Les Légions Noires: Vlad Tepes, and others

 

While Mütiilation may be the most well-known of the Black Legions bands, there are so many more worth noting. VLAD TEPES, from France's Brittany region, is perhaps the most noteworthy of the remaining Black Legions bands.

Formed some time around 1992, Vlad Tepes was composed of Vorlok Drakksteim and Wlad Drakksteim (no relation to each other). Taking their band name from the historic person that inspired Dracula, we can see the vampiric obsession of Les Légions Noires (LLM) continuing. Wlad was the primary song writer for Vlad Tepes, as Vorlok focused his song writing energies on side project Black Murder (see bottom of this entry). As far as inspiration goes, they've specifically mentioned Venom, Bathory's first four albums, and the early black metal of Burzum and Darkthrone. And those two Norwegian band are a good reference point for Vlad Tepes's sound: imagine Transilvanian Hunger and Filosofem in a blender, and you're pretty close.

This is the title track from their War Funeral March demo

Their first couple of demos were self-released, but the now-famous War Funeral March demo was issued by Full Moon Productions. A review of this release in a zine by FMP proprietor Thorns led to death threats from members of LLN! Most of the rest of Vlad Tepes's output was self-released demos that were never meant to see the light of day. 

"Wladimir's March/Massacre Song from the Devastated Lands" is from the split with Belkètre

The major exception were two split CDs: one with Torgeist and one with Belkétre. These were actually put out by real record labels and are some of the only officially sanctioned releases by LLN members. March to the Black Holocaust--the split with Belkètre--is lauded as some of the best work by LLN.

From the split with Torgeist, here is "Warmoon Lord"

Like many of the LLN bands, Vlad Tepes kind of burnt out around 1996-7. Their drive to create black metal music had fizzled out, so they disbanded. In the 2010s, much of Vlad Tepes's discography was re-released in box set, the most complete of which is 2018's  A Catharsis of Human Illness on Drakkar Productions.

Select Discography:

Rehearsal Winter '93 (demo) (1993)

War Funeral March (demo) (1994)

Return of the Unweeping (demo) (1994)

Celtic Poetry (demo) (1994)

Brouillons I (demo) (1995)

Brouillons II (demo) (1995)

Dans notre chute... (demo) (1995)

Massacre Song from the Devastated Lands (demo) (1995)

March to the Black Holocaust (split with Belkètre) (1995)

Black Legions Metal (split with Torgeist) (1996)

Morte lune (demo) (1996)

**********************************************************************

As well-known as Mütiilation and Vlad Tepes might be, BELKÈTRE might actually lay claim to being the spiritual heart of the LLN. Hailing from Dordogne in southwest France, they are perhaps the oldest band in LLN.

Arising from the ashes of earlier French black metal band ZELDA (who themselves seem to be a continuation of an even earlier band, CHAPEL OF GHOULS), Belkètre was the result of the collaboration between two major figures in LLN, Lord Aäkon Këëtrëh and Vordb Dréagvor Uèzréèvb (notice the names spelled in their invented language, Gloatre).

Like most of the bands in LLN, Belkètre released the majority of their music in limited fashion. Their demos allegedly only were intended for a small devoted circle, yet were able to make their way to the wide world in the firm of unauthorized bootlegs.

While their split with Vlad Tepes may be their best-known work, it is the album-length demo Ambre Zuèrkl Vuorhdrévarvtre which is their true masterpiece. Unlike their earlier work--which is nasty, cold, and vicious--much of Ambre's new material has an atmospheric feel that almost sounds like a rawer Strid, or an angry Xasthur. 

As with most other LLN bands, Belkètre ceased putting out material when the circle dissolved. Rumors circulated that the band members had killed themselves, and perhaps the band's bleak nihilism lent itself to that rumor. After all, Vordb did once say that "my works have no future in this world" because "creation...is purely human" and "[o]nly destruction is Satanic and eternal."

In its entirety, here are the Belkètre songs from their split with Vlad Tepes

Interestingly enough, Vordb has resurfaced in recent years with his own label (Kaleidarkness). New Bèlketre material has emerged, and old material has been re-issued.

