Ambient or atmopsheric black metal has sort of become a
trendy genre in the metal scene lately.
We’ve discussed the implications of the “hipster” label, both in general
and as it specifically relates to black metal, on this site before, but
unfortunately it seems like you can’t get away from it as far as atmospheric
black metal is concerned, and for an understandable (if ridiculous)
reason. While it can be just as bleak
and ominous as “trve” black metal, ambient black metal is often less decidedly
harsh than its “trve” cousin. I love the
genre, but I can admit that readily and easily; Alcest’s Escailles de Lunes
will never in a million years be confused with Marduk’s La Grande Danse
Macabre. But saying that just because
it’s different or “less harsh” makes it worse or bad music is as ridiculous as
spelling true with a “v” to seem, like, totally metal, man. There are great bands making amazing
atmospheric black metal right now, which brings me to Ghosts at Sea, a band
hailing from Indiana and Kentucky in the good ol’ USA, and their debut album
Hymns of Our Demise.
