Black metal should be anti-dogmatism, it shouldn't have boundaries on what to do with this style. It should be, as it used to be anti everything. By that I don't mean just anti life, anti human, anti religion... But also anti hate, anti prejudice, even anti war if the artist chooses to do so. Art doesn't have boundaries and should never have them. When you start to push restrictions on to art, the artistry dies. That what happened with the mainstream of art in communist counties. And that can happen to any kind of artistic group. Anyway that was just my take on things.
@Nelson Thrashingdeath you can't be anti-human and a white supremacist at the same time either
@Nelson Thrashingdeath I'm just saying, if you hate humans you don't just hate black and gay ppl, you hate everyone.
That shit was hilarious and very much feel the same. I miss the days were doing shit like that was controversial! BTW even though yes Black metal has a dark history with gay men and murder, Gaahl himself said he has been very excepted within the scene, which I for one do think is awesome, even Faust spoke to him about it.
In my eyes it's badass, like going against homophobia in a muslim country??? They have my respect.
@@XPGrindDeathkingextremely based
For my personal 2 cents on the subject, Black Metal dosent have to be Negative, but doing Positive Black Metal is like using a snow shovel in Florida.
Personally, I just think that a lot of Black Metal fans just take themselves and their scene way too seriously.
Can't wait for Black Metal to get their Steel Panther equivalent.
I've essentially said this numerous times.
The black satans are basically that.
Good video as always. It's interesting to see the reaction to this release. Dudes be like "this genre isn't a safe space you snowflake don't be a coward I don't even care about a bands lyrics or imagery" until a band puts a rainbow on their album art or talks about being gay, at which point they write essays about how you shouldn't say or do certain things in metal. Really strange.
Essays were written?
The absolute hypocrisy of metalheads trying to police what should and should not be said - not realizing that that turns them into the very same ignorant idiots that our idols rebelled against years ago. As you said it, there should be no limits to art, let the creator do whatever they want to do.
Limits will always be set though that is just human nature. This idea of Black metal being very limiting in its structure is also very absurd, and its not understanding the Geist of the music being of the upmost importance over following a simple structure. Starting with Arcturus and Ulver from their peers in Fleurety, Manes, and Ved Buende Ende, to Spektr, Nortt, Empire Auriga, Lux Occulta, and Oceans...the list goes on and on SECHT I mean come on. Black metal has no rules but be Black metal, and again that is not something you can simply copy its something that embodies the music beyond the simple ideas of style or even genre.
This is awesome. Can’t wait to check it out , thanks Wyatt. It’s the most insanely rebellious album cover they could have possibly thought of. And that’s badass. And downright dangerous which is inherently black metal af
I find it interesting that the same people who only a few years ago were shitting on Islam and so on are now on the same page with Islamic Fundamentalists in regards to this album...
I can’t believe nazis also think eating food is good for you!! How can we possibly be on the same page as nazis in this matter?!
Also, I see your point, I am bisexual myself but I think it’s flawed for the reason I just showed.
I mean by that reasoning,
the people that critized Taake for bashing islam are now supporting a band that does the same but its okay because they use a rainbow flag?
@@Guadalajara1937 Hypocrisy at its finest.
@@stevekramerf242 based Diabolik
Great video! Plenty people commenting here still don’t somehow see the irony with having such a narrow view of what black metal “has to” be - when it’s imagery or a message they don’t like
Noir Kid's album Violet Cold, was pretty fucking good. I did have to do a double take because this album art looked like a shitpost at first, but listened to it and realize it's not. It's more of a post-black or "blackgaze" type of metal, despite how ridiculous that tag sounds. It's just if you don't like an album, just don't listen to it. It's just weird how people were quick to jump on something that breaks the norms of what we're used to seeing, and then try to immediately disregard it for what it is. It's more nerds fighting with each other about it. It did bring out the hypocrites pretty easy but it's hilarious how it's triggering people, whether I support it or not, it's just a highlight of 2021 being weird
"waaaa gay bad black metal should be hateful"
"haha gay pride islam black metal go brrr"
I wouldn't even call all of BM negative to be honest, it's dark for sure but there are a lot of songs and album that really feel uplifting to me, especially the more melodic styles. Also it can be really empowering
100 percent agreed.