Select Discography:

Studio Tracks (demo) (1993)

The Dark Promise (demo) (1994)

Twilight of the Black Holocaust (demo) (1994)

March to the Black Holocaust (split with Vlad Tepes) (1995)

Ambre Zuèrkl Vuorhdrévarvtre (demo) (1996)

Xèr.n O-r.iidr (demo) (1998)

**********************************************************************

One of the lesser bands from LLN that I think is worth listening to is TORGEIST. A product of the collaboration of multiple members from other projects (Lord Aäkon Këëtrëh, Vordb Dréagvor Uèzréèvb, Lord Beleth'rim, among others in its rotating line-up), it is debated by some whether or not Torgeist was actually an LLN project. It seems to meet all the criteria: made by LLN members, only active during the years LLN was active, only releasing obscure demos except for a split CD with an LLN band, and so on.

This is the title track from their first titled demo

Torgeist's sound is fairly typical of LLN black metal: raw, nasty, unpolished. That said, I'd say that the drum sound sets them apart, and the vocals seem angrier than most other LLN bands. All in all, I think of Torgeist as one of the better executed LLN projects, and probably more accessible to the casual black metal fan. 

"Flame of Hate" comes from their second titled demo

Select Discography:

Rehearsal '94 (demo) (1994)

Devoted to Satan (demo) (1994)

Time of Sabbath (demo) (1996)

Black Legions Metal (split with Vlad Tepes) (1996)

**********************************************************************

LLN had many other bands, not all of them black metal. Several dark ambient and dungeon synth projects counted themselves as members. In terms of black metal bands worth listening to that I haven't already mentioned, I recommend BRENORITVREZORKRE (a prolific side project of Vordb Dréagvor Uèzréèvb), BLACK MURDER (a project whose music was written when Vorlok Drakksteim "wanted to kill"), and SEVISS. 

Select Discography:

Black Murder, Promo '94 (demo) (1994)

---, Those Black Desires That Torment My Soul (demo) (1995)

---, Feasts (demo) (1996)

Brenoritvrezorkre, Vasagraèbe éakr vatrè brenoritvrezorkre (demo) (1995) 

---, Vèrmayaprèb (demo) (1995)

---, Nèvgzérya (demo) (1995)

---, Èrvoelbtre (demo) (1995)

Seviss, Armies of Metal (demo) (1995)

---, Et pleure le bâtard..., (demo) (1996)

Next time: HADES

Avenger

 

In the Czech black metal scene, the names of A-list bands like Master's Hammer, Root, and Maniac Butcher ring out. But just below them are bands like AVENGER. Hailing from the South Bohemian Region, they formed in 1992 as Astaroth before changing their name in 1993.

Announcing themselves to the world with demos like 1994's Minister of Madness, they began life as an old-school death metal band. Their sound was unremarkable in this regard, but the best was yet to come. 

Here is Minister of Madness in its entirety

They struggled getting off the ground because of their early line-up instability, but after some label interest, were able to put out their debut full-length album, 1997's Shadows of the Damned. Their sound was still fundamentally an old-school death metal style, but with some black metal elements mixed in (I maintain that some of the riffing in some of the songs would sound more like black metal with slightly different drumming laid underneath).

"Kořeny zla" comes from Shadows of the Damned

Their follow-up album was 1999's Fall of Devotion, Wrath and Blasphemy. The band was initially not happy with the album's sound, so they re-recorded it in 2001 at Hellsound, a studio owned and operated by band co-founder and primary song writer Honza Kapák. Whichever version you listen to, the change in sound from their first album is apparent. It's still a (mostly) death metal foundation, but with some black metal riffs and drumming. Sound-wise, it's as if old-school Swedish death and black metal collaborated. 

From their second full-length album, this is "V Okovech"

As the years passed, Avenger's sound began to incorporate more and more black metal elements. They've become known in metal circles for their blackened death metal style, but they call themselves "Bohemian dark metal" (even going so far as to release an album with that title in 2012). After the release of a sixth album in 2017, they disbanded--only to reform as a new band, Bohemyst.

