Black Funeral

 

One of the key USBM bands of the 90s that is still around today, BLACK FUNERAL has a history that dates back to 1991. The brainchild of one Michael Ford (who has been known by such stage names as Akhtya Nachttotter and Baron Abaddon), Black Funeral is a band that has been about staying true to the Satanic ethos of black metal since the very beginning.

The story of Black Funeral starts with the band ABADDON. Abaddon was formed by Ford in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1991. Inspired by old-school black metal bands as well as luminaries of the early nineties like Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Bathory, Von, and Blasphemy, Abaddon's sound was a raw, death-influenced style. Their one demo, 1991's Of Darkness, is evidence of this:

Not too long after the release of this demo, Ford relocated to Indianapolis, and renamed his band SORATH. As a musical outlet for Ford's sincerely held Satanist beliefs, Sorath also continued the death-influenced, raw, old-school sound of Abaddon. With the release of some truly cult-worthy demos, Sorath's name soon became known in the underground USBM scene as a force to be reckoned with.

From the 1992 demo Forest of Winter, this is "Do What Thou Wilt"

By 1993, Ford had formed Black Funeral. Ford's own involvement with Satanism had been growing, and it needed an outlet for expression. Hence, Black Funeral. There is question as to whether Black Funeral evolved out of Sorath, or whether Sorath was an entirely separate artistic entity. Whatever the case, Sorath released material as late as 1995, when Black Funeral was just getting started.

Black Funeral's mission was to be a sonic vessel for Satanism. Ford noted that he felt there were no great Satanic black metal bands in the US scene in 1993 when Black Funeral formed. And, looking back, you have to admit that he was mostly right. There were a handful of bands that were truly committed to Satanism (the black/death band Acheron comes immediately to mind), but for most bands, it was either a joke or a gimmick. Not for Black Funeral.

In addition to being an expression of a Satanic ethos, Black Funeral was also about vampiric spiritualism. In the band's own words, they sought to be "the incarnation of death and vampyrichbloodlust." This unique approach to Satanism and evil can be heard in their music.

This is their 1994 demo, Journey into Horizons Lost

From their first full-length album, this is "The Floating Blue Witchlight"

On such classic early albums as 1995's Vampyr - Throne of the Beast and 1997's Empire of Blood, Black Funeral's sound was a pretty typical second-wave black metal sound. Ultra lo-fi production and tremolo riffing reminiscent of Darkthrone and Burzum, but with an aura all their own, Black Funeral was one of the purveyors of true black metal in a time when infantile death metal clones still dominated the American musical landscape.

"Opferblut" is a classic of USBM. From 1997's Empire of Blood

As the main force behind Black Funeral, Ford's vision drove the band forward. This also meant that any changes or setbacks in his life impacted the band. And he did face a few. First off, like many black metal musicians, Ford had to have a day job in order to support himself. And for a few years in the 1990s, Ford was able to successfully climb the corporate ladder as part of his day job. This affected Black Funeral's ability to consistently put out music and remain a dominant force in USBM.

Additionally, Ford also wanted to spend time spreading his Satanist beliefs. In addition to publishing scholarly tomes on Satanism (and works for laypeople as well), Ford also sought to found a temple for the propagation of his beliefs. Being that the US is a pretty religiously backwards country, he received a lot of pushback for that.

Off of the album Belial Arisen, this is "Infernal Majesty"

Still, Black Funeral should be mentioned in the same breath as Judas Iscariot as one of the classic, foundational second-wave USBM bands. Anyone seeking to know and understand American black metal needs to listen to their works of the 1990s, as the sound laid down there has had an impact on almost all American BM bands to this day.

Select Discography:

Abaddon: 

Of Darkness (demo) (1991)

Sorath:
Forest of Winter (demo) (1992)
Sodomizing Jesus Christ (demo) (1993)

Satanic Black Metal (demo) (1994)

"Horns of the Goat" (single) (1994)

Return of the Darkness (demo) (1995)

Black Funeral:

Journeys Into Horizon Lost (demo) (1994)

Of Spells of Darkness and Death (demo) (1995)

Vampyr - Throne of the Beast (full-length) (1995)

Empire of Blood (full-length) (1997)

Moon of Characith (full-length) (1998)

Next time: BELIAL