Black Metal Exotica

“As with all Black Metal, the piquancy (if it exists) lies in two conflicting responses: the immediate effect of the arrangements, which can be appreciated for their bizarre originality; followed by (or, in some cases, preceded by) a displaced reaction to the music’s absurdity in a poisonous context. Lovable and detestable, arrogant and naive, skillful and stupid, the nature of their kitsch leaves them saturated with levels of meaning that less controversial, more conventionally worthwhile musics often fail to deliver”.

This citation is from David Toop’s book “Exotica. Fabricated soundscapes in a real world”. I merely replaced the word ‘exotica’ with ‘Black Metal’.

Though the musics (as well as the poison of their contexts, their arrogance and naiveness) may have very different colors and tastes, their reception has a similar structure.