Persian black metal is an underground extreme music scene in Iran, characterized by themes of Persian history, mythology, and folklore, often heavily influenced by classic Norwegian black metal. Due to strict governmental censorship and the classification of metal as “satanic,” bands operate in secrecy, facing imprisonment [and death] for their music…
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, a shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, raw (lo-fi) recording, unconventional song structures, and an emphasis on atmosphere. Artists often appear in corpse paint and adopt pseudonyms.
Notable Bands and Projects
- From The Vastland: Led by Sina, a prominent figure in the Iranian black metal scene who often focuses on Persian mythology.
- Trivax: A band representing the “True Persian Black Metal” movement since 2009.
- Lavizan Jangal: A project associated with the “True Iranian Black Metal” sound.
- Arsames: A death/thrash band known for navigating the difficult, restricted, and sometimes dangerous, landscape for metal in Iran.
