Archgoat

Continuing black metal's obsession with goats, we have Finland's mighty ARCHGOAT!  Emerging around the same time as Beherit, Archgoat--from the Finnish city of Turku--was one of the founders of the Finnish scene.  They formed in 1989, and by 1991 had put out the demo Jesus Spawn.

Off of the Jesus Spawn demo, this is "Death and Necromancy"

Archgoat's style was fast and brutal, reminiscent of such underground luminaries as Blasphemy, Von, and the aforementioned Beherit.  With dark, growled vocals (instead of the Satanic screeching vocals more common in black metal) and a heavily percussive sound, Archgoat set themselves apart from the mass of black metal bands.

After the 1992 demo Penis Perversor, Archgoat put out the now-infamous Angelcunt EP in 1993.  This short album was eventually made a split release with Beherit (their Messe des Morts EP).  It continued their heavy, brutal black metal sound.  Alas, Archgoat sadly broke up after this release.

A fan-made video for "Black Messiah", off of Angelcunt

Luckily for black metal fans, Archgoat--much like fellow countrymen Beherit--re-formed in the new millenium.  Unlike Beherit, however, their style seemed fairly intact.  Releases such as 2005's Angelslaying Black Fucking Metal, 2006's Whore of Bethlehem, and 2009's The Light-Devouring Darkness still showcased the raw, fast, brutal sound Archgoat had become known for.

"Apotheosis of Lucifer" is off of The Light-Devouring Darkness


Select Discography:

Jesus Spawn (demo) (1991)
Penis Perversor (demo) (1992)
Angelcunt (Tales of Desecration) EP (1993)
Angelslaying Black Fucking Metal EP (2005)
Whore of Bethlehem (full-length) (2006)
The Light-Devouring Darkness (full-length) (2009)

Next time: BURZUM--the early years