Black Funeral

Vampyric Black Metal.

Apocalyptic Black Metal awakened in an Industrial Deathlike Age - Warlike hymns to Smash the Skull of God

Black Funeral is:
Akhtya Nachttoter (Michael Ford) – Composition, Arrangements, production and vocals.

Dana Dark – howling and Lilithian Chants

Lux Ferro – howling and Lilithian Chants

Abstract:
Black Funeral is as Khrafstra , an ancient Persian word for a beast of Ahriman, the Adversary, a Druj (of dragon relating to vampire or Draugr, the Lie) and Daeva (demon) which exists to bring chaos into the living world. Black Funeral began in 1993, under the title “Grim Medieval Vampiric Black Metal”, a title which today in 2004 does not change. Black Funeral has arisen from the grave to spread filth and darkness again, the Demonic – Ahrimanic Mask of the Beast is worn again.

Blending traditional cold black metal with machine like aggression, Black Funeral is an epitome for the Iron Age, the Kali Yuga. “Az-i-Dahak” is the comeback CD of Black Funeral as a concept of ancient Persian black magic and vampirism. The essence and concept of Black Funeral is the Satanic soul, the dragon – beast within man, war, chaos and willed order. Black Funeral is a long study of the shadowside of human nature, but expanding beyond human nature – the symbol of the Dragon is derived from the Vampiric Cult of The Black Order of the Dragon; Tiamat and Azi Dahaka.

Background

Formed in 1993 by industrial musician and occult/chaos magic author Michael Ford (aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter), Black Funeral was one of the first seminal cult black metal bands in America. Inspired by early Bathory, Von, Hellhammer, early Emperor, Darkthrone, Mayhem and Burzum, “Journey's into Horizon's Lost” was recorded and distributed everywhere possible. The recordings ugliness, bad production and extreme sound placed Black Funeral as one of the most chaotic black metal bands in the USA. Musically Black Funeral was a cold and raw mix of black and deathlike metal, always ugly and harsh. It was during this time Nachttoter had worked with a focused interest on his part of the Demonic – Odhinnic Deathcults, Vampirism and Lycanthropy. It was the intention of Black Funeral to oppose common perceptions of black metal from 1993-1996, to challenge and confront. As Michael held an interest in vampirism from a magical point of view, his membership in two Vampire Black Circle one of which being The Black Order of the Dragon, and several Satanic organizations, Nachttoter was a practitioner of Magick and the darker aspects of sorcery. Musically, Black Funeral was and still remembers powerful bands such as VON, Blasphemy (Fallen Angel of Doom era), Bathory, Hellhammer, Buruzm, Celtic Frost and others. Black Funeral seeks to unite machinery with traditional metal soundstructures. Black Metal music created as a lycanthropic-daemonic ritual, to unleash the beast in man and woman.

Black Funeral released “Spells of Darkness and Death” as a limited demo in 1995, as well as releasing their debut cd “Vampyr – Throne of the Beast” on Fullmoon Productions of Florida. The work of Nachttoter was very much focused on the concepts of Nihilism and death, the study of the transformation of the human spirit into a beast. Black Funeral soon recorded “Empire of Blood” and Nachttoter was working very much through his death – industrial project, “Valefor”, since its debut on Swedish industrial label COLD MEAT INDUSTRY. It was soon after Nachttoter grew sick of the state of the metal scene and the problems with members, thus he recorded the ritualistic CD “Moon of Characith”, which was black ambient and ritual music. It was labeled then “Black Funeral was dead” and he only contributed to a Fullmoon Productions compilation CD as a black metal track. From 1999 to 2002 Nachttoter (Michael Ford) was a student of Magick and various Luciferian and Sabbatic circles and lore, developing his initiatory work and what is called “Luciferian Witchcraft”, a magical focus of Persian Sorcery, Satanic medieval lore and early Gnostic Luciferian studies. Ford's work also included authoring his first book called “Book of the Witch Moon”, with an introduction by Chaos Magic founder, Peter Carroll (Author of Liber Null/Psychonaut). Ford's musical work is now Psychonaut 75 and Hexentanz, both of which are strong bands in the ritualistic and industrial scenes.

2002 and 2003 brought the “Belial Arisen” CD and LP, black metal recorded badly in 1996 and unreleased until then. Michael Ford stated in several interviews he would probably not continue with Black Funeral. In 2004 while producing dark industrial recordings of Psychonaut 75, Ford was developing methods in the studio to produce quality black metal, having discovered a way to do this in the vision and scope of Black Funeral, “Az-i-Dahak”, the new CD was recorded. Black Funeral has returned as a black metal band which displays more cold power than any previous recording in Black Funeral's 10 year + age.

The music of “Az-i-Dahak” is a black metal formed and created in an industrialized way, although never loosing the essence of cold and brutal black metal. Michael Ford has spent years working with industrial and ambient music, thus began creating black metal again with strong mechanical influences. The concepts of “Az-i-Dahak” present a clear connection between the Son of Satan and the music of the CD.

Bone instruments used in recordings of "Az-i-Dahak". The bottom is a kangling, from Tibet which is a trumpet made from the thigh bone of a executed criminal. The sound is a ghostly or crude wail. Michael previously implemented these instruments in the Dark-Electro-Ritual-Industrial band Psychonaut 75. While recording "Az-i-Dahak" he recorded sounds of the human skulls and the Kangling to produce a ghostlike, tribal atmosphere in some of the tracks. Considering Black Funeral's focus of medieval atmosphere with modern machinery this is a perfect unity - human bones with electronics.

