[cviilgan]

I'd just like to point out that, as someone who mainly listens to black metal, I do not share these opinions.

Concerning the lyrics, I generally categorize them into two groups (with non-empty cut set):

* Intellectual lyrics, which criticize some part of society or human behaviour, or they deal with personal issues (e.g. http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/todtgelichter/angst.html#1)

* Theme lyrics, which try to fit a core concept of the bands music, like satanism or some war/Third Reich theme (e.g. Graphic http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/behemoth/thesatanist.html#1 Graphic). Also, note that a having a certain theme does not automatically imply endorsing it.

Usually, the music as well as the lyrics are cold and cynical, which can make their actual meaning hard to place or even ambivalent at times.

Concerning the neonazis: Personally, I do not see a trend towards the worse, but there are a few sketchy bands out there (the ones I know of are usually older, from the 90s or so).

Oh, P.S.: while the black metal fans may be not as teddybear-y as death metal fans, we are usually quite a nice bunch :)

[idDriven]

Endorsing Satanism isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you read The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey it can represent a logical construct that rejects blind theology.

[SyneRyder]

That came up during episode 666 of the NPR This American Life podcast, "The Theme That Shall Not Be Named":

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/666/the-theme-that-shall-no...

The first segment about the Satanic Prayer Hotline is really amusing. Act One is about a talk back radio preacher who went on tour with Slayer & wrote about it for Spin Magazine, and that's also worth a listen.

[YeGoblynQueenne]

>> Also, note that a having a certain theme does not automatically imply endorsing it.

That's true- often it's done for the shock value.

But that's a bit of a controversy there, rising on the horizon. Personally, I don't want to be the one to say that it's all a performance and all that stuff about uncompromising self-expression and antisocial-ness, is just, you know, posing.

When it comes to the fans (who are also the musicians, usually), I've seen my fair share of total dickheads and absolute darlings, and lots of folks in the middle so eh. Let's not generalise either way.

Edit: Btw, with "intellectual lyrics" you're talking about a new generation of bands, including Misþyrming and Mgła. They are still a little rare, I find. Or I just like more traditional stuff and I'm missing all the serious lyrics :0 Please point to more stuff like that you link above, thanks.

[Kuraj]

What do you think of Mgła?

[cviilgan]

A lot of people in the scene seem to like them alright, but I never took to them. The lyrics don't appeal to me, and I mostly find their music too bland. Hence, if you'd ask me about the nazism allegations, I could not tell. I've also never met the guys nor have I been at a concert (you often get a good grasp whether the guys are idiots there).

Love the name though :)