You explained exactly how I feel about some black metal fans, they always pride about rebelling, but as soon as they see something they get offended by, they become hypocrites
Offended is the wrong word
@@damnedbelowjudas_ what's the word
@@damnedbelowjudas_ go on you haven’t answered
@@Mothlover69 the case is that the album is the oposite of what black metal in general is and would be approved by mainstream culture cause it panders to mainstream beliefs. It apeals only to woke metalheads because of the message cause music is mediocre at best
Bro! I was hoping someone at somepoint would mention Violet cold! Such good stuff!!
Hey Wyatt, I dont know how to send messages on youtube so I'm posting this here in Hope's you see it.
Do you (or anyone reading) happen to know where I can get a Reek Of The Unzen Gas Fumes t-shirt?
I've been seeking high and low to old, sold out listings or split shirts (which I'm not really a fan of). Preferably in the West (Freaking wishful thinking).
I know this is a long shot, but I thought I'd give it a try.
Imagine being offended about a Pro-LGBT/Pride album that was created in a country that is rated as the absolute worst place to be LGBT in Europe as theres absolutely no legal protection for people there. The guy that created this album has more guts than any ridiculous American or Central European teenager listening to his Burzum album for the 53,000th time that faces absolutely no oppression in his day to day life other than the oppression of his parents telling him to clean his room.
@@damnedbelowjudas_ Mans saying that yet actually posting Count Blagorath quotes on a UA-cam video in 2021.
@@damnedbelowjudas_ Its not really though. How does it feel to be triggered by a guy making music though? You sound like the Christians during the whole "Satanic Panic" thing that wanted to keep music all nice and conservative. Black Metal and really metal in general spawned from people going against the grain of their typical conservative Christian households but hey, LGBT music bad, right? You and the average conservative christian have a lot in common
3:50 Been saying this for a long time. This is kind of what happened to every community. They go against the grain, develop norms inadvertently, and then push out anyone who doesn't conform. Then those people create communities and do the same.
Yep, we all do it. Its one of those things we point fingers at others for doing than we are like, oh yeah, wait a second. Go to a black metal show, goth show, punk show, how people look will be very predictable. But Black metal has also always encouraged the oddballs who just do whatever they want too!
It's very ironic that fans of a subgenre that's meant to be anti-establishment are getting offended and angry over something that is still against the norm in our society.
being LGBTQ is against the norm ? LOOOOL! what's planet you live on ? Multimillionaire corporations pushing everything they'll can about alphabet people, kids teachings to be gender fluid. LGBTQ is more than ever trendy. If you wanna be offensive preach intolerance against lgbtq, criticism islam and makes hateful racism remarks, you really going against the grain. LOL! another American didn't understand black metal and politics.
@@GrossePutea5Dollards so far i live on planet earth. Specifically in a country where the Gay Panic defense is still relevant, hate crimes still exists and are frequent in many other nations, conversion therapy is still a thing, and many political and religious leaders and public figures are trying to take away rights for these groups of people. Being anything other than straight and cisgender is seen as a crime in other countries as well (some places consider it a crime that's worthy of the death penalty). Should i go on? On top of that racist remarks are a thing in black metal, look at NSBM. Criticism against LGBT is the norm and a clear example of this is the black metal fans getting offended over this album cover and your blatant transphobia. Need i say more? Maybe it's you that doesn't understand black metal or politics.
@@Jesusblowsme666 I understand both sides of your argument but it seems to be more or a dichotomy between 'old world' and 'new world' thinking. Traditional Black Metal philosophy (to me) represents 'old world' thinking...a connection to the primal self (survivalism of a cold winter season, and in the cycles of war of old Europe for thousands of years to protect homeland and your fellow 'people', etc.). If you're familiar with medieval lifestyle and traditions (not romanticized stories of royalty)...there really wasn't much time or reason to contemplate wether you "identify as more as male or female" as you'd only maybe live to be 40 yrs old (it was much more important to raise or forage for food to be able to eat that day or learn how to use a weapon if fighting with enemies broke out). It basically shows how domesticated, comfortable and sedimentary modern society has become to be able to sit in front of a screen and question your sexual preferences after some leftist leaning influencers told you it's 'so' important. Back in the old days...you'd be severely punished or probably just killed just for exploring this subject matter with the militant church dominating everyday aspects of life. I think traditionally, Black Metal is the epitome of 'old world no BS thinking' when men (and women) were truly making a difference between life and death situations and ensured the survival of their people and traditions that are deeply embedded in our spines. This would explain most lyrical themes of BM...respecting and living with nature, hatred towards your enemies, battling with enemies, and honoring those who have come before us with inspiration to be self empowered as from Norse gods, warlords like King Rollo of the Vikings or Vlad the Impaler, and even making the point of artistic extremities and dominance of the times...as in music (Bathory, Immortal, Emperor, Marduk, etc). But also, in religious countries in South America where bands publicly going against the church was a quite a statement in their society. Personally, I believe BM fans should reject this domestication of the genre (the violence, church burnings, and murders were what put it on the map) and for it to be pathetically emulated by corpsepaint-wearing hipsters in suburban America just ruins all the mystique it once had. I am definitely liking the the rise and popularity of DSBM as it embodies nihilistic atmosphere and hopelessness which has a much deeper connection to the early 90s Norwegian scene rather than modern 'easy-listening' shoe-gaze BM styles (in my opinion).
