(also known as Ambient Metal or ABM)
A tree shows its beauty depending on the environment in which it grows.
How it sounds
Like José Padilla* programming at the Café del Mar in Hell instead of Ibiza or as if he had a parallel life as a Black Metal band composer.
It is practically a subspecies of Black Metal with its main influence being Ambient music.
In essence, it’s less aggressive than Black Metal.
Why listen to it
Because it is melodic and atmospheric!
Also, because we like the Ambient of Café del Mar, but we do not like the Mediterranean heat or the atmosphere of Ibiza and we want something more than the Arctic Circle … in winter.
But also because it is innovative, melodic, and of high quality.
But also because you want to go to Buddha Bar, but they do not put you in with this paint you have, nor with what you wear and you found an alternative.
Why not
Mercy with the sweet and sour songs in hell, in the end, we will turn it into a cookie house with Lucifer getting sugar.
Basically, because we want something faster and our ears get something with a lot of distortion in the sound.
Where we meet it
In Norway, where else? But of course where there is a lot of snow and little light.
When did it start
The early 1990s.
Who are the pioneers
The pioneers of the genre are considered to be Burzum in the early ’90s with the album “Filosofem”.
This is the first Black Metal album that had influences from Dark Ambient.
Drudkh, Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room also have a prominent place in the development of the genre.
Since then, the atmospheric Black Metal has continued to include bands that incorporate other styles into their music, such as:
Celtic or Folk Metal (Saor, Winterfylleth), Medieval Music (Summoning, Caladan Brood), and space themes (Astral Path).
You have to listen
Lunar Hollow, Byrhtnoth, Wintaar, Fear of Eternity, Ulver, Blut aus Nord, Fen, None, Ringarë, Spectral Lore.
Days of glory
Mostly in the ’90s, but in a certain circle and generally follows Black Metal, when it knows some glories outside of hell.
Red card
The racist statements of some emblematic musicians of the genre, as well as their extreme actions.
Exaggeration many times in both sound and stage presence.
What is it confused with
With Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Celtic Metal, Folk Metal, Medieval Metal, and with the very depression of a resident north of the Arctic Circle.
How do you describe it to an irrelevant
What you will hear at the Café del Mar, but with a severe lack of vitamin D and with the speakers breaking down in some parts of the compositions.