From 2003's Godless, here is "Execution of the Soul"

Bohemian Dark Metal gives us "Fales a apatie"

Select Discography:

Pandemonium (demo) (1993)

Eternal Voices of Hell (demo) (1993)

Minister of Madness (demo) (1994)

The Black Zone (demo) (1995)

Shadows of the Damned (full-length)  (1997)

Fall of Devotion, Wrath and Blasphemy (full-length)  (1999/2001)

Godless (...Assuming the Throne of Immortality...) (full-length) (2003)

Feast of Anger, Joy of Despair (full-length)  (2009)

Bohemian Dark Metal (full-length) (2012)

Next time: FRANCE'S LES LÉGIONS NOIRES - VLAD TEPES

Gorgoroth

 

The early 90's Norwegian black metal scene is positively bursting at the seams with great bands. One band that got its start a little later than many of the classic bands is Bergen's GORGOROTH. 

Citing Bathory, Venom, and Celtic Frost as influences, Gorgoroth was formed in 1992 by Goat Pervertor, Hat (Norwegian for "Hate"), and Infernus--who would be the main force driving the band over the course of the years. They debuted with the now-classic demo, A Sorcery Written in Blood. This demo would earn them a record deal and be the start of their notoriety.

Off of their '93 demo, this is "Sexual Blood Gargling"

The band's limited contact with the members of the Inner Circle allowed them to perform at a live show in Oslo in tribute to Euronymous. It also allowed them to pick up Samoth (of Emperor fame) as a session bassist when they recorded their debut album, Pentagram.

Pentagram was a solid slab of Norwegian black metal. With a sound that holds its own next to early 90s Mayhem and Burzum, Pentagram has rightfully become a classic. Highlighted by Hat's demonic screeching, the album is 30-plus minutes of blazing evil black metal. Compared to some of the advances in black metal songwriting of more recent years, however, the album might sound dated to some, but it is crucial to the founding of the classic Norwegian sound. 

Pentagram gives us this classic, "Ritual"

After the release of Pentagram, Satyricon's Frost joined on drums, and Infernus took over on bass. The resulting album--1996's Antichrist--was a more varied, more atmospheric sound. With a dedication to Euronymous in the liner notes, this album pushed the classic black metal sound forward in a way comparable to Burzum's quartet of 90s albums.

The follow-up album (1997's Under the Sign of Hell) was perhaps the strongest and most well-received of Gorgoroth's so-called "classic trilogy". Featuring a more punishing production style than its predecessors, Under the Sign is now revered as a landmark in Norwegian black metal. 

"Heavens Fall" is off of Antichrist

From their 1997 album, this is "Krig"

The years immediately after the release of Under the Sign were chaotic ones for Gorgoroth. For one, they struggled to keep a stable line-up. Also, they struggled in the songwriting department as well. For example, their 1998 album Destroyer (with the Nietzschean subtitle About How to Philosophize With a Hammer) contained old songs that had never been put on record alongside newer ones. The personnel involved totaled ten individuals--including outgoing vocalist Pest and incoming vocalist Gaahl. The resulting album was a sloppily produced mess that has divided fans to this day. 2000's Incipit Satan wasn't much better, with electronic and industrial elements, and songs that didn't meet the exacting standards of many a fan. Both of these albums are considered among Gorgoroth's weakest. 

Here is the title track to 2000's Incipit Satan

Over the next few years, bassist King ov Hell would emerge as the primary song writer for Gorgoroth. This resulted in two albums that were a huge improvement over Destroyer and Incipit, but still had their own unique sound. Vocalist Gaahl served prison time for assault, and this delayed release of their albums, but he was still fully committed to Gorgoroth as well.

From their 2003 album, here is "Forces of Satan Storms"

In addition to Gaahl's jail time for assault (and the resulting publicity), two other major events in these years caused Gorgoroth's infamy to grow. First off, they recorded a concert in Poland in 2004 with the intent of marketing it as a live concert DVD, but things went sour. The authorities seized the footage because they alleged it violated Poland's "religious sensibilities" law. Of course, a blasphemous black metal band  performing live SHOULD violate people's "religious sensibilities"! The DVD did eventually go on sale as Black Mass Krakow.

