Defending Symphonic Black Metal

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[@J_Stamps86]

I might regret revealing myself on here but what the hell - I'm Joe, I'm the current vocalist for Hecate Enthroned. The Cradle comparison has often been a bit frustrating for us, so it's always great to hear people see the differences between us. The earlier material is what gets compared to Cradle the most, but both bands have gone their own way since. We still do a lot of the earlier material live and it's awesome for me to do because I was a big fan before I joined the band. But these days both us and Cradle sound totally different to one another, so it's a bit of a pain if people compare us.

[@Grapesoda-is7ti]

Hmm, I thought the most hated BM subgenre was Post BM/Blackgaze

[@arcwiz]

Simple defense: Bal-Sagoth has written better songs than most "trve" BM artists.

[@ClandestineMerkaba]

Respectfully, it needs no "defense" buddy boy! Those who cannot appreciate, are

[@michaelmacvittie6977]

There has always seemed to be an element of anti-symphonic music in metal, I’ve never understood it. Symphonic metal has this incredible level of ambition to it when it’s at its best, whether that be Nightwish’s “Once” or Emperor’s “Anthems to the Welkin”.

[@TalkingCheeseBurgerr]

I'm really surprised by this actually I thought regular black metal listeners would appreciate additional elements. I got into black metal

[@lifeeternal9823]

I never got why people called ITNE a symphonic record, it doesn’t fit the criterium at all aside from wonderful melody. The complaint of this genre being “cheesy” is hilarious. As if the entirety of black metal isn’t the cheesiest pizza in human history. Funny story about apotheosis, my old band (also named apotheosis, we came up with the name without googling it) he went in our Facebook page and would put sad faces in the comments of our posts hhahaha I think he was salty we had the same name. Goofy stuff.

[@infernusrex796]

I see that Suicide record in the background!! I discovered that when I was a teenager back in the 80's......and it fucked up my head up in the best possible way!! I been into BM since the get-go, and I absolutely love Sympho BM. Obtained Enslavement, Parnassus, Pocolus, Ancient, Tartaros, and early-Emperor are my faves!!

[@somerandommetalhead8982]

Symphonic black metal actually got me into black metal specifically the band Limbonic Art genuinely some of the best black metal I have heard

[@woehrle17]

I am completely guilty of loving all the black metal bands that the hardcore black metal fans hate. I am an audio engineer and for my personal taste, I really enjoy clean mixes with all my metal, even black metal which traditionally is frowned upon.

[@Charles_Anthony]

It doesn't need any defense.

[@alexbabkov5935]

Limbonic Art is a sympho-black project that gets overlooked a lot in my opinion. Moon in the Scorpio is such a great release, probably on par with Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (my favorite Emperor record) imo.

[@Ghost_of_Corydon]

The first three Gehenna records are also really great examples, the keyboards are really subtle and eerie and really added to the occult/witchcrafty vibe they used to have

[@alucard3317]

Echoes of Battle by Caladan Brood became one of my favorite albums of all time a few years ago, and to this day it’s one of the most amazing albums in Metal, in my opinion.

[@xuiotghjhat]

That Nazgûl album is really something else. I didn't know I was looking for something like it my entire life until I listened to it thanks to you mentioning it. Wow!

[@johngavin1175]

A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria is one of my favorite albums. It's got something about it I can't describe.

[@michaelmacvittie6977]

“It’s not trve kvlt! I said it’s not trve kvlt! STOP ENJOYING YOURSELVES IT’S NOT TR-“

[@blackmetalhead5883]

Thanks for the recommendations. Not a big fan of this style of black metal but you really got me in the mood to explore more and expand my horizons

[@Vladymir_Nyeto]

Two of my favourites albums in this genre are Anorexia Nervosa - New Obscurantis Order and Images At Twilight - Kings, both are so brutal

[@priesten2763]

I saw the title and the first thing that came to my mind was "I didnt know that Symphonic Black Metal needed any defending"