Words

Starting off the month trying something which is definitely out of my comfort zone - lyrics. I believe this, in a major way, will help me create better music. In the mean time, I'm churning out ideas from an instrumental perspective but a good half of what I enjoy listening to are actually songs, ie. someone is actually singing in there. I believe the content & lyrical themes will make the music more relevant hence fortify ideas, making things more coherent.

I draw inspiration from two of my favourite / respected lyricist - Satyr (Satyricon) & Maniac (ex-Mayhem). These are the most potent minds in black metal, I feel. The standard of their lyrics are beyond compare, very philosophical, there's a sure sense of depth if you read them. The two weakest components in this music genre, after listening to it for years, are lyrics & guitar solos. The music might be potent but the lyrics just messed things up; about weird creatures, doing nonsensical things & revelling in its majesty, exploiting weaker others, etc. These don't value-add to the music. The guitar solos are also next to rubbish unless the band consists of people who are dedicated / versed in this aspect. I'm not saying every band should have that kind of player because some of the best compositions are by bands with conceptual competence more than anything else. They know what kind of solos should punctuate the songs otherwise, solo-less ventures are best. Two good examples - Soulside Journey (Darkthrone) & Blizzard Beasts (Immortal). 

Pics: metalrefuge / thewire

Maniac inferno

Mayhem was joined by former vocal stalwart, Maniac during the recent Inferno festival. This guy is clearly my preferred vocalist in the band. Atilla is legendary but Maniac is a force to be reckoned with. With a band like Mayhem, you need someone confrontational but not treading too much on theatrics. Maniac's lyrics were clearly thought provoking, heretic but remains philosophical. It infused much thinking into a genre of music not known for much substance when it comes to singing- was there ever singing to begin with?

Skitliv: Skandinavisk Misantropi

This is the sophomore release from the ex-Mayhem front-man, Maniac. Skitliv is a doom outfit, Maniac is currently in admiration of all things down-tempo & crushing. He cited Burzum as inspiration. As such, there's only one track which alludes to black metal, if this was intentional at all- Densetsu. Please do not expect any persistent manifestations of the aforementioned music genre, majority of the tracks here are deliberately unhurried. Guitar-wise, Skandinavisk Misantropi is unpretentious in its delivery. No technical noodlings but all the necessary ingredients to get the job done.

Skit-firebird-liv

I've been following Maniac's musical development since his departure from Mayhem; his new band is Skitliv. Maniac is one of the genre's thoroughly disturbing geniuses around, very provocative yet captivating. I'm also currently keeping tab of black metal/ extreme music's guitar proponents who are not using pointy, obtrusive guitars- it's not a must isn't it? Your music remains evil because it's your nature; satan doesn't live in your guitar (or your amp & effects pedals for that matter...). Maniac prefers a (Gibson) Firebird instead.