Black Funeral is today a continued focus, joined now with Psychonaut 75 and Hexentanz members, models and practicing Luciferians, Dana Dark and Lux Ferro have joined the cult as vocalists. Do not expect beautiful gothic ambience but succubus ridden - devouring demonesses who wish to drag you into the depths of Hell....

Black Funeral - MUSIC

Black Funeral "Vampyr - Throne of the Beast" CD
(FMP 005)
Release Date: 1995

Recorded in 1995 "Vampyr - Throne of the Beast" was the first extreme full length for the Cult of Black Funeral. There were two covers, the Blood drinking Wampyhri from the first press and the 1996 press featuring Vlad Tepes. Numerous t-shirts, longsleeves were issued.

1. Ex Sanguini Draculae
2. The Floating Blue Witchlight
3. Valley of the Shadow
4. Spectral Agony of Pain and Loneliness
5. Vampyr - Throne of the Beast
6. Spirit of the Werewolf
7. Rising from a Dishonored Grave
8. Of Dark and Crimson Spheres

Recorded & Mixed at Dungeons Of Cachtice Castle.
Produced by BLACK FUNERAL
All music by Tavernier and York
All lyrics by Baron Von Abaddlon
Cover painting grimly done by Nachzehrer
Logo by Equitant

Baron Von Abaddon - Wolf Spirit Howlings
Nocturnal - Jim Hensly - Lycanthropic Guitars, Bass,
Asmoderic - J.B.York - Drums and Tribal Rike Percussion,
Blackangel - Dean Tabernier - Lycanthropic Guitars, Bass,
Desolate Wings (Demoncy)- Session synth

"Vampyr - Throne Of The Beast" is an album based on the sinister side of the European / Eurodescended Psyche. Folk legends dealing with witchcraft, vampirism, and the dreamcycle of lycanthropic awakening. This album is a calling to the hidden vampiric nature of those individuals strong of mind, and spirit who can invoke such atavism of primal fear.

Review of "Vampyr- Throne of the Beast"

Review by Steve Hoeltzel (7 out of 10)
"If you're a total old-school black metal purist, you might tack another point or two onto the score for this one. If, on the other hand, truly creepy, blackened scorch is really not your thing, you should definitely subtract four or five. Much like Bathory circa '85 and current groups like Gorgoroth and Ungod, Black Funeral feel no need to dress up their pure black sound in more colorful sonic fashions. There are no "epic" synthesizers washing out the electrified strings; there are no moody medieval acoustic bits; there are no female friends of the band reciting poetry in the middle of songs. Nope, these guys can create a really icy and other-worldly atmosphere with bass, guitar, drums, and vox alone. Black Funeral churn out highly evocative music, stark in its simplicity, yet so unrelentingly dark and distorted that each song gives off an authentically grim vibe. The key is some pretty crafty songwriting, especially evident on "Spectral Agony of Pain and Loneliness", the title track, and "Of Dark and Crimson Spheres". Every song features cool changes in tempo, weirdly haunting riffs, and chilling vocals. And unlike far too many black metal bands, these guys know how not to wear out their welcome: this debut CD is only 28 minutes long. Definitely some of the creepiest sounding metal I have heard in quite some time, this is highly recommended for those with a taste for the ghastly. Another very cool release from Full Moon. article submitted 5/10/1996 to Chronicals of Chaos web zine."

Review by Yoggoth (Amazon.com) rates Four out of Five Stars-

"Black Funeral is one best black metal acts this side of the Atlantic. This, their debut on Full Moon, has the cold, evil atmospheres of Darkthrone, with lo-fi ambient passages, like in old Burzum or Wrath era Emperor. A superior release for an American band, sure to keep denizens of the unholy underground happy. There is one drawback though, the play time is only 28 minutes, and while black metallers are used to short albums, this is only slightly longer than the average Gorgoroth disc."

Infernal Ritual on Amazon.com gave "Vampyr.." 5 out of 5 stars, writing-

"This is Black Funeral's debut release on FMP, and I must say this CD kills! The production is raw & dirty, just the way these kind of albums should be produced. The vocals are painful and not kind to the ears, the spooky ambient pieces are great. Overall this CD delivers cold and hateful black metal! The artwork is pretty nice as well, and perfectly captures the mood of the music. It has Vlad Tepes and two blood-red skeletons on the side of him It's too bad that they've given up on black metal and went on to do Dark ambient/projects... If you don't have this CD, what are you waiting for! BUY IT"

Janet Dzuricky at Amazon.com gave "Vampyr" 5 out of 5 and wrote-

"When I first bought this album, I didn't think much of it. But I pulled it out later on and realized that this album is one of the best in my collection. It may be the finest USBM release ever (next to Judas Iscariot's albums). Black Funeral return to the raw, evil sound of the first black metal bands like Darkthrone and Mayhem, yet they manage to blend in their own original sound that makes this release unique. Stand out songs are "The Floating Blue Witchlight", "Spectral Agony of Pain and Loneliness", and "Of Dark and Crimson Spheres". Amidst the brutality, Black Funeral include 2 "breather" ambient keyboard tracks that withdraw the sword from your soul for a bit. I only have two complaints of this release.One, it is only 28 minutes long. Two, it is essentially their only black metal release, since "Empire of Blood" is the same material with different titles and worse production. The production here is mediocre, not giving or taking away from the music, so you hear it as it is, no embellishing or fancy effects. This is a black metal album for anyone who wants to see the more brutal side of the genre. I would consider getting it used, since it is so short. GET IT NOW OR FOREVER BE DEAD" .

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