PixlBit

 As a metalhead, the most common question I receive is this: "Non potes id, crustulum?" However, the second question I receive is "Why are there so many metal genres and subgenres when it all sounds the same?" 

 Firstly, metal doesn't all the same. It is an extremely diverse genre, and that's part of the reason I enjoy it. So, I'm going to attempt to explain some metal genres and their subgenres as best I can.

 We'll start with Black Metal, as it is the one most people seem to be scared of.

 However, whether or not you like or dislike this genre, I feel it is important to highlight what makes up black metal, and how diverse it can be.

Musical Characteristics

It's totally okay if you don't like this.

General Black Metal is basically characterised by fast tremelo picking on guitar, blast beat drumming, high pitched shrieked vocals and a low fi production. It rarely follows the pop structure of verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus, and instead focuses on passages and movements, similar to classical music. Unlike a lot of other metal, the guitars aren't lowered and the guitars are generally played at a higher pitch.

 So that's the basics. However, not all of these elements need to be involved to make up black metal, and this is evident by many of the subgenres we will get to in a second. Also Burzum:

 This is what most "generic" black metal sounds like.

Lyrics

 Initially, much of the lyricism of Black Metal was dedicated to satanism, rejection of religion, rejection of government, and being an outsider. However, Black Metal has been trending away from that for quite a while now. Black Metal is often quite poetic these days, with an emphasis on sorrow, nature, and death. Not death in the grotesque manner, but death as a concept. Take these lyrics by Agalloch for example:

Like snowfall, you cry a silent storm
Your tears paint rivers on this oaken wall. . .
Amber nectar, misery ichor
. . .cascading in streams of hallowed form
For each stain, a forsaken shadow

You are the lugubrious spirit
Etched in the oak of wonder
You are the sullen voice and silent storm

Each night I lay
Awakened by her shivering silent voice
From the shapes in the corridor walls.
It pierces the solitude like that of a distant scream
In the pitch-black forest of my delusion. . .

 See. Ghosts and shit. Nature. No Satan. It's all good :D

Blake's Favourite Bands/Subgenres

Okay, here's my favourite part: The recommendations. Black Metal is far from my favourite genre, and I generally prefer the deviations from the norm with this genre. I will tell you what subgenre they fall into and briefly explain the genre and what it adds as well.

Psychadelic Black Metal: Oranssi Pazuzu

Psychadelic Black Metal is what you'd expect - Black Metal with Psychadelic elements. Imagine Black Metal and Jimmy Hendrix had a baby. This is slower, spacier, less heavy, and trippy as balls. I love it. 

Pagan Black Metal: Moonsorrow

Pagan Black Metal often has lyrics associated with nature, and mixes folk elements with metal. In the case of Moonsorrow, this means violins, lutes, and acoustic guitar melodies. Some other bands mix Celtic elements or African Folk Metal, but since I'm a Fantasy nerd, this is my style of Pagan metal.

Progressive Black Metal: Enslaved

It's Prog, but with Black Metal! Enslaved is basically the Opeth of Black Metal, merging clean vocals with harsh and using soft interludes and odd time signatures. 

Blackgaze: Alcest

Beautiful Black Metal. Alcest rarely uses harsh vocals and actually sing most  of the time. However, the tremelo picking, higher pitched guitars and blast beats make it apparent which genre it falls into. This is Black Metal mixed with shoe gaze.

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 So there you have it. That's Black Metal for you. Which Metal genre would you like me to do next? Death Metal? Doom Metal? Power Metal? Progressive Metal? Thrash Metal? Let me know!