Second, a rift developed in the band with Gaahl and King ov Hell on one side and Infernus on the other. Each side claimed to be the true Gorgoroth, with the dispute eventually going to court. The courts decided for Infernus, and he recruited new members and has continued the band to this day.

"Satan - Prometheus" is a song off of the first album of Infernus-driven/post-Gaahl Gorgoroth, 2009's Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt

Select Discography:

A Sorcery Written in Blood (demo) (1993)

Pentagram (full-length) (1994)

Antichrist (full-length) (1996)

Under the Sign of Hell (full-length) (1997)

Destroyer (full-length) (1998)

Incipit Satan (full-length)  (2000)

Twilight of the Idols - In Conspiracy With Satan (full-length) (2003)

Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam (full-length) (2006)

Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt (full-length) (2009)

Next time: AVENGER

Abigail

 

Heading back to the far east, let us talk about the Japanese black metal scene. In the tradition of great black/thrash like Sabbat, we have the ever-irreverent ABIGAIL. Taking their name from a King Diamond album and song, Tokyo's Abigail is primarily the brainchild of metal maniac Yasuyuki (who also goes by the name Barbatos).

Formed around 1991-92, Abigail originally played covers of bands like Venom, Mötorhead, and Slayer. Other than those bands, they cite as their influences older bands like Bathory, Sodom, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, NME, and Bulldozer. Even on their early demos (a 1992 untitled demo and 1993's Blasphemy Night), their raw black/thrash bore the mark of those influences. Heck, two of the tracks on Blasphemy Night are covers (Sodom and Bathory).

Here is 1993's Blasphemy Night

In 1993 Abigail entered the studio to record their first official release. The result was 1994's Descending From a Blackend Sky, on Heretic Supremacist Records. A 7-inch, this EP showcases that raw, in-your-face black/thrash of their early years. Stylistically, it's got thrash metal structure, but with lo-fi second-wave black metal intensity. Check it out, below: 

And here's where things began to get interesting. In 1996, Abigail churned out their first full-length album, Intercourse & Lust, on Modern Invasion records. This began Abigail's obsession with sex. To them, part of the appeal of black metal was its transgression of so many social norms: its Satanism, its evil, its non-conformity, its lustiness. In fact, Yasuyuki has said in multiple interviews that he sometimes uses porn as inspiration. One interviewer has gone so far as to call them "the sluttiest band in black metal".

"Confound Eternal" comes from that first album

Since that first album, Abigail has been very prolific. EPs, 7-inches, live albums....Abigail has released it all. One reason for so many smaller releases and live albums is that, even by Yasuyuki's own admission, the band says yes to pretty much every offer from record labels.

2003's Forever Street Metal Bitch gives us this track, "Black Metal Thunder"

To this day, they are known for their raw, vicious black/thrash (even though they call their own music "street metal"). Fast, intense, and unapologetic, fans of well-executed black/thrash owe it to themselves to check out Abigail.

"Satanik Metal Fucking Hell" is off of 2005's Ultimate Unholy Death

2016's The Final Damnation gives us "Open the Gates of Hell"

(Very) Select Discography:

Demo (1992)

Blasphemy Night (demo) (1993)

Descending from a Blackend Sky EP (1994)

Abigail (split EP with Funeral Winds) (1995)

Intercourse & Lust (full-length)  (1996)

Confound Eternal 7" (1996)

Welcome All Hell Fuckers EP (2001)

Sexual Metal Holocaust 12" (split with Barbatos) (2002)

Forever Street Metal Bitch (full-length)  (2003)

Fucking Louder Than Hell (full-length)  (2004)

Ultimate Unholy Death (full-length) (2005)

Next time: GORGOROTH

Belphegor

 

Austrian extreme metal isn't the most well-known the world over, but there are a handful of bands who've made a massive impact. BELPHEGOR is definitely one such band. In their own words, they play "metal of death" with "blasting black metal influences."

Arising from the ashes of old-school death metal band Betrayer, Belphegor was formed in 1992 by Helmuth, Chris, and Max. Their goal, like many such extreme bands, was to make extremely brutal music that was "raw, primitive, and obscene." Inspired by such bands as Death, Deicide, Mayhem, Slayer, and Mötorhead, they have definitely succeeded in their stated goal! 