But at the same time...a band like Venom (a band which both sides seem to love) represented pure rebelliousness and didn't care what you think about they did or thought. If you don't have some fun here and there (is anything worth the time?). So if this is your preferred version of BM then it could be used to go against the structured and traditional themes of all-out rejection as the Norwegian scene molded in the 90s. Venom didn't seem to take anything too seriously and to be honest...basically ripped off the punk band GBH (just listen to early GBH demos). Knowing history can really help you form an insightful opinion. I don't have to agree with everything that Varg Vikerness says but I also totally respect his views, observations, and wisdom from being an individual who walks his own path. His thinking isn't just a phase like so many others. Ask yourself this...is it better to honor our strength and tradition or to question our strength and tradition? (This is what I mean by the clashing of 'old world' and 'new world' thinking). The current state of Black Metal is a perfect example of this modern day philosophical dilemma. -Devon (Somnolence, Subterranean Drift)
These are also the observations from someone who has very little faith in most of humanity (I say more forest...less people!!) -haha.
@@GrossePutea5Dollards Intolerance against the LGBT community and racism isn't against the grain, that's literally been the fucking norm of society for a very long time.
The fact this project is offending black metal fans and non bm fans says alot, the same thing is going on with Saidan, he offended the supposed tRo0 elite "I don't get easily offended" people, that seems pretty black metal to me.
Saidan didn’t offend anyone, he’s just terrible and a social media diva.
I dont think that the term that the offended someone is right. In my opinion all the drama comes from him directly. All the anti nsbm stuff and than signing to a label that has a bunch of nabm bands. Im my opinion its cool that labels have alot of variety, the more the bands the better. But using terms like ''crush nazi's'' and than signing up on this label kinda contradicts the first message. As i also understood, and as i read my self, if memory serves me right, first insta posts were kinda written in broken English, which made the assumption that he is actually from Japan, which he is not. Dunno, when you create so much, lets call it, fog around yourself, its bound to have some backlash when it clears...
@@norwegianblackkvlt4384 A lot of words for describing that you are offended
@@leoandersson6461 em was kinda keeping the conversation going man. No im cool with him, nothing against, everybody is doing what they want.
@@hellswampkommando9203 that's why so many are pissing and moaning on Instagram, ninja man can do whatever the hell he wants to but the fact people go out of their way to bitch in moan says alot about BM fans, he said something that scorched the taints of BM fans and they threw a shit fit (Still are mind you) the same people who say "I separate the art from the artist" couldn't seperate the art from the artist and decided NAH imma start complaining, that's some grade A baby shit right there.
Are you going to the Legions of Metal Fest in Chicago on October 23rd? If so let me know...Destructor rules...message me on FB. Black Metal? Meh...personally Venom 1st Wave and Mayhem for 2nd Wave is enough for me...or a bit of Burzum...or Hellhammer and Celtic Frost
Tbh I've never considered Violet Cold as just Blackgaze because they play a lot of stuff sometimes at the same time. Also, I mostly consider it a part of post rock rather than black metal, although VC actually play black metal alongside too. Also, that album is actually great I really enjoyed it.
I saw this and bandcamp and laughed so clad someone addressed how dumb it is that people are freaking out
I was at a black metal concert last night and could not help but think about this video. What I saw were people patting each other on the back, putting their arms around each other and head banging, hugging, smiling, talking, laughing, you get the picture. Even the corpse painted bassist could not help but smile, it was clear he was enjoying himself immensely and it wasn't brief or just once but multiple times. So this idea of black metal being all grim and negative, well, that's maybe true for the true if you know what I mean. People who play live and are going to shows, without rare exceptions (was it the One Tail One Head band that yelled at people for smiling at a show?) are there to have a good time and enjoy themselves, far from negative.
