Christian Anti-Depressive Black Metal?
Christian Anti-Depressive Black Metal? Nine Albums You Should Know
Let’s face it – November can be a pretty depressing month for some. November’s gloom can hang heavy like a sheet of lead over the soul, and though I love the autumn, November’s gradual loss of panoramic colour and onset of winter can definitely nudge one into a more melancholic frame of mind. With that context in mind, I figured maybe now would be the right time to take a deeper dive into a style of black metal I’ve covered in the form of several reviews now (concerning artists such as Casm, Bedeiah, and Within Thy Wounds); that is, anti-DSBM, or anti-depressive black metal, a term coined by F.A. Monje of arguably the first band to explore the style, Bedeiah.
Such a genre term probably makes no sense when one hears the music of many of these artists, but give me a chance to explain. I’ve touched on it before – the phenomenon of depressive black metal in the secular realm (perhaps the most disturbing in terms of its blatant nihilism and espousal of self-destruction) – and anyone with a few minutes to spare can easily find out more about the secular bands that fall under this umbrella if they so wish to. Suffice it to say, the Christian metal scene has also responded, as it were, with its own handful of artists that play black metal in a similar vein and yet promote a message of hope, that there indeed is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is Christ. To play this kind of black metal from a Christian perspective, on the surface, sounds impossible, but just as Horde once did with Hellig Usvart, it turns the secular lyrical themes on their head, maintaining the sound and refusing to shy away from hard lyrical themes, but approaching it all from a Christian worldview.
Certainly, it’s a tough subgenre to explore, and I’ve no doubt that this article will find few readers. It’s definitely not a style I would recommend to anyone suffering from depression, but perhaps to those who listen to the secular bands associated with the style; I wonder if it’s at least a way to reach someone listening to that kind of music. And perhaps, such true sorrow metal with a message of hope can really speak to someone suffering from melancholy and depression in a way where they feel heard, and are given some hope that’s real. I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud here. But In short – I’d say approach this style with tremendous care.
With that said, it’s still a style that I believe, as a metal journalist, is worth covering. Here, I’ve selected nine records I think are worth checking out as representative examples of the sounds associated with the style. As Heaven’s Metal’s very own fellow unblack metal fan Loyd Harp noted of Morkerod’s first release, Severity, this kind of music can make for an “unsettling listening experience.” But Christians playing black metal has never been “safe” to begin with, so it shouldn’t shock anybody that this style of “depressive” (or rather, anti-depressive) black metal exists in Christian circles as well. The musical thrust and style is the same, and Christian bands in this subgenre don’t shy away from some pretty tough subject matter, but the ultimate message is that there is indeed hope and rest in Jesus Christ.
Without further ado:
Bedeiah – Loving Conviction
Without a doubt, Bedeiah’s extremely lo-fi demo entitled Loving Conviction should be at the top of your list if you are going to know anything about this subgenre at all. Though later releases like Blood Metal would edge just ever so slightly into a clearer tone, Loving Conviction’s almost alien-like black metal transmissions are unlike anything else I’ve heard. Having coined the idea of anti-DSBM, Bedeiah’s F.A. Monje would also set a high bar for any music that would follow in its wake. You can read my review here.
Within Thy Wounds – Forest of Iniquity
Few bands in the Christian black metal underground have struck a chord with me as much as Within Thy Wounds, a solo project coming from a Catholic perspective. Though their latest release Ringing the Bell of Gleaming Martyrdom dials back the melancholy somewhat, and the band is being lumped in with the “blackgaze” movement somehow, Forest of Iniquity remains a masterclass in driving, atmospheric sorrow metal. With vocals sounding like primal cries in the face of an unrelenting snowstorm and riffs that pierce to the heart’s core, Within Thy Wounds’ work on Forest of Iniquity rivalled the emotional power of None’s Damp Chill of Life and the rawness of Xasthur’s The Funeral of Being, combining both into a powerful statement of hope in the face of despair. I’ve got a full review of it here. Check out the album here.
Euangelion – Emmanuel
Straightforward, raw and garage-ish in feel, Oklahoma’s Euangelion combines some of the introspective and nature-soaked sounds of Vials of Wrath with a doom metal pace and rough black metal rasps. Though Emmanuel is still a bit rough, the band shows some definite promise here with its almost My Dying Bride-like guitar work. Check it out here.
Morkerod (also known as Morkdod) – Enlightenment
Morkerod’s Enlightenment isn’t simply aping the tropes of the depressive black metal style, but is the sound of someone who has been to the bottom and come back out alive with a message of hope. Doomy, atmospheric and achingly beautiful at times, Enlightenment is a modern classic of sorrowful music. According to one review, sole member Egor Shpakov was diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, was involved in satanism, and even tragically attempted suicide. His return to Christ took a brief pitfall, but eventually he fully embraced Orthodox Christianity and is now using his music to give a message of hope to those who feel there is no hope left. This artist has been there, seen what satan and darkness has to offer, and come back out alive. Give a listen to it here.
Ex Nihilo – Turn and Face the Shadows
More than any other artist on this list, Australia’s Ex Nihilo (NOT to be confused with a secular DSBM band of the same name from Washington!) really brings in the blackgaze influence. Don’t worry – this isn’t Deafheaven. But Ex Nihilo’s strength certainly does lie in its ability to extract great beauty out of themes of longing and introspection, coating it in walls of shimmering guitars reminiscent of classic shoegaze act Slowdive, but with the horrific howling vocal style of Malefic from Xasthur driving it all slowly onwards. Gorgeous, infused with both light and darkness, and definitely worth a listen. You can hear it here.
Sanctified Ethos – The True Art of Isolation
A solo project from Colorado piloted by lone member known only as “The Unknown,” Sanctified Ethos seems to also be very tethered to an Orthodox Christian-inspired perspective, and especially centres lyrically on the denial of self and of the lusts of the flesh. Of all the bands on here, it’s obvious that Sanctified Ethos took a big influence from Xasthur, from the ethereal howls all the way to the folkish acoustic guitars of tracks like “Falling Back to Christ” that are reminiscent of Xasthur’s later work. Though the production is exceedingly rough, I’m pretty sure that’s the point. Not for the faint of heart, but the daring can check it out here.
Starless – Молчание
Another Russian act, Starless on Молчание masterfully weaves together impressive storms of dramatic noise brimming with emotion, coming off like a mix of earlier Fathomage and Within Thy Wounds, but with their own unique spin. Though all the lyrics are in Russian, a quick Google translation job still reveals incredibly poetic content. That, and the album boasts a surprising cover of In Flames’ classic “Moonshield” – what’s not to like? Listen here.
Casm – When is the End of Summer?
Composed of members from Satan Destroyer and Blodfalt, Casm have only just been around for a little while, yet have earned their place on this list for their sorrowful, slow-paced black metal sound. Autumnal, forlorn and yet, like all the bands on this list, possessed of a yearning for true hope, Casm’s lone demo is definitely a promising bit of work. If you missed it, you can check out my review of their 2024 demo, When is the End of Summer? here. Dive in to the EP here.
Jordskaelv – Grauw is mijn Vaandel
Heidendoder, the man behind one of unblack metal’s greatest spawning grounds and distros, Sneeuwstorm Produkties) here takes the sounds of his other projects (Schraal, Duister Maanlicht, Herfstdood) and slows it all down to a dirge-like, doomy crawl. If you find yourself a fan of the sounds of the bands above, but want more atmosphere and emphasis on a tragic tone, this album is really going to be up your alley. You can find the album here.
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