Wordless Wednesday: In Memory of Per Yngve Ohlin

January 16 1969 - April 8 1991

Wordless Wednesday

Set Free Among the Dead Themselves: The Pillars of Creation

Powerful metal from Set Free Among the Dead Themselves, a short-lived American death metal band.

~DJ Dolly~

Monday's Music: The Master of Viking Metal

Tomas "Ace" Börje Forsberg AKA Quorthon: 17 February 1966 – c. 7 June 2004

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Quorthon was found dead at only 38 years old. 

He didn't die from a drug overdose or "misadventure," as has been the sad case with many musicians. He had heart problems, likely cardiomyopathy. His heart simply stopped working. He was found dead in his apartment after no-one had heard from him for a week.

Quorthon is considered one of the creators of the Scandinavian black metal genre as well as being the father of the Viking metal genre. He initially utilized horror/dark/occult themes in his music but switched to writing songs about Scandinavian history, legend, and mythology.

Quorthon cautioned people not to allow themselves to become too wrapped up in the theatrical imagery of the metal genre. He expressed his feeling that it was necessary to remember that it was theatre, and that he personally kept in mind that he was just a regular person who enjoyed creating theatre. 

Quorthon was distressed to receive letters written in blood and on occasion containing dead, mutilated animals or photographs of women engaging in obscene acts using crucifixes. He wanted to escape the image as "the baby-eating, blood-drinking God of the bat-cave". He expressed the feeling that it was sick and wrong to harm small animals in such a fashion, and that he really didn't care to see unsolicited photographs of people engaged in obscene acts.

Offstage, Quorthon was polite, soft-spoken, evidently very intelligent, and refreshingly lacking in stereotype "rock star" attitudes and behaviors.

I believe the older fellow in the video is his father, Börje "Boss" Forsberg. While Boss was owner of the Tyfon Grammafon label and produced Quorthon's early work with Bathory, Quorthon received no particular special favors. He worked under a very tight budget. In one case, he recalled creating a particular echoing effect by playing his guitar in the bathroom at the studio.

Following Quorthon's death, his sister, Jennie Tebler, wanted to remix certain of her brother's songs to create a duet between herself and him. However, she stated in one interview that she couldn't stop herself from crying when she heard his voice, so she ended up using only the guitar tracks. The person who created this video has envisioned what the remix might have sounded like had she been able to go through with the project.

The talented siblings created this song together not long before Quorthon's death. He played all of the instruments and mixed the track. It's a shame they couldn't have done more work together.

The world is a poorer place for the loss of Quorthon, a fine musician and a fine human being. But it is a richer place for the fact that he was here. May he rock Valhalla!

~DJ Adam~

For the KHEL 666 Krew

Dark Subject Matter in Mainstream Culture: Thoughts by Codera

Codera discusses why people seem to be accepting of dark subject matter in visual media but can't seem to accept it in music.

I'm lazy, so I'll cut and paste my reply!

I'm trying to picture One Direction performing a Cannibal Corpse song, and it made me pee myself laughing!

I'm old enough to be your mother--possibly pushing old enough to be your grandmother. I remember the old Satanic Panic of the 1980s. Heavy metal music was going to send us all to hell! People were burning records. It was ridiculous.

I have a theory that perhaps the imagery in movies and such makes it easier for people to say "this isn't real," whereas the lyrics to a song trigger different parts of the brain. I've studied just enough psychology to make me dangerous! ;-)

Maybe when a person hears a song with disturbing subject matter it makes them think. It might trigger something inside them, and they can't reconcile it by looking at a picture and saying "I know that's not real." So perhaps they'd prefer to listen to light, poppy stuff because it doesn't make them think so much. It's just an idea that came to mind.

Cannibal Corpse isn't really my cup of tea, and I'm not too much for gore in movies either. I prefer my doom and gloom to be a bit more cerebral. I like Satyricon and Immortal, and I prefer a movie like "Let the Right One In" over "Saw."

On the lighter side (at my age, I'm not ashamed to admit that I have one) I like the Vampire Diaries. Musically, my lighter side prefers the Bee Gees to Lady GaGa. I told you I was old!

