[Grumpy]

Thought I'd document the bands and artists I've seen live.

I love music, and I've dug deep into most genres, but most of what I've seen live is metal - extreme metal. There's just something about the energy in both the crowd and the music that's electric. If you ever have the chance to see metal live, you definitely should - you don't have to mosh if you don't want to, I never do 

I'll start off on The Lighter Side™ with Arch Enemy - a band I've seen live several times over the years, with two different singers, both of whom are great in their own way:
Old Singer:

New Singer:

[Grumpy]

Naglfar, a band named after a troop-carrying battleship in Norse mythology made entirely out of nails, makes some of the best melodic black(ened) metal. I've only seen them once, but like many, if not most, of all metal bands, their musicianship is godly and they are just as good live as they are in the studio. Which is something you definitely can't say about all musicians.

Not to mention the beautiful poetry their foundation is grown upon:

Kind words that reek of betrayal
From tongues that drip of lies
One hand reached out while the other
Is hiding a knife
...
Deceit for a lifetime has taken its toll
An emotional void, I feel numb and cold
You're all dead to me now
And has been for long
The time has come to reap what you've sown
This harvest is heavy and bitter it seems
In tainted soil it has grown
These words are its venom and my gift to thee
So choke on them now and leave me be

[Grumpy]

Since I was reminded of another black metal act here, I thought I'd include them here as well.

Watain is a satanic ritual in music form. They are actual, real Satanists - not just the kind who are anti-Christianity, but they literally worship Satan and Chaos. The vocalist has spoken about the murders and church burnings that have been associated with the black metal community, saying they are "very natural outcomes" and that the band "definitely identify" with those things. They bring their rituals to the stage, too, in the form of dousing the crowd and themselves in pig's blood - sometimes drinking it first. It's a really powerful show to attend.

Oh, and I don't know why, but extreme metal has some of the best poetry in its lyrics, which is lost on so many people.

By the blessing of shunned gods
The cord of life was deformed, twisted into a noose
To strangle the miscarriage of the I
Upon which he shall feast
That was spawned by the semen of horrors fertile
As his many limbs extend across the abyss
Thirteen horns and million tusks in a thousand jaws that breathe
Only to chew the chains that tie him to Assiah, and titan is their strength

[Grumpy]

Insomnium - oh, Finland. You are the mother of so many great acts, and this is just one. They have a themed album called Winter's Gate which is just magnificently constructed, but all of their songs have this very melodic, almost orchestral feel to it. Their live shows aren't as wild as some of the other's, but more introspective and philosophical.

This song is about how we shouldn't be so caught up with the future, and realize that there's no going back in life, so you should enjoy the present and slow down. Don't rush forward, thinking there's some pot of gold at the end.

When all you ever wish for is to go back once more
When all you ever wish for is to change it all
When all you feel is remorse, pain and regret
When you dwell in the past unable to move on

And we drift far away in our dreams
Gather further distance while we sleep
Build a wall of glass thick and deep
We hear but choose not to listen

[Grumpy]

Lets stay in the Nordics, with Satyricon. A Norwegian black metal outfit who had a fancy for medieval themes, instead of strictly satanic/anti-christian ones. Deep melodies, amazing composition. Perhaps not the best lyrically, but still inspiring in their own way. I spoke with them after their show and they're really humble dudes, and lovely people all around.

Mother north - how can they sleep while their beds are burning?
Mother north - your fields are bleeding

Memories... The invisible wounds
pictures that enshrine your throne (gone?)

A Future benighted still they are blind
Pigeonhearted beings of flesh and blood
keeps closing their eyes for the dangers that threat... ourselves and our nature
And that is why
they all enrage me

They were also one of the first black metal acts to produce a music video. It wasn't very good, but it was talked about a lot when it came out in -96. Because, it featured the vocalist's girlfriend, naked, getting stabbed by a sword in some sort of ritual, and got her neck bitten by a vampire. Everything faked, of course, but it was still "shocking" to the world. So, if you want to see a gorgeous girl getting blood on her tits:

[Grumpy]

I've seen Cradle of Filth many times over the years. First time was in -06 I believe. They are somewhat mainstream nowadays, but they still produce very good music. Because of being slightly more mainstream than other bands I've listed, they also draw larger crowds. Small and large crowds are both good in their own way - I like some variety. They are kind of theatrical, but that's almost detracting from what's good about them. They produce some big orchestral sounds and melodies, often with a female clean singer to create kind of a contrast to Dani Filth, their frontman and vocalist.