I do remember the bassist to Inquinok back in the day getting some crap for smiling while playing live, so maybe just bassists are happier people?
Sir can you please let me know what band is on your shirt, it is intriguing! 😻
I don’t care if you write a black metal song about unicorns, just make it a good song. The problem is a lot of these bands aren’t very good songwriters (hello Ghost Bath)
One of the guys behind Ghost Bath runs a semi popular Vaporwave label lol
@@zeta3005 Geometric Lullaby
Violet Cold got a song about unicorns lol
Important statement. Thank you.
I love this album glad its a thing
Black Metal has the worst fans. I would compare them to the furry fanbase.
Never heard of this band until seeing this video. They're great.
Smart move by the band TBH. I, for one, am intrigued/interested in checking out the band after seeing the artwork and watching this video
I personally don't like the music, but I realize it's an obvious troll to piss off "trve" metal heads and it worked like a charm so props to the person behind the project for that.
Great video.
Great vid. Well said.
My bands so BM...we don't even play instruments ..or have songs..we're taking this to the extreme ..as raw as it gets .🤘😅🤘
I jus wanna know on the 3rd track of the album, “be like magic” like half way through it switches into a trap beat kinda with a low ass deep voice rapping? It sounds like A$AP rocky on the song Goldie. It just completely through me for a loop. If anyone has the lyrics for the album I’d love it, maybe it’ll help me appreciate the album a little more
We see eye to eye on this one!
Just goes to show how much i don't pay attention because i've never heard of this band or album at all before this video.
Same here I'm out the loop lol good video wyatt
yea dude but it's not offensive where I'm from!!!😡
Where are you from?
Who cares
I think they were being facetious/ironic.
@@nikolademitri731 Alright but I still want to know
@@Guadalajara1937 what is the blackest metal? most negative? Like everyone think about the heaviest never the blackest.
To answer your question. I don't think black metal should always be negative. To be honest I found most of the music a positive to be for some reason. To me the tremolo picking guitar riffs symbolises over coming something that is holding you back in life.
That said when your in a music genre that is called extreme music one would believe rules will be broken and if music genre has to be about being 'negative' (which I don't believe that being negative is key part of black metal) then that rule will be broken by someone or by some band.
Anyways am going to check this band Violet cold out.
I've stopped caring about the worry for conformity onto reaching new areas be it for shock value or simply put new territory. As I meant before I'm not sure if you see my comments I did for this and the last couple due to time differences not being American but I could be if I wanted to. ;) What matters most is the final output in being as an individual, engaging and memorably unique as possible in all areas of art. I can't help but find your concern of the art separating the artist be about pure enjoyment and unintentionally conform to its meaning with the points brought up.
I feel like album covers have been one of the most trendy and controversial thing's part of the metal genere. It kind of reminds me of that one time when Marilyn Manson's Holywood album cover was getting unlimited back-lash do to the so called lack of "Positivity" and overall Christianity inside of it, because back then he was being brutally despised for being himself and the person he wanted to be and that credit all goes to the Christian's that were just too damn sensitive about looking at a different perspective made up from art and imagery..... I personally think what this particular band is doing is great and I think they deserve a big thumbs-up for actually attempting to equip some different imagery and perhaps meaning possibly, it's better than using the same repetitive and regurgitating imagery everytime that honestly represents nothing but violence, anger, demons/daemon, hell, anti-christian, anti-human, anti-social, and all of the above it's literally the same thing everytime with just a dab of a different code of paint.
I also just hate how the black metal fan's sort of act like they seem to care about the underground metal rules whether that's being metal needs to remain underground at it's present or that it needs to exactly be dark and edgy and anti-christian and all of that with they're also being Satanism, like to me that's just very and extremely hypocritical especially knowing that it really contradicts what half of the black metal fan's were claiming to have been true or just people in general towards the metal era that were stating their own opinion with that being you can separate art from artist and there wouldn't be a problem but in this situation I can already make an assumption logically that they'll all change that perspective just due to all of the countering that would be the outcome from their argument itself.
Black metal needs to be negative. Christianity has done a lot of harm in the west.
Comments are being deleted on the video provided in your link in the description.
I agree with your statement bout black metal going against the norms. words from vothana, not that he would like this album art lol, but i agree whole heartedly that black metal is "poisonous black art to stimulate the mind, to stimulate the unthinkable." Its supposed to get you to think and i thats what the album did a good job on.
