Metal Therapy

A recent study by the Legatum Institute once again rated 110 countries according to prosperity, or happiness. A difficult thing to measure. The top three were Norway, Denmark, and Finland, with Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands as number 6, 8, and 9 (Rounding out the top ten were 4, Australia, 5, New Zealand, 7, Canada, and 10, the US, if your interested). Why do I bring this up? Scandinavia is the most metal place on the planet. So, obviously, \m/ = :)

While certain sub-genres of metal sprang up nearly simultaneously in different areas, the aforementioned happiest places on Earth are the birthplace of Death Metal and Black Metal, the crunchiest, loudest, and damn scariest music. Sweden generated the largest Death Metal following, largely in the cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg, which developed into their own sounds as well. Let's take a look at some examples.

"Stockholm" style:

Entombed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdL-wNwXPCg

Dismember:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0ZCAarIVSI

Bathory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsHAS3aoK5k

"Gothenburg" style:

At the Gates:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF0U77bm9mc

Dark Tranquility:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZqfH1LQEOQ

In Flames:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyJzHttSQPo

Created in some ways as a response to the high level production and technical virtuosity of Death Metal, the Black Metal scene originated in Norway with low-fi recordings, buzzsaw guitars, and piercing shrieks, Black Metal is probably the hardest to get into. If you actually enjoy any of these on the first go round, we should hang out.

Darkthrone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBwu83RR6ZU

Carpathian Forest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYY2cFa2Qsw

Satyricon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD7bCRG3CG0

Mayhem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J43DYzljG-k

These bands are technically from the "second wave" of Black Metal from the early 90's. A handful of Thrash bands, notably Venom, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, and others experimented with a Black Metal sound in the 80's as well. But the second wave is where it really took off.

Also, just saying, these four bands and many others are from a nation currently listed as the happiest place on Earth. I'll let that process for a minute.

\m/
Prof. Organgrinder