I found it funny to learn that 1) there's a guy in the band who's a blacksmith and he's not the drummer, and then 2) he's not even the only blacksmith in the band. After that I was just watching his arms the whole time and wondering how hard he can punch.

It's definitely true that I, as a non-Swede, know very little about "middle-period" Sweden: there's the Vikings, there's IKEA, and in between is just... the Hanseatic League? The Swedish Crusades? And then a bunch of grey. Pretty much everything I know about pre-modern Swedish history that isn't directly Viking-related I've learned from Sabaton. Your discussion about the social systems in modern and pre-modern Sweden was quite interesting.

I'm almost the opposite of you in that I almost never care about the lyrics. I read lyrics if I want to be able to sing along to a song, but other than that, beyond a broad appreciation for the concept if that seems interesting, the vocals are just another instrument to me. There are definitely cases where I can passively pick up on lyrics, if they're intelligible, and a strong or intriguing set of lyrics will enhance my appreciation for the song (Dio being an obvious example), but I never go out of my way to find that for myself. Thus I always find it interesting when you delve so deeply into the concepts when you write your reviews, and I like hearing you talk about it here; it seems like Jerff was appreciative of that as well.

I imagine it is extremely difficult to play bass with one arm. But you might as well, because you're right in that bass is the least important instrument in metal. I wish that it weren't, but if there's anything we've learned from Metallica (let alone black metal), it's that you can record a great metal album with no bass whatsoever. Bands that respect their bassist tend to be more interesting than the ones that don't.

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 02.01.2023 at 22:56


I'm almost the opposite of you in that I almost never care about the lyrics. I read lyrics if I want to be able to sing along to a song, but other than that, beyond a broad appreciation for the concept if that seems interesting, the vocals are just another instrument to me. There are definitely cases where I can passively pick up on lyrics, if they're intelligible, and a strong or intriguing set of lyrics will enhance my appreciation for the song (Dio being an obvious example), but I never go out of my way to find that for myself. Thus I always find it interesting when you delve so deeply into the concepts when you write your reviews, and I like hearing you talk about it here; it seems like Jerff was appreciative of that as well.

I imagine it is extremely difficult to play bass with one arm. But you might as well, because you're right in that bass is the least important instrument in metal. I wish that it weren't, but if there's anything we've learned from Metallica (let alone black metal), it's that you can record a great metal album with no bass whatsoever. Bands that respect their bassist tend to be more interesting than the ones that don't.

On the first part of this - I'm very similar to you; I don't know any of the lyrics to a lot of my favourite songs, I just appreciate the melody or instrumental element they bring to it generally. However, I do enjoy reading people discuss concepts, such as Netzach does with his reviews.

On the second part of this - first of all, nobody be dissing the bass around me. Second, I remember a one-armed bassist auditioned for Machine Head when they got rid off ... Adam Duce? I was very impressed by the audition video he lifted. I was more impressed when I saw Elder Druid at Bloodstock in 2021 and saw they had a one-armed guitarist - I can't imagine it's particularly easy to hit specific strings with the end of a handless arm, but he'd clearly worked it out

Written by musclassia on 02.01.2023 at 23:08

On the second part of this - first of all, nobody be dissing the bass around me. Second, I remember a one-armed bassist auditioned for Machine Head when they got rid off ... Adam Duce? I was very impressed by the audition video he lifted. I was more impressed when I saw Elder Druid at Bloodstock in 2021 and saw they had a one-armed guitarist - I can't imagine it's particularly easy to hit specific strings with the end of a handless arm, but he'd clearly worked it out

Consider this your official challenge to put a bass solo in every song on Vulgaris's next album (and any time the song sounds like black metal you have to slap).

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 02.01.2023 at 22:56

It's definitely true that I, as a non-Swede, know very little about "middle-period" Sweden: there's the Vikings, there's IKEA, and in between is just... the Hanseatic League? The Swedish Crusades? And then a bunch of grey. Pretty much everything I know about pre-modern Swedish history that isn't directly Viking-related I've learned from Sabaton. Your discussion about the Thus I always find it interesting when you delve so deeply into the concepts when you write your reviews, and I like hearing you talk about it here; it seems like Jerff was appreciative of that as well.

Yes, Swedish history streches back way more than thousand years and we were responsible for a lot of shit, both bad and good, during the last millennium. The founding of the Russian Empire, the Sacking of Rome, just to mention a few... This is also what I appreciated a lot about Änterbila's album - it delves a lot into the facets of Swedish life that we today take for granted (as one of the indubitably best places to live in), but also as a place for which a lot of people in the past sacrificed a hell of a lot in order to make it so for us today. It is both inspiring and humbling to think of it this way, I think, and I appreciate this about the album.

I translated the lyrics to English. Check them out, if you will.

Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 02.01.2023 at 22:56

I imagine it is extremely difficult to play bass with one arm. But you might as well, because you're right in that bass is the least important instrument in metal. I wish that it weren't, but if there's anything we've learned from Metallica (let alone black metal), it's that you can record a great metal album with no bass whatsoever. Bands that respect their bassist tend to be more interesting than the ones that don't.

Bass is so important for metal, it makes me sad every time I hear a black or power metal album where the bass isn't audible at all. It is what gives the entire character to the guitars and even drums. It's vital.

If I'm doing an interview and they tell me that they looked me up, I'm legit closing the meeting

Northern Scandinavia and Suomi in internet era always has been great place to live... Lappi

Cool apartment dude