I enjoyed your thought-provoking discussion. It's always inspiring to find people of any age who know how to use their gray matter!

Peace.

 

I'd like to suggest that you all take a minute to check out Codera's video and subscribe to his channel. He's a smart young man who actually uses his mind. That may be a dangerous thing! ;-)

 

~DJ Dolly~

Cradle of Filth: A Gothic Romance

Incantation: Vanquish in Vengeance

More death metal, as I write from the perspective of the brutal Ogre King.
~DJ Tempest~

Pavor: A Pale Debilitating Autumn

Listening to this fine tune while working on my NaNoWriMon novel, The Doomed Kingdom. Thanks to DJ Dolly for the recommendation!
~DJ Tempest~

Insomnium: Only One Who Waits

Sarpantium: Provocation of an Eternal Odium

Revived are sentiments towards your brethren 
Coercing emotions have set your vigour Crown 

Exodus, envisions of Kur 
Provocation to salvage light 
Adorn as she waits, martyrdom will ingress 

Odyssey of Inanna 
Odyssey of Inanna 
Exodus, envisions of Kur 

Ascendancy, envisions of Kur 
a plight which shall not rest 
For the gods will trust in your 

Ascendancy, envisions of Kur 
Provocation to salvage light 
Adorn as she waits 
Martyrdom will ingress in suffering 

Ascendancy, envisions of Kur 
Provocation to salvage light. 
Adorn as she waits 
Martyrdom will ingress 

Odyssey of Inanna 
Odyssey of Inanna 
A plight which shall not rest 
A plight which shall not rest 
For the gods will trust in your 

At the gates she stood arrayed in splendour 
With symbols of endowment 
Sullen empress 
Enraged the vehemence 
Sullen empress 

...I proclaim Ereshkigal 
...I proclaim Ereshkigal 

Revived are sentiments towards your brethren 
Coercing emotions have set your vigour Crown

Mörk Gryning - Journey

Buried By the Dead + Dead Alive

If you're a sick cuss like me, you'll be throwing the horns in the air and banging your head to this kick ass death metal tune by Bloodbath accompanying scenes from the movie Dead Alive. Rock on!

~DJ Blooming Psycho~

Beneath the Surface: Subversion

An Arizona-based deathcore band.

I don't want salvation. I just want the truth. I'm confronted by convictions, They're telling me what to do.

No matter how deep you bury somethings, they always come back to haunt you in your sleep.

No matter how deep you bury somethings they always come back again. To haunt you and destroy you. And you can't pretend, you're worlds about to end.

When this is over no will have anything left.

Look at the mess that you've made, you can't take this back, I'll spit in your face.

Look at the mess that you've made, you can't take this back, I'm digging your grave.

In my head its all so perfectly clear, I understand exactly why you are here. I know the truth, I know you're not what you claim. You want it all, and you're to blame.

I want the world to see your face just as I have.

And when it all comes crashing down, we know you'll be taking the easy way out.

Ignorance is bliss. The truth isn't something that you're gonna miss

Insomnium: Only One Who Waits

Benevolent: Purgatory

Blogging Challenge A to Z: T is for Testament

Dare you crank up the Testament on this Terrific T Day?

Testament is an old school thrash metal band from California. They formed in 1983 as Legacy. They have released released ten studio albums, four live albums, six compilation albums, and six singles.

Testament is a band with a hard hitting, no bullshit sound. They are about the tunes, not the flash. While personnel changes over the years have added different nuances to their sound, they always deliver the basics and never disappoint. It's little wonder they've been active in the music scene for more than 30 years. Their timeless sound will continue to please fans of the metal genre for many years to come.

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Q is for Quorthon

Tomas "Ace" Börje Forsberg AKA Quorthon

February 17, 1966 - June 7, 2004

 

A to Z Blogging Challenge:

Q is for Quorthon

by

Opal Zushaquon

 

Talented Swedish multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music producer Ace Forsberg is one of the most underrated and most misunderstood musical talents. He was on the forefront of the Scandinavian extreme metal scene, but he didn't personally take the imagery seriously. It was theatrics, and he seemed quite bemused that anyone would take such things to heart.

