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Syntek
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:14 pm
Posts: 655
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:53 am 
 

[BLACK OCTOBER - BLACK METAL SONGWRITING CHALLENGE - OCT '13]

The challenge is over!
Check out the results and reviews thread here


Okay, chaps.
As you are all aware, the outcomes of the most recent three songwriting challenges have been, at best, rather... Unfruitful. Whilst all three of them seemed good in theory, there also seemed to be certain hindrances to each, whether it be not knowing shit about grindcore (at least in my case), not having the time nor creative energy to muster a concept album, or not having any picturesque spots in my local area.
So, I thought I would try and give the whole convention a kick up the arse to get things moving in the right direction again.

This time around, the challenge is a blackened one. As black metal is an immensely malleable genre, entries can range from straight up 2nd wave worship, to post-black, to blackened thash, to whatever your heart’s content is. As long as there’s some black in there, count yourself qualified. Don't just stick to the conventional subgenres - get creative!

Identical to last year’s Doom Challege, there will be a random lyric assignment for you all, which should push you all enough out of your comfort zone while still keeping things productive.

[The Rules]

- The challenge commences on the 10th October, and ends on the 10th November.
- There is no deadline for signing up. Participants will receive their lyrical theme from the 10th onwards, disclosed via PM.
- Songs should be original to the challenge, which means no covers or pre-existing material of yours should be submitted.
- Any format of audio file is accepted, although MP3 is preferable. All files will be converted into MP3 accordingly, if they aren't already.
- It is recommended you add a brief readme to go along with your submission, discussing lyrics, interpretations, techniques/gear used for recording and producing, etc.
- I can't stress enough my disdain for the use of pure Dauði Baldrs-esque Guitar Pro style MIDI. Don't do that, guys.

[Lyrical Themes]

I've essentially copypasta'd the entire list from last year's challenge as it worked so well - as they say, if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it, right?
If there's any more themes you think should be added, feel more than welcome to comment.

Violence, Gore & Anatomy
Traveling & Places [real & sci-fi]
Lycanthropy
Lovecraft Mythos
Tolkien Legendarium
The Works of Moorcock
Occultism
Civilizations & Cultures [your choice]
Dreams & Reality
Revenge
Suicide
Eschatology
Historical Events [your choice]
Nature
Local / Ancestral Folklore
Mythologies [your choice]
Social Isolation
Corruption & Greed
Religion [your choice, pro & anti]
Macabre & Horror
Pride
Mental Illness/Insanity
The Distant Future
Death
War & Genocide
Post-Apocalypse
Technology
Nihilism
Space & The Cosmos
Witchcraft & Magick


[Participants (27)]

Syntek
ShaolinLambKiller
CloggedUrethra
InThyKingdom
Zodijackyl
FearTheNome
infinitenexus
Mysticaloldbard
guitartheist
SweetSilence
lemisotheist
MoonPenatrator
diamond_famicom
Fumfig
Auspicium
Marras
shibby2441
LlamaTrainer
CorpseFister
Ira Divina
kingnuuuur
TheCrippledGod
KFD
FLEAM
AullidoSepulcral
Commandaunt
Anomic Humanoid

[Collaborators]

emperorlives - Able to provide keyboards/ambience & lyrics.
HeWhoIsInTheWater - Able to provide vocals, violin & lyrics.
xThe__Wizard - Able to provide keyboards & drum programming.
NuclearDonkey - Able to provide songwriting (requires vocals).


If you require additional instruments that aren’t available, or simply would just like another person to help with songwriting or lyrics, here is the place to check.

And with that, I wish you all the best, gentlemen. Good luck!