Cool video. Thanks for saying all this. Bit courageous of you. Bravo 👏🏽
🤎✊🏿🤘🏾🖤
I wouldn’t call this video courageous. Just more of stating what’s happening.
@@wyattxhim well that’s great point. But also if you look at things like journalism and it’s ability to change things simply by reporting or pointing at the current state. Or even like education and learning. Those are just simply facts and that’s what can lead to things like civility and morality.
Totally agree with you. I'm not a fan of the almost glorification of lgbt in western social media. But with the context of the country & religion, I think this fits black metal very well.
Much prefer it over NSBM lol.
Check out the account/ band Peosphoros who did this sort of thing a few years back.
Yeah, it’s weird how punk melded with Metal, and spawned all the subgenres we cherish today (Yes, Even Black Metal, *cue Fenriz listening to Rock and Roll Gas Station* ) yet the actual philosophy of punk has really just been limited to the Grind scene.
I find that Black Metal fans are honestly just more conservative than they claim to be... excluding the obvious sect that have “artists that need to be separated from their art”. It makes me curious about what the actual purpose of this music is for the many people who are so strict with their genre.
Probably just tribalism of outcasts, who in a different world, would be content to be a cog in a system that persecutes arbitrarily.
That's why Punks hate Hardcore, because it has a lot more in common with Metal, especially today. And you're right about the Grind-thing: Powerviolence is the only genre, where the original spirit of the Punks-scene is still alive (and maybe some Crust-bands).
The way I look at it is this: I agree that art should have no limitations whatsoever. Black metal can be anything it wants to be. I think the genre would be boring if all black metal bands today sounded the same, regaledless of style or lyrical content. If diversity didnt exist, we wouldn’t have great bands like Alcest, Deathspell Omega, or the like, nor would Chrisitan black metal exist. I mean Hellhammer played drums for Anestor for a time, since he stated that black metal is black metal. And eventually some black metal musicians who adopted the satanic, anti-life ideaology back then have matured, realizing it was foolish. Ihsahn is a good example, as he stated before that he associated the Satanic with his youth, and now advocates Individualism. But then you have those who pretty much base their life and music around the satanic philosphy. Infernus from Gorgoroth, is the only example I can think of. Now while i consider him a fool for thinking like that, he is without a doubt a phenomenal guitar player. King ov Hell is just as a much of a moron. He thinks that only the message and not the music is the primary aspect of black metal. Clearly demonstrated when he left Abbath due to conflicts about the lyrical content for Outstrider (which are pre-Christian if I remember correctly). To sum it all up, black metal does not strictly have to revolve around negative themes and can be anything it wants to be, and anyone thinks otherwise needs their heads examined.
Black +gaze ... could be : blaze!!
7:12 was my initial takeaway from the artwork... Admittedly I haven't heard the album or read the lyrics. But that was my takeaway from the artwork. That's why I thought it was very interesting in a way.
I have seen worst.
Look up "transphobia annilation squad" it was born as a parody of Impaled Nazarene.
The way I view it is just like I view any other band, album or song, does it sound good? If it does then it does, if it doesn’t then I don’t have to listen to it 💀 I really don’t care about the “meaning” behind it. That’s how I view music for the most part anyways, how it sounds. For that reason my liked song always consists of random ass shit like 80s pop music one moment then new york death metal the next 💀
Yeah absolutely! People tend to get too fucking annoying with music having " meaning ". Lyrics are so disposable, I don't need words in my music to catch a meaning or feeling.
@@thatsprettylunchean Most of the electronic music genres, Industrial and Jazz are instrumental and don't need vocals and lyrics, and are all the better for it.
@@thatsprettylunchean glad I’m not the only one😭
Can Wyatt get even more based??
Dude.
I went and listened to that fucking album now.
Thank you.
The artwork itself has the message of peace, kindness, love, unity, equality, diversity, etc. If I ever wear that merch in public, ironically I might get beaten up. But definitely, be ordering it to mock people XD.
Enjoy listening to this album a lot. I find it refreshing, groovy, dreamy, beautiful and kind of psychedelically atmospheric. Who says BM don’t make whole lotta noise anymore and this cover does! Even though it’s very opposite of Dawn of the Blackhearts.
Releasing this album could lead to something deadly or imprisonment to him if he is still in his country, so I salute Violet Cold.