 

This is their complete 1993 demo, Bloodbath in Paradise

They released a brutal, take-no-prisoners demo in 1993, Bloodbath in Paradise. The music on this demo was a vicious, angry death metal--not really black metal at all. But Belphegor were just getting started!

After the 1994 EP Obscure and Deep, they entered the studio and recorded their first full-length album, The Last Supper. A continuation of their early sound, this album combined the raw death metal they had already been playing with atmospheric synths and black metal tempos for a black/death sound unlike any other. 

"A Funeral Without a Cry" comes from their first full-length album

Off of 1997's Blutsabbath, here is "Purity through Fire"

Belphegor's third full-length, Necrodaemon Terrorsathan, showed a shift in sound. On this release, the death metal receded a bit in favor of black metal-influenced song structures. Brutal death metal riffs (reminiscent of Morbid Angel, to my ears) gave way to blazing fast passages that would not feel out of place in a Swedish black metal album. Check out "Vomit Upon the Cross," below:

Belphegor is definitely a band that marches to the beat of their own drum. When they formed, American death metal was peaking and second wave Norwegian black metal was on the rise. Yet, they chose not to follow either path, but carve their own. Even their lyrical inspiration--everything from the poetry and prose of Marquis de Sade to occultic writings of Aleister Crowley to the texts of ancient rituals--doesn't always neatly fit into the trendy extreme metal topics of the day.

In the early 2000s, Belphegor continued to plug away as an underground extreme metal band. Besides two incredible albums of vile black/death (Lucifer Incestus and Goatreich Fleshcult), they also put out a live album on their own record label. But it was in 2006 that saw things really shift for the band.

"Hell's Ambassador" is the most well-known song from '06's Pestapokalypse VI

First off, their latest album--2006's Pestapokalypse VI--was getting rave reviews. The mainstream metal media was finally giving Belphegor the kudos they deserved. Second, this was also the time when Belphegor had slimmed down to a two-piece:  Helmuth and Serpenth were now the core of the band. Add this to the fact that they were finally on a record label that could properly support them (Nuclear Blast), and we'd entered a new phase for these Austrian metal maniacs.

2008's Bondage Goat Zombie gives us "Stigma Diabolicum"

The focus for the band since then has been staying true to their musical vision, all while relentlessly touring. They think of their performances as "rituals"--not shows. In 2010, while on tour, Helmuth was exposed to contaminated water and contracted typhus. The experience nearly killed him. But after a long recovery, Helmuth emerged as dedicated as ever to Belphegor. And the band keeps soldiering on. 

"Rex Tremendae Majestis" is from 2014's Conjuring the Dead

Select Discography:

Bloodbath in Paradise (demo) (1993)

Obscure and Deep EP (1994)

The Last Supper (full-length)  (1995)

Blutsabbath (full-length) (1997)

Necrodaemon Terrorsathan (full-length) (2000)

Lucifer Incestus (full-length) (2003)

Goatreich - Fleshcult (full-length)  (2005)

Pestapokalypse VI (full-length) (2006)

Bondage Goat Zombie (full-length) (2008)

Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn (full-length)  (2009)

Next time: ABIGAIL

Tulus

 

Norwegian band TULUS is one of the hidden gems of the Norwegian scene. Many people might know them as the band that led to the formation of Khold, but they're an important band in their own right.

Formed in 1991 by Sarke and Blodstrup, Tulus are known for their unique sound. After an untitled demo in 1993, they put out the demos Samlerens kammer in '94 and Midvintermåne in '95. Even on these demos, Tulus's unique sound was evident. 

Here is the complete 1994 demo, Samlerens kammer

Tulus's first full-length album, 1996's Pure Black Energy, was an album that contained mostly re-recorded versions of their demo tracks. But, as I said above, even on such early songs, Tulus's creative approach to black metal was apparent. They found ways to incorporate stringed instruments and female choir vocals in ways that set them apart even from symphonic black metal.