This is arguably one of their weirdest songs in terms of melody and composition, but it's about rape (and someone who avenges it), so I figured it'd be the best one to put here:

She was divinity's creature
That kissed the cold mirrors
A Queen of Snows
Far beyond compare
Lips attuned to symmetry
Sought Her everywhere
Dark liqoured eyes
An Arabian nightmare...
...
Dawn discovered Her there
Beneath the Cedar's stare
Silk dress torn, Her raven hair
Flown to gown Her beauty bared
Was starred with frost, I knew Her lost
I wept 'til tears crept back to prayer

[Grumpy]

I don't stray into *core-territory a whole lot, but Fit For An Autopsy is an exception. Super groovy basslines and a great vocalist makes for one hell of a band.

Remember that Dakota Access Pipeline that was supposed to go near a town, but the people in it complained, so they changed its route to go near Native American land and waters? They made a song about that. It's pretty awesome:

Rejoice in masses
The tribe collapses
The mother weeps in her dying breath
Rise from the ashes
Oh foul Black Mammoth
Dead in spirit, now dead in flesh

Tread on sacred terrain, envenomed and ravaged
The peace upon the plains, seized by the savage
Primitive practices, uproot and vanish
Modern barbarians, new rite of passage

[Grumpy]

Swedish Death Metal. Oh, boy! One of my favorite genres. Keeping the pace and brutality of Death Metal, but adding a deep melodic twist to it.

You can't talk about SDM without mentioning Amon Amarth. Named after Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings (it's the Elvish equivalent, I think?), they are often called Viking Metal, because they exclusively sing about Vikings and Norse Mythology. When you've got a beard like this vocalist, you kind of have to, though... They've got super catchy riffs and sing-a-long choruses.

Vingthor rides to face
The snake with hammer high
At the edge of the world

Bolts of lightning fills the air
As Mjölner does its work
The dreadful serpent roars in pain

Thor Odin's son
Protector of mankind
Rise to meet your fate
Your destiny awaits
Thor Hlôdyn's son
Protector of mankind
Rise to meet your fate
Ragnarök awaits

[Grumpy]

Children of Bodom is another band of dudes subscribing to the SDM scene - except... they're Finnish!  

Alexi Laiho, their lead guitarist and vocalist, is somewhat of a national saint in Finland, and for good reason - the man is a total god with the guitar. Fast, accurate, amazing riffs and shredding like you wouldn't believe. It's not as sophisticated as many other bands on this list, but it's got intensity through the roof and a lot of emotion poured into it.

(Starts at 1:40)

And everyday when the knife in my back starts to twinge n' turn
My eyes are catching fire and my heart starts to burn
A foot away from you is like a bit closer to heaven
Then again it's like being needled 24/7

You look down to me to see the scum of the earth to be
Fuck you, that's me, vile and obscene
I ain't happy about it but at least I don't judge and decree
To be better than another human being

[Grumpy]

Let's go more mainstream right now, with Metallica. A juggernaut that has somehow bridged the gap between thrash metal and radio play - most likely because of their more ballady-type songs (which are still awesome, by the way). The sea of people that you find yourself in when seeing Metallica live is massive for a reason. They are an incredible band.

