Fourth Monarchy released their first full-length “Amphilochia” back in 2007. Reviews compared Fourth Monarchy’s sound to that of Sacramentum, Kvist and early Rotting Christ. The album described the Quest of the Individual to reach Knowledge of the Inner Self. After withdrawing in silence for 11 years, Fourth Monarchy are now bursting once more into the Black Metal scene with a new track, which paves the way to a forthcoming second full-length album. The new track manifests as a progressive crescendo of cold and darkening riffs, alternated with rhythmic evocative moments. The lyrics describe the Baroque world of Ghosts and Shadows generated by the Obscurity of Counter-Reformation’s Europe, and the consequent inner torment of the individual torn in his effort to pursue self-elevation in spite of the surrounding triumphant spiritual obscurantism. Fourth Monarchy perceive Black Metal to be the natural Heir and Son of the European Romantic Movement of the late 1700s and early 1800s, and perceive the Journey through the Mysterical and Nocturnal Side of Existence as a Gate to the exaltation of the Individual Self above the emptiness of the surrounding world. Fourth Monarchy is based between Brussels (Belgium) and Venice (Italy).
We perceive Black Metal as aJourney through the Mysterical and Nocturnal Side of Existence, as a Gate to the exaltation of the Individual above the emptiness of the surrounding world
To preserve and transmit the Spirit of the original First and Second Waves of Black Metal.
We would start with fighting the ignorance, materialism and shallowness of the contemporary "globalized" world and re-establish the Superiority of the Individual above any form of mass-movements.
"Fear of the Dark" by Iron Maiden.
Kvist, Sacramentum, Ophtalamia, Windir, early Ulver, Gorgoroth, Satyricon, Isengard, early Hecate Enthroned, Dissection, At The Gates, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Cradle of Filth
The necessity to detach ourselves from the decadence and emptiness of the surrounding world.
See previous answers.
Whoever attends our shows must be an active part of the "sacramental" moment we create with our performance. It is not "us" in front of "them", we and the audience become part of the same closed circle and they partake of the emotional shock we provide them with.
Too many contentless bands. Black Metal was born to be a message spread through music. Now there is music but there is no longer a message.
It is an excellent tool to support bands.
The Metal scene is by now overcrowded with posers and newcomers who have little to no understanding of what extreme Metal was born to be.
I keep purchasing CDs and Tapes of local bands to support them financially and to preserve the old 1990s-spirit when the CD and the Tape of Metal bands were meant to be true pieces of Art.
A band nowadays must have something actual and substantial to communicate. Which is something difficult to find, unfortunately.
First and foremost, Norwegian band Kvist. Their only album "For kunsten maa vi evig vike" constitutes the best example of Norwegian-school Second Wave Black Metal. I must quote also Glory, an Italian Symphonic Black Metal band who released only one demo-tape, "Starborn Ablaze" in the late 1990s. Also, Thron, which used to be a Russian Black Metal band. They released a full-length album on tape back in 1998, the name is "Seductions of Unbaptized Darkness", and constitutes another great example of Atmospheric and Darkening Black Metal.