"Søstre av natten" is off of their first album

Another unique aspect of Tulus's black metal was that many of their songs didn't fit into the mold established by other Norwegian masters like Darkthrone or Mayhem. Instead they, by their own admission, borrowed from bands like Mötorhead. As a result, they had many guitar passages that were structured more like hard rock than traditional black metal. In this way, Tulus can be seen as the true forerunners of black'n'roll.

From their 1997 album, Mysterion, this is "Skuggeskip"

After the release of three now-classic albums in the 1990s, Sarke and Blodstrup felt like they wanted to create darker, harsher music--something that didn't fit with what Tulus was doing. They recruited a couple of new musicians, and Khold was born as, in their own words, "the reincarnation of Tulus." Tulus was put on hold while Khold was getting off the ground. 

From Evil 1999, this is "Salme"

After some success as Khold, the core of the band (Sarke and Blodstrup--who had gone by 'Gard' during his time in Khold) decided they needed to express themselves musically in a more unlimited way, so they set about recording new material under the Tulus banner again. 2007's Biography Obscene was the result. And since that year, both bands have continued to churn out music. Khold is an important enough band that they will get their own post at a later date. 

Select Discography:

Demo I (1993)

Samlerens kammer (demo) (1994)

Midvintermåne (demo) (1995)

Pure Black Energy (full-length) (1996)

Mysterion (full-length) (1998)

Evil 1999 (full-length) (1999)

Cold Core Collection (compilation) (2000)

Biography Obscene (full-length) (2007)

Next time:  BELPHEGOR

Stormlord

I noted earlier that there is no such thing as one, single Italian black metal style. And I stand by that statement. Mortuary Drape, Sinoath, Schizo, Winged, Opera IX...they sound nothing alike. Even bands that are part of the same subgenre (Necrodeath and Bulldozer are both black/thrash by modern standards) have unique styles. Rome's STORMLORD is further evidence of this. 

Formed in 1991, Stormlord initially began as a death metal project. Their first demo in 1992 bears this out. After recruiting a second guitarist, they released a second demo in 1993, Black Knight. Due to the use of well- placed synths, this demo had a more epic, grand feel to it. This epic aura would continue on future releases. 

This is the Black Knight demo in its entirety

After these two demos, the band began to get tired of the direction death metal was going in. Additionally, they weren't happy with the sound of their death metal growls. They then began crafting epic songs that leaned more in the direction of black metal. Around this time, record labels began expressing an interest in the band, too. After crafting a promo of material for record labels and then an MCD of new material in 1997, the band released their first full-length studio album in 1999.

This is "War (The Supreme Art)"

Titled The Supreme Art of War, this album saw a mix of symphonic black metal, epic power metal, and some folk elements as well. By the band's own admission, the sound on Art of War was a result of a more democratic approach to song writing and their new keyboard player being classically trained. The epic synth passages gave the entire album an almost medieval, folk vibe.

"...And Winter Was" is off of their 2001 album, At the Gates of Utopia

Exploding out of the underground and into the black metal mainstream at a time when symphonic black metal was peaking, Stormlord resisted that label themselves.  Noting that they thought of bands like Immortal and Darkthrone as black metal, while bands that incorporated synths the way they and Dimmu Borgir did were something different, they labeled themselves "epic extreme metal."

"Dance with Hecate" comes from their 2004 album, The Gorgon Cult

I would argue that the label they came up with for themselves makes sense the more you listen to their later albums. Beyond the elements of symphonic black metal, you have a wide variety of clean vocals, operatic vocals, riffing that is reminiscent of power and death metal, and exotic folk elements. Fans of viking metal, folk black metal, and  symphonic black metal would enjoy what Stormlord has to offer, but they're really so much more than that.

From 2008's Mare Nostrum, this is "And the Wind Shall Scream My Name"

Select Discography:

Demo 1992 (demo) (1992)

Black Knight (demo) (1993)

Cataclysm (demo) (1995)

Promo 1997 (demo) (1997)

Under the Sign of the Sword EP (1997)

Supreme Art of War (full-length) (1999)

At the Gates of Utopia (full-length) (2001)

The Gorgon Cult (full-length) (2004)

Mare Nostrum (full-length) (2008)

Next time: TULUS