Listening to new Astrofaes now. So, so far away from Those Whose Past is Immortal that I loved so much. Very different sound and atmosphere. Don't know what's up with them. =/

Also, even if kinda simplistic overall, an interesting read:

Political Statements from Protector (Summoning)

I think he misunderstands a lot of what the so-called "NSBM" folks actually say. Most of them do realize that Slavs were despised by the nazis, for example; it's not the actual WW2 German political application of national-socialism that appeals to them, but more abstract notions and ideals.

That said, I don't think I disagree with a single thing in there. I just think he's attacking a bit of a strawman. But I don't blame him for getting irritated at stupid NSBM kids using his music for their propaganda. I can already feel poor Falconsbane's heart ripping in half. :D

Well, I already do not see how could one call Summoning "Wagnerian" music. :tpg:

B-but, it's triumphant nihilism! And stuff.

So looks like this should be another Black Metal exploration winter for me. Gave Immortal's discography another shot and I'm fucking digging it this time (/noob). Alongside this, lotsa randoms like Kataxu, Curse, Kampfar, Kroda, Sykdom, Valfeanor and early Ulver. First Curse album and Kampfar in general particularly stuck out.

Not really about metal but I saw something (by browsing last.fm randomly, of all things) that reminded me of the recent bit about the folk metal/folk festival thread: this event.
Skyclad, Hedningarna, Corvus Corax AND Omnia? FUUUUUUUUCK I love and hate Europe so much.

Don't know Omnia but I don't really like Hedningarna and Corvus Corax. Too modern heh. =p

Luc Arbogast will be here at the Cernunnos festival too. Not too pagan since he plays a lot of medieval religious songs, but that's not an issue for me heh. ^_^

Also, continuing my rediscovery of 2nd wave Norwegian Black Metal with early Gorgoroth, Carpathian Forest or even Dimmu Borgir. Fucking loved Carpathian Forest in particular.

edit: spent the afternoon on Hades and Aeternus. Fuck, does the awesomeness ever ends ?

How is Corvus Corax too modern? There are orchestrations on the more recent stuff, but it's not like they have folk-rock parts like Hedningarna (which I still like, at least some albums, but they do sound modern). And folk metal doesn't exactly sound like tr00 ancient folk...

Omnia is as far away from modern (unless you count the occasional use of didjeridoo :P) as possible. Totally badass folk. Here are some samples I had uploaded a while ago for some other people:

The Wylde Hunt
Morrigan (The Mother, the Maiden, the Crone) (the lyrics to that one are totally metal :D)
Etrezomp ni Kelted
Teutates

Sorry for the threadjack. >_>

I couldnt explain what I find too modern about their sounds, but that's how I feel. I like a ton of other neo-medieval/folk bands or even stuff like Shandmaul, but those 2 just never made it for me. It's been a while for Corvus Corax though so maybe I should try again.

Ew @ didjeridoo, but I'll listen to those. Thanks =p

....Did you just say "ew" at the didjeridoo?

Seriously, what's wrong with some people. :(

No, I'm sure I'd enjoy didjeridoo in the heat of the Australian nature and landscapes, just not in my European folk. =p

Didjeridoo is like guimbarde, it's awesome anytime, anywhere.

Hm..why do female-fronted goth bands (usually) have hot women? For a wider audience accessibility? Or just fap factor for metal nerds?

I think both. I'm trying Epica just for shits, and the latest one from Astarte (who, according to the internet, now plays a melodic death metal with a hint of black metal).

So I've discovered a fun doom band who go by the name of Forgotten Tomb, and they sound like Katatonia's Brave Murder Day. Constantly. With good production. I've no clue how well-known they are, but I'll upload their newest album sometime soon if anyone's interested.

Anyone heard Svartby yet ? They're basically the Russian Finntroll. Very fun debut album. =p

I saw Northern Kings on vemp's ticker and checked it out and downloaded it. The concept seems awesome, and the same should go for the artists.

Turns out mediocre. I don't know all the 80's tunes, granted, but the ones I do know honestly sound better as the originals. Still fun to listen to, I suppose. Just my expectations were higher.
Not to mention I bought the new Sonata album and it didn't quite meet up to what I expected either.

It's hard when you have a band you love change their style to something not so lovable. You have to listen to the new music a lot more to like it.

Astarte's okay. I prefer ther older more black metal-oriented stuff, though.

Listening to new Arkona. Holy hell! why didn't I listen to them before?! Time to hunt for previous albums!

I could have sworn you were already familiar with them. Anyway, they sound right up your alley. Be sure to check Vo Slavu Velikim, it's probably their best.

So, I finally heard Nespithe by Demilich today. Wow. I don't understand how I could have not even heard of it until last week.

Go get it right now if you haven't heard it.

Anyone like Ahab? I think they're pretty good. I don't have any experience with the genre, but I really like the vocals.

Quiet Riot singer found dead in Las Vegas - Yahoo! News

Sad day...Kevin Dubrow found dead in his home.

I'll be the first to admit the guy was an asshole (at least during the brief time they were popular) and 95% of Quiet Riot's output was/is total shit, but I'll always have fond memories of their version of "Cum On Feel the Noize" at age 4/5 and the music video they did for it. I probably wouldn't even like heavy metal nowadays if I hadn't been constantly exposed to it at such a young age (even now, I remember that song was EVERYWHERE). Still one of my favorite solos of all time.

RIP Kevin.

And on a lighter note...Any Death Angel fans here? Straight-up thrash is hit or miss with me, but I really love "The Art of Dying" from them. One of the best pure rock albums I've heard, period. Their earlier stuff is good too...Maybe not early-Metallica good or Reign in Blood-good, but I think it's pretty close.

So my world these past weeks has been made of the snowy soundscapes of early Norwegian Black Metal, and I've finally grown to appreciate bands that my ears were deaf to until then. Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, Gehenna, Carpathian Forest, Immortal, Dimmu Borgir, Aeternus, Emperor, Enslaved, Helheim ...

For now I still can't seem to like Marduk and Mayhem, who seem to miss that particular atmosphere I discovered in the others. Confirm Y/N ?

Also, any recommendations ?

Finally:

http://www.paganfest.net/dates.php?lang=en

PARIS ! FUCK YES !!!

I've never appreciated any of Gehenna's work. Can't say why, exactly. Just lacking something.

With Mayhem, try listening to their early demos for more of the black-metal atmosphere thing.

You, of all people, don't like First Spell ? Now I'm surprised ? =p