The cover is more like LGBT
I gotta wonder what does Chris Peeters think of this album
I remember seeing that album show up in my recommended feed on UA-cam because the Black Metal Artists channel posted a stream of it a while ago. I reached the same conclusion regarding the album art that you did, and also thought to myself, "I bet that this will not only piss off whatever homophobic society of the country they're from, but also black metal purists too". Turns out I was right after watching this video. Also, I agree with you, I too believe black metal doesn't always have to be negative. Hell, I even have my own black metal project that writes songs with lyrics based on a video game series called Fire Emblem!
But is it negative in the first place thou, i dont think it has been strictly negative for a long time. Take all the nature themed bands, like Elderwind for example, dont think there is any negativity in that at all, or some cosmic bands, who just sing about cosmos and void. So i dont think it ever was strictly negative.
It's just it shouldn't be explicitly positive, ever.
I saw it on bandcamp, was like is this a joke? Heard it...OH FUCK YEAH THIS IS THE SHIT
Remember what black metal started as, it's meant to piss off and drive people away, this is targeting traditional black metal fans.
its violet cold, sorry if i misheard violent cold lol
This album is a banger
I have not heard this album but I have thoughts on this subject as a whole.
On the one hand, the way that I personally define Black Metal involves a dark atmosphere.
On the other hand, Black Metal is far from the only good form of music. It might be an amazing album, but I personally would not consider it Black Metal based the former criteria. That all said I have a lot of respect for what they are trying to do.
As far as "separating the art from the artist" I kind of do in a sense but don't in another sense.
As in, I do pay attention to the artists, I look into who they are, what they believe and what they have done. Unlike a lot of "separate the art" people who just straight up ignore anything other than the art.
But on the other hand, although I recognise the artist and their controversies, I don't get pissy when I disagree with them.
I guess it's just my personality, I'm quite passive in a sense and don't take anything personally.
So I can recognise the artist and their views for what they are, but I can also enjoy their art for what it is regardless of if I disagree with their views. Not ignoring the subject matter, but just not getting butthurt over it either.
You should check Brotha Lynch Hung out sometime!
I don't really understand how you look at the anti-conformist aspect of BM. Ive always seen black metal as anti-conformity as anti society. Black metal is supposed to reject popular and mainstream social norms not social norms in this unique little clique which is the black metal community. In the 90s black metal rejected popular social norms by burning churches and being open satanists and after that alot of black metal bands started using ns imagery to upset and rebel against mainstream ideas. I also haven't myself seen alot of this ''anger'' towards this album ive just seen people call it stupid and gimicky and nothing more i dont really think someone gets really offended by this unless they are truly a nazi.
And yet the majority of Black Metal bands sell merch make albums on vinyl, cassette and CD to sell and Tour to make a living. That sounds pretty non conformist and social to me while remaining fairly unpopular outside the underground music scene, i'll give them that.
@@Ghoulstille I think bands should go up and rape people in the audience and then after the show give them a usb of new material. or bands could rob people of money in the park and give out usbs of new songs to spread their music. I think that would be non conformist and based.
@@futret1614 I'm gonna call the based department
Really I see this album as somewhat like the Dmaar album. What made it stand out so much is just how much it went against the culture that the artists were from. Everyone in the BM scene praised that album to no end, not just because it was good but also because of how much of a fuck you it was to the culture. This is exactly the same thing really, but just more of a positive record.
Was never a fan of Violent Cold, simply because nothing of theirs resonated with me. That changed with this album. I enjoyed the from the first listen, it reminded me of Astronoid. Personally I don't view this as a BM album, similarly as with Astronoid and Entropia's last album, all really good, I greatly enjoy them, but I don't get a BM feel from them. There may be moments here and there, but just not enough for me. Long may Violent Cold continue.
As for the negativity, that depends on the context. In this case as you brought up, one can argue it's centralised on the negativity in Azerbaijan, for their own standards, or views of sexuality. In that sense it could be viewed as both a positive and negative album.
In rehearsal other day .I stared at my mate who's guitar ..he stared back as I'm bass...then we both stared at another mate..who's drums..he was fucking around doing something ..then looked around and saw us both staring at him...he's looked at us both ...and said ....how the fuck...am I ment to play that .
How great is that!? I haven´t even seen the video. Just the album cover and the title. I think that´s awesome. Why not?
short time answer: yes! long time answer: also yes!
Review Curse upon a prayer
Yes
Let me preface this by saying that I am in fact a black metal nerd and have been for over 20 years.