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

[Grumpy]

In This Moment is a band that is quite different from what I've listed so far. To be quite frank, their live performances are kind of terrible, mostly due to the fact that their singer, Maria Brink, screams in the improper way, which means if she does that all the time she will damage her voice. At least, that's my guess, because that's what it sounds like. But in the studio, they are pretty good. Musically they're not the most intricate, but they have their own unique twist. They've made a song that fits the theme of this site pretty well, I'd say:

I love you for everything you ever took from me
I love the way you dominate when you violate me
I love you for every time you gave up on me
I love you for the way you look when you lie to me
I love you for never believing in what I say
I love you for never once giving me my way
I love you for never delivering me from pain
I love you for always driving me insane

Blood, blood, blood, pump mud through my veins
Shut your dirty, dirty mouth, I'm not that insane
Blood, blood, blood, pump mud through my veins
I'm a dirty, dirty girl, I want it filthy
Blood, blood, blood, pump mud through my veins
Shut your dirty, dirty mouth, I'm not that insane
Blood, blood, blood, pump mud through my veins
I'm a dirty, dirty girl, I want it filthy

I've caught myself singing along to this while in public. The looks I get when the words "I'm a dirty, dirty girl, I want it filthy" come out of my mouth are kind of hilarious.

[Grumpy]

Dimmu Borgir - A location on Iceland that literally means "Dark Castle" - they're a Norwegian symphonic black metal band. Huge, symphonic orchestral pieces combined with the speed and fierceness of black metal combined into one makes for one hell of a live show! I had the fortune to see them on stage with a real-life orchestra, and it's probably one of my favorite shows I've ever been to. In a word, it was Epic!

The core principle of freedom
Is the only notion to obey
The formula of evolution and sin
Leading the way
The rebirth is near completion
As we slowly awaken from slumber

To receive the light that shines in darkness
The light that shines forever more
Forever more

Be the broken or the breaker
Be the giver or the undertaker
Unlock and open the door
Be the healer or the faker
The keys are in your hands
Realize you are your own sole creator
Of your own master plan

[Grumpy]

Back again. I'm not done. I've seen many more, I promise!

With an album named "Exercises in Futility," there is no way bad music could be produced by these guys.

Mgła - or "Fog," in English - is Polish black metal band that musically carries the torch of the early nineties black metal and at the same time remaking it. It's truly amazing. They have black masks covering their faces while on stage, to become anonymous voids to their fans. It was such a tiny club I saw them at, and that is probably the only bad thing I have to say about them. Fuck they're good!

Blessed be the tailors
The masks are cut to fit

Blessed be the woodworkers
The crosses and the gallows

Blessed be the forgers of iron
And the spikes and the barbwire

Blessed be the stone cutters
It took a quarry to bury the dreams

[Grumpy]

Stay in Poland? Okay. Behemoth. The ultimate in Christian commentary. So much so that they've been charged with heresy (yep, that's still a law in Poland, apparently) several times. But their lyrics are not some atheist rants about picking apart generalized statements, no, Behemoth aren't scared to do deep dives into the stories of the Bible and completely flip them on their heads. Chances are if you read your Bible every night before bed, these guys will still know more about its contents than you. Their sound is huge and their vocals are one of a kind. If the devil made psalms, this is what they would sound like. They also have really well-made music videos.

I pulse ov existence
The law ov nature undenied
I hold the torch ov Heraclites
So I can shake the earth and move the sun

I divine Iconoclast
Injecting chaos into my veins
With life accepted
With pain resurrected
Is the embrace ov God in man profound

[Grumpy]

Jinjer is a Ukranian progressive metal band which have exploded onto the scene after their King of Everything album. If you've ever seen a music reaction channel on YouTube, you've most likely come across a song of theirs called "Pisces", because it might be the most perfectly structured song for that kind of content. But Jinjer is so much more than Pisces. The incredible bass-driven instrumentation, with jazzy drums and death metal riffs blend together amazingly well. Their singer, Tatiana, has incredible control over her voice, and sings both cleanly and growls with a proficiency very seldom found. I've seen them live twice, and they did not disappoint. I'll see them a third time next year.

Exhausted nature is so tragic and suicidal!
Oh how spectacular she is when she kills herself!
Death throes are slowly crawling to her toes
As the last leaf is falling off her head
I'm here with her undressed
With a few petals on my breasts
We shared opiates and let the landscapes do the same
I love your warmth but yet prefer to sleep in cold alone.
We fixed our eyes up to the sky
To see a flight send us farewell