Vector Immortal
Circa 2007-2008, when I was stuck in a town I hated, a relationship that was killing me, and a job that was sucking what remaining spirit I had left, I needed something heavier to help get me through the day (I’ve chronicled all of this in a free e-book you can get here). The go-to punk rock was not cutting it anymore and while I’d always dabbled in the surface scum of metal, I thought a deeper dive might be just what I needed.
Based on some recommendations, one of the first black metal bands I encountered was Immortal, and their unrelenting croaking vocal stylings detailing the sordid history of the fictional, frozen world of Blashyrkh.
At the time, I must admit, I thought they were rather goofy, with their oh-so classic videos and singer Abbath’s ridiculous demeanor and legendary “crab walking.” It didn’t jive at all with what I thought, at the time, black metal should be, IE, super grim and serious song crafters, dwelling in darkened, icy forests, attacking all forms of music with their sincerity in dismal song making.
Yeah, whatever.
Why Immortal is one of my favorites now is exactly because of their goofy demeanor and presentation coupled with their amazing songwriting. I don’t know how anybody, especially fans, can take metal serious when it’s so astronomically ridiculous and comical. Immortal seem to knowingly embrace that. That, and their steadfast determination to stick to their concept of Blashyrkh makes them a top-tier back metal band in my book.