So I recently watched this documentary about the Norwegian black metal scene, focusing specifically on the late-80s/early-90s period when the phenomenon was at its cultural and social pinnacle. Bands like Mayhem, Burzum, and Darkthrone were making their most technically pure albums, while at the same time were at the forefront of a marginalized social movement that wished to “cleanse” the Norwegian “race” through means of some atrocious maneuvers. Now, I’m not much a fan of black metal nor have I claimed to be. I’m more of a wannabe fan, even a poseur, perhaps. I’ll watch the documentaries, I’ll read the books, I’ll dig on the imagery, shit, I would probably even get a black metal-themed tattoo, but as far as the music goes? I could take it or leave it.
There’s a similar aesthetic going on with (and which draws me to) the music of San Fran’s Barn Owl, for example on their latest album (and Thrill Jockey debut) Ancestral Star (TMT Review). Their expansive guitar meditations evoke a distinct imagery that brings to mind the barren American West while also suggesting the frigid Scandinavian North, rife with burning churches and dank cellars. It’s metal, but it’s not. Barn Owl allows me to pretend I’m metal without actually being it or acting out on it, and that’s half the reason I listen to them or any other band that conjures up those feelings of strange, dark wonder. If I wasn’t such a pretty boy, I’d probably be listening to real metal.
Oh, and Barn Owl are touring Europe with fellow West Coast minimalist crony Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, whose Love Is a Stream (TMT Review) was released last year on Type.
04.23.11 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Dudefest
04.24.11 - Darmstadt, Germany - Oetinger Villa *
04.26.11 - London, UK - CAMP Basement *
04.27.11 - Bristol, UK - The Cube *
04.28.11 - Dublin, Ireland - The Joinery *
04.29.11 - Belfast, UK - The Barge *
04.30.11 - Glasgow, UK - Captain’s Rest *
05.01.11 - Manchester, UK - Sounds from the Other City Festival *
05.02.11 - Brighton, UK - The Hope *
05.03.11 - Antwerpen, Belgium - Scheldapen *
05.04.11 - Kortrijk, Belgium - De Kreun *
05.05.11 - Tilburg, The Netherlands - Incubated *
05.06.11 - Nuernberg, Germany - K4
05.07.11 - Krems, Austria - Donaufestival
05.09.11 - Prague, Czech Republic - K4 *
05.10.11 - Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang *
05.11.11 - Aarhus, Denmark - Atlas *
05.12.11 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Huset i Magstrade *
05.13.11 - Berlin, Germany - Levee *
05.14.11 - Bielefeld, Germany - AJZ *
05.15.11 - Dordrecht, The Netherlands - [F]luister @ CBK *
05.16.11 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands - OT301 *
05.17.11 - Bochum, Germany - Christuskirche *
05.18.11 - Paris, France - Mains D’oeuvres *
05.19.11 - Cholet, France - Espace St. Louis *
05.20.11 - Toulouse, France - Mix’Art Myrys *
05.21.11 - Lyon, France - Sonic *
05.22.11 - Pisa, Italy - Caracol *
05.23.11 - Bologna, Italy - XM24 *
05.24.11 - Trieste, Italy - Tetris *
05.26.11 - Torino, Italy - Blah Blah *
05.27.11 - Düdingen, Switzerland - Kilbi Festival
08.06.11 - Katowice, Poland - Off Festival
* Jefre Cantu-Ledesma
• Barn Owl: http://www.myspace.com/barnowlband
• Thrill Jockey: http://www.thriljockey.com
• Jefre Cantu-Ledesma: http://www.shiningskull.org
• Type: http://typerecords.com