So I knew nothing about this release is for me, so I just didn't listen to it. The same way I don't listen to a lot of the bandcamp BM bands that people fellate on the internet, because I feel like they're cash grabs and created by people with no stake in the culture (Which was recently proven correct) I am going to listen to the stuff that actually seems genuine, regardless as to the subject matter.
Am I a fan of blackgaze? No. Am I a fan of projects that eschew traditional BM values and aesthetic, sometimes, but it truly depends on whether or not it works for me. People are free to make whatever it is they want, the same way I am free to entirely ignore it. Black metal is about passion and emotion, and if you choose to use it as a vehicle for your expression, the only ask I have is that you make it genuine and from the heart, I don't want anything to do with sterile and formulaic BM. Whether the emotion and intensity is from love, hate, fear or sadness, it doesn't matter as long as it's genuine in its execution and presentation.
@Goatman I gathered that from the comment section, and I stated I don't like blackgaze. I agree, blackgaze isn't BM, it's significantly watered down, as I always say it's BM to people who don't actually like BM.
I couldn’t agree with you more. We could get into the politics & hypocrisy of a lotta die hard black metal elitists but we mostly know all that already so this “controversy” is not surprising. I’ll just say this: I love classic black metal, classic sounding black metal like Lamp of Murmur or Hulder, but I really enjoy any black metal that challenges that old mindset & tries to do something new. Whether it’s Deafheaven, Blut Aus Nord, Liturgy, Dawn Ray’d, Underdark or any of the RABM (red and black metal/anti-fascist black metal) stuff. So this Violet Cold album is no exception & honestly I think this stuff keeps black metal fresh & reinvigorated.
word bro.....
this brings out many questions. if bm is about going against society and mainstream, what society?
what mainstream? because "mainstream" is very different in Azerbaijan and America, but also very different in the bm community and say the general music community etc. so we have here an album that is against the mainstream in Azerbaijan being listened to by people that are for example in Sweden, where this message is very much mainstream. but also, this album is against the mainstream of bm community, but this is a mainstream it's hard to be against, because if all the bm bands will be against the mainstream of bm community there will be no bm community. very interesting to think about these things. I don't know what my opinion is.
So I’m not trying to start an argument with you, or necessarily disagree, but what I can’t for the life of me understand is *why or how* this album is “against the black metal community”... Like, do you mind explaining exactly how it is “against” anything other than what the artist intended it to be against? I mean, Wyatt explains in this very video how it is pretty ironic and hypocritical for someone to think this “goes against black metal”.. *but what you (and others) are saying isn’t exactly the same thing.* You (and others) are saying it’s against the BM community, and I think there’s a distinction there vs it being against what black metal is supposed to be... So my genuine question to you is “why” and “how” is this the case?
To put my cards on the table, I can’t even comprehend how someone can say there is *a* black metal community”, as if it’s one thing in and of itself, with a singular culture, and norms, or that it is something monolithic in any way. It was, but those days have been over for a looong time from where I’m sitting.. it’s not the 90s anymore, and the scope of the culture/community has broadened quite a bit.. This would at the very least mean that the only real constant of a singular black metal community, if we’re calling it one monolithic thing, is a love for black metal. Outside of that, you have to start breaking it down into various subcultures within a broader community, or various communities within a subculture.. however you prefer.. because it’s clear that there is NOT agreement between BM fans over this, just as there isn’t over many other issues related to BM. That says to me very clearly, even objectively, that there is no monolithic black metal community, unless we’re talking super broadly, but then I don’t see how you point to “shared culture” beyond the love of BM...
Anyway, again, I’m just curious what your thoughts are about the why/how. I’ve seen several people’s perspectives on this, but most of them just came off as assholes and crybabies to me, and you seem to be more rational and thoughtful about it, so I ask you. ✌️♾🤘
One last thing, and I’ll STFU: let’s say, *hypothetically speaking,* that this album is indeed “going against the black metal community”. Before I go further, I feel like I have to go back to the BM community not being a monolith, for if it were, and this was against it, then this would be getting NOTHING but hate from BM fans, and that’s not the case by a country mile, not even close, so I’m going into this hypothetical with the assumption that, *if it is against the BM community, but the BM community isn’t a monolithic single entity, then it must just be against the majority of the BM community, while not being against all BM fans and subculture as a whole.* I think this is a logical, fair line of thought, if we’re taking the aforementioned points for granted, you can tell me if you disagree.
Okay, so what else could we infer from that?
Well, if BM is indeed “supposed to” go against the mainstream, and this album is going against the majority of the BM community, could we not say it is going against the mainstream of the BM community? If that is the case, then isn’t it doing exactly what black metal is “supposed to be doing”?
