The Modern Black Metal Scene

The modern symphonic black metal scene has settled down from its wild and dangerous ways in the beginning of the 90s. Apart from a few stray incidents from the members of the band Gorgoroth, most of the bands have refrained from indulging in the anti social activities that were the hall mark of the bands like Mayhem, Burzum and Emperor.

There has also been a return to the roots kind of movement in the black metal scene. Bands from the eastern parts of Europe have made a marked shift from the styles that the Scandinavian bands have chosen and are going in for a more primitive recording style that gives a rougher, more aesthetic and atmospheric edge to the recordings.

The music continues to glorify the pagan roots of Scandinavia and the Vikings and their ways. The sound and the lyrics revolve around the themes that they have always treaded on and it seems to be a perfect formula for success, at least in the native lands. Paganism, Satanism, anti Christianity and nihilism have been the themes that they bands have worked and re worked to keep with the black metal sound and scene. Bands that glorify Christianity have been dubbed Unblack Metal by the followers o9f the black metal scene in Sweden.

A very small wave of Black Metal-fans has begun embracing depression as a part of their lifestyle and have been know to practice self-injury and suicidal behavior. Although it can't be said that it is because of the music, there are bands capitalizing on this kind of extreme behavior by the fans.