Quorthon was a very private person. He never talked about his personal life. When asked his real name, he enjoyed using such pseudonyms as "Per Vars" (perverse.) He had a dry, off the wall sense of humor, which tended to be a bit bawdy.

Those who met Quorthon said that he was very unaffected by his renown. He was polite and gracious. He enjoyed helping young people trying to become successful in music.

Quorthon was very interested in Scandinavian history and mythology. These interests form the basis for many of his songs.

Unfortunately, Quorthon had serious heart problems, which ended his Earthly life at only 38 years of age.

Cie Cheesemeister, our infamous and rather cagey leader of Team Netherworld, liked Quorthon so well that he was the inspiration for one of her first Netherworld characters, along with fellow Swedish metal tunesmith The Spooky Guy (Per Yngve Ohlin.)

But enough from me. It's time for you to listen to Quorthon's band, Bathory.

 

~Opal~

 

Cross-posted to:

KHEL 666

Undead in the Netherworld

TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

There is a serpent in every Eden
Slick as grease and cold as ice
There is a lie in every meaning
Rest assured to fool you twice

In this age of utter madness
We maintain we are in control
And ending life before deliverance
While countries are both bought and sold

Holy writtings hokus-pokus
Blaze of glory and crucifix
Prepried costly credit salvations
TV-preachers and dirty tricks

Don't trust nobody
It will cost you much too much
Beware of the dagger
It caress you at first touch
O, all small creatures
It is the twilight if the gods

When the foundations to our existence
Begins to crumble one by one
And legislations protects its breakers
And he who was wrong but paid the most won

Even the gods of countless religions
Holds no powers against this tide
Of degeneration because we have now found
That there is no thrones up there in the sky

Run from this fire
It will burn your very soul
Its flames reaching higher
Comed this far there is no hold
O, all small creatures
It is the twilight if the gods

(Twilight of the gods
Twilight of the gods
Twilight of the gods
Twilight of the gods)

A to Z Blogging Challenge: D is for Death Metal

A to Z Blogging Challenge

D is for Death Metal

by

Wanda Psycho

Death metal is a musical genre which focuses on dark and sometimes violent imagery. It generally utilizes aggressive, growling vocal stylings and loud, distorted guitar riffs.

Certain bands that fall into the death metal category may also be categorized as black metal, doom metal, or thrash metal. 

Black metal, death metal, and thrash metal were all influenced by the British extreme metal band Venom. The American metal band Slayer was particularly influential in the death and thrash metal camps. Of course one cannot talk about death metal without mentioning Death, which formed in Florida in 1983. 

There are too many great death metal bands to mention all of them in a short piece such as this one. 

Death metal subgenres include deathcore, Death/Doom, blackened death metal, Death and Roll, Goregrind, Deathgrind, technical Death metal, melodic Death metal, and Pornogrind.

I leave you with Death to wrap up this entry. Rest in peace, Chuck Schuldiner.

~Wanda~

In Celebration of Quorthon's Birthday

Today is the 47th chronological birthday of the inimitable Quorthon, a favorite citizen of the Netherworld. Hail! Let the celebration commence!

Thomas "Ace" Börje Forsberg was born February 17, 1966 in Stockholm and died June 7, 2004 in Stockholm. He was a pioneer of the Death Metal and Black Metal genres. A highly talented musician, he played numerous instruments and often mixed his own tracks.

Quorthon suffered from what sounds like cardiomyopathy. He was only 38 years old at the time of his passing.

In spite of his rather private personality, Quorthon was known to be very considerate to his fans, never acting as though he were some sort of "rock star." He considered himself to be a musician, not a "diva" in need of worship. He had a sense of humor about the sometimes ridiculous rumors that circulated about him and the sometimes outlandish (and pornographic) pictures that some fans would send him.

Gone too soon but not forgotten, the talented Mr. Forsberg's music will live on forever.

 

Malevolent Creation Playlist

Here is a Malevolent Creation playlist to rock your rotten little world.

Malevolent Creation: Slaughterhouse