Metal Reviews

The history of Black Metal is vast and controversial, despite being a relatively new genre. Which of this zones has contributed the most to the Black Book of Luzbel? There are many points to be taken:
- Historical
- Musical evolution
- Quality of the bands
- Originality
- National (zone) identity
- Philosophical (lyrical) content
- Non-musical actions

I'm counting America as a whole continent, not only USA.
I made a geographical mistake, please count France, England and Italy as part of Central Europe.
In the historical sense, Scandinavia is very important, but I tend to like more the stuff from Central Europe and America. I can't decide between those two. I'm very fond of the French scene though, being Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord and Peste Noire some of my preferred bands ever (any genre).

I really can't decide. Norway because that is where my three favorite bm bands are from. The US scene is definitely excelling and with time could surpass them.

I'm not that familiar with american black metal, but in my opinion central europe and scandinavia are maybe the most influental.

- Historical

Central Europe and Scandinvaia. Both the UK and Norway made early impressions with Venom among others.

- Musical evolution
The symphonic scene has taken more and more over, expecially in Norway. Both Darkthrone and Mayhem have developed in different directions though. The former geared more towards punk, and the latter highly experimental.

Then you have the vikings of Helheim and Enslaved getting more prog with each release.

Central Europe has spawned some great bands too such as Verdunkeln and earlier Behemoth.

- Quality of the bands
Definitely Norway for me.


- Originality
Enslaved are fairly original, and so are the french Deathspell Omega and Belenos to a certain extent.

- National (zone) identity
The norwegian bands, and especially in the early days, where singing in their native language which gave the music an identity.

- Philosophical (lyrical) content
norse mythology, satan, heahenism, darkness, even christianity somewhere. You'll find different lyrical content everywhere

- Non-musical actions

Hah, easy. Norway, Bergen.

The French do 2 things well: Food, and Black Metal.

France, being in Western Europe, doesn't have a proper voting category. It gets my vote due to the sheer sense of vitality it has been exhibiting this side of 2000.

Well historically it has to be Norway, but currently France is the best by far. Finland is good, so is the US.

I was counting France as a part of Central Europe, sorry if I made a geographical mistake.

black metal will always be firmly established with the Norwegian bands at the forefront with Bathory and Celtic frost as the primary (not sole influences) with scattered bands such as Sabbat from Japan, Sarcofago from Brasil and Master's hammer who are equally influential without being as well known.

I think those scenes have had their time and I believe the next logical move is centered around the metaphysical/philosophical movement of bands such as Ofermod, Deathspell omega, Blut us nord, Watain, and Ondskapt.

I haven't heard Ondskapt, they're worth checking out?

The church burnings are so important? I feel that the Norwegian scene is a bit overrated. Emperor, Enslaved and Immortal are awesome though, but bands like Mayhem and Darkthrone always seemed a bit childish to me, despite being highly influential, with the whole Black Metal Inner Circle thing, and Euronymous' store Helvete.

Celtic Frost are Swiss, not Norwegian.

France has the best BM scene and it's not even included in the poll...

If France, England & Italy (I really love Janvs) are considered "Central Europe", then my vote is for them.

Historicaly Scandinavia is more important, but the question is "Which is the best Black Metal scene and why?, not "Which was the best Black Metal scene and why?"

The reason is that these countries have the most interesting bands in this moment, imo, altought there're interesting bands from all scenes.

France all the fucking way. So central europe?

i voted America because Immortal are the only non-American BM that i like.

Norway, cause for now the only proper BM I've ever heard is from there, that is the classic stuff like Emperor, Darkthrone, Mayhem, etc.

Not just the church-burnings, but the killings, the suicides and the fact that every man with long hair was brought in by the police... It was complete and utter chaos, and just made the black metal bands here and in the rest of the world provoke even more.

Probably Norway, although my favourite BM bands are English - The Axis Of Perdition, Benighted Leams, Meads Of Asphodel...

Very nationalist Zad! Nothing bad with being nationalist though, in the end, isn't BM highly nationalist?
Almost everyone says that France is their favorite scene, why so few votes for Central Europe then? It's because of my geographical mistake? Please count France, England and Italy as part of Central Europe just for this thread

I wouldn't call myself nationalist at all! England doesn't have a BM 'scene' so much, but we've produced some pretty important bands - Cradle Of Filth, Anaal Nathrakh... Supernal Records has unleashed the likes of Drudkh onto the world, Candlelight discovered Emperor, etc.