Obviously, as Wyatt pointed out, that’s definitely the case with the artist’s intentions.. They are from an extremely homophobic country, and the artist is provoking the mainstream/majority of those in their country by combining the Azerbaijani flag (which includes the Islamic crescent moon symbol) with the lgbtq rainbow symbol.. By your own definition, this fits the BM bill, and I agree with you.
So, *if* the mainstream/majority of the BM community is against this, and/or it is against them, then how is it not also doing what it “should be doing” by going against them? After all, if we’re going to talk about mainstream here vs there, what is mainstream in one place but isn’t in another, and how that might change the context (it certainly does in terms of individual frame of reference), why aren’t we applying that same scrutiny to the BM community? IMO, if this were all true, and if most BM bands started to do this, it absolutely won’t destroy the BM community, as you put it... instead, it’d just change what the mainstream is in that community, and the current majority would become the minority.. The people who hate this and anything like it would still exist, still be BM fans, etc, but they’d simply become the minority. It could be a drastic change of the BM community, but not it’s destruction.
Again, this is all meant as accepting a hypothetical (one that I don’t know I actually agree with), and then following the logic, based on what we’re accepting, to what we could reasonably say.. I point this out because I think it creates a sort of paradox in a lot of this thinking, though I’m hardly the first to do so, and others have done it far, far better than I have....
So now I will REALLY shut up, I’ve spent way too much time on the topic now, but I do find it interesting, hence my engagement. You obviously don’t have to reply to any of this, but I’d be very curious to hear your thoughts on my initial question! ✌️♾🤘
Funny how everybody forgot about this album in, like, less than an year.
Thats album art is some funny shit
based violet cold
Maybe
yes it should!
I heard that record a week or 2 ago, saw the cover, and obviously it’s attempting to be provocative to the black metal community. Regardless of aesthetics, I’ll treat it like the album cover is just blank white. The music itself doesn’t sit well with me, it called back to the blackgaze stylings of bands like defheaven and liturgy, and not tastefully like Alcest does it. those bands have always repulsed me. I don’t like the happy sounding progressions they use, and the choice of melody isn’t done tastefully for my ears. Lyrics in black metal really matter next to nothing to me since 99% of the time you can’t understand it even while reading along anyhow. They can make an album however they want just like you said and I agree 100%, but at the same time the scene has every right to reject it. Just like all the bands who release 2 demos and quit with aspirations of being the next Vlad Tepes, it won’t be welcomed, nor will they get the notoriety of the fans if they don’t dig it.
I would probably take this over Vlad Tepes, but I agree. I can see why the Black metal scene instantly would have a reaction to this, and at the same time if I enjoyed it, I would enjoy it. One of my close buddies has been digging the new Liturgy, this dudes tastes are all over the place but when it comes to Black metal, its shit like Akhyls and Dochahedron. You never know what you will enjoy. I actually don't hate the new Deafheaven, glad they are dropping the metal parts mostly. Another difference is that Alcest comes directly from the very cesspool armpit of Black metal, you know who I mean! Sure the scene can be Gatekeepers but anyone is with something that has value to them, the complete dismissal of this idea today is laughable. Its like (white) people who just say no borders (although the Hispanic population largely has different views, oh the irony), obviously borders will exist and laws will be in place around them, you can't just get rid of them but you can make them more intelligent and beneficial to their purpose. Same with the scene, we know the cheese ball kvltists and generally have the same view of them (they are mostly over at Hipster Black metal hahaha!) and we also know what bands were, regardless of what they do actually enjoy or are influenced by, the aforementioned Deafheaven who were clearly jumping on a bandwagon and were hated with good reason.
The black metal fan base takes stuff like this way too seriously. It’s like they want to keep listening to the same cliched lyrical content.
It's very autistic
Black metal nerds: "Black metal is uncompromising and should make you feel uncomfortable! Fuck conformity!"
Violet Cold:
Black metal nerds: "This makes me feel uncomfortable! You need to conform to standard black metal norms!"
Make rainbows in metal great again.
YES
Should Black Metal always be negative?
No, I don’t think Black Metal should be themed around one theme in general
I think bands should do whatever they want to do, although this can apply to almost any genre, genres should be based on music technicality & style
With the exception of I guess Hip Hop which tends to base their genres off of themes like Conscious Hip Hop, Political Hip Hop, Horrorcore or Gangsta Rap
yes
agreed