Black metal is, in my opinion, the most poetic and beautiful subgenre in metal. I stayed away from this subgenre for almost two decades because I was scared of all the bad press, but when I finally decided to listen to some bands and artists, I fell in love instantly.

The best part of black metal, for me, is how the vast majority of the songs I have listened to are basically lyrical simping for mother nature. I fuck with it.

Also have a soft spot for DSBM and how it both puts a spotlight on and gives an outlet for deeply depressed and suicidal people. Almost therapeutic for some of them. That’s so beautiful.

As for all the controversial stuff, I find it to be both very interesting from s historical perspective but also incredibly cringe. Especially when it comes to fully grown men still running around with the mental maturity of 15 year olds.

I also remember being kind of shocked that the original Mayhem related crime cases were all committed by teenagers. When I was a teen myself, I guess I thought it was like grown ups in gangs ala Hells Angel’s, running around being nazis and burning churches and killing people. But its was really just a bunch of bored loser kids with mental problems.

Still, I dig the music. They did something different both in terms of sound and presentation and I can’t hate them for inventing a new artform within a genre of music that is basically modern day classical music.