Originally Posted by jackhammer

As for the Black Metal comment from someone else (can't be bothered to check back) I have to agree apart from the atmospheric bands that actually add something to the genre and sound more unique (Allagoch being a prime example as well as Akercocke). There is a lot of absolute trash in the Black Metal scene from the last ten years that trades on the imagery and adhere to a basic sound that is poor beyond belief.

I am not a big Black Metal fan but I acknowledge that the early 90's gave us many bands that strived to do something original with the genre and have their own sound but there is so much garbage in that genre it is unreal.

If bands such as the aforementioned Agalloch ,Akercocke and Velvet Cacoon came along more frequently then I would pay more attention to the scene.

Notice to Black Metal bands : speed blasts, 100 MPH riffs and stupid face paint does not make you intense at all. I have heard far more intense music from genres completely unrelated to Black Metal.