Last edited by Syntek on Wed Nov 20, 2013 2:05 pm, edited 53 times in total.
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ShaolinLambKiller
King Asshole

Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:10 pm
Posts: 13320
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 6:36 am 
 

Sure I'll sign up, but yea you need to extend that deadline. I'll say that right now. 90% of the problem with all the others even in the past is it's just not enough time for most people. Even with signing up I can't guarantee any results cause I'll leaving for a week for vacation and possibly 2 weeks for work. It's the possibility that really sink it for me. and all that with trying to get up enough inventory to sell for the 2 art shows I'm doing just about back to back.
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MalignantTyrant
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:27 pm
Posts: 1647
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:05 am 
 

I would but sadly I've no real way to record anything. Black metal and black/death metal are my territories
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Syntek
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:14 pm
Posts: 655
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:07 am 
 

ShaolinLambKiller wrote:
Sure I'll sign up, but yea you need to extend that deadline. I'll say that right now. 90% of the problem with all the others even in the past is it's just not enough time for most people. Even with signing up I can't guarantee any results cause I'll leaving for a week for vacation and possibly 2 weeks for work. It's the possibility that really sink it for me. and all that with trying to get up enough inventory to sell for the 2 art shows I'm doing just about back to back.


Of course, man. It's fairly flexible, seeing as I'd rather have people signing up later and getting something done than nothing happening at all. I've extended it to the 10th for now, and I'll see how people cope with that.

MalignantTyrant wrote:
I would but sadly I've no real way to record anything. Black metal and black/death metal are my territories


Hey, if you've got a guitar+amp, a shitty microphone, Audacity, and some drum samples, anything is possible. ;p

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~Guest 43555
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:06 pm
Posts: 86
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:25 am 
 

I could possibly do really simple/terrible keyboard stuff for some tracks.

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xThe__Wizard
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:59 pm
Posts: 845
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 11:00 am 
 

I can do this as long as I get an amp to my house which shouldn't be a problem. Don't sign me up yet though.
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CloggedUrethra
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2002 4:30 am
Posts: 499
Location: Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 11:57 am 
 

Sounds like fun, sign me up. Perfect chance to try out new recording equipment. I thought the last challenge was fun, except that only two people contributed so far.

Just to be sure, is this challenge supposed to be one song?
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InThyKingdom
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:25 am
Posts: 197
Location: Bulgaria
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 12:33 pm 
 

Sign me in as well :)
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Fallen Art - Most of the active bands and projects I'm working with
Schadenfreude - Some late recorded stuff
LITTLE NORWAY PRODUCTIONS

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Syntek
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:14 pm
Posts: 655
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:00 pm 
 

emperorlives wrote:
I could possibly do really simple/terrible keyboard stuff for some tracks.


Shall I sign you up as a collaborator?

CloggedUrethra wrote:
Just to be sure, is this challenge supposed to be one song?


It's recommended, yeah. Although you can submit as many as you want, if you can manage more than one.

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~Guest 43555
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:06 pm
Posts: 86
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:23 pm 
 

Syntek wrote:
emperorlives wrote:
I could possibly do really simple/terrible keyboard stuff for some tracks.


Shall I sign you up as a collaborator?

CloggedUrethra wrote:
Just to be sure, is this challenge supposed to be one song?


It's recommended, yeah. Although you can submit as many as you want, if you can manage more than one.


Yeah, that's cool.

I'm a terrible composer, though. I mostly do dark ambient.

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ShaolinLambKiller
King Asshole

Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:10 pm
Posts: 13320
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:24 pm 
 

I'll just focus to do one.


The last challenge, since there is not immediate need to get it done quicker has taken a backburner to a degree. Still writing on it, just not like how i would have if I was under the gun.
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Zodijackyl
63 Axe Handles High

Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:39 pm
Posts: 7601
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:28 pm 
 

I'll join in for this challenge.

A few suggestions on the lyrical themes - first of all, get rid of these: social isolation, suicide, drugs. Lyrics on those topics really need to be driven by the current state of a person, so the result would either be detached or uncomfortable from the subject. Touching on those subjects should really be at the discretion of the writer. Perhaps mental illness/insanity fit into that too, but lyrics on insanity tend to not be ones own experiences with it anyway.

There are a few other subjects that I would love to add to the list. The cosmos, space, witchcraft & magic[k], Moorcock's "Elric" series, and folklore of either your locale or your ancestry.

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~Guest 43555
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:06 pm
Posts: 86
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:09 pm 
 

Zodijackyl wrote:
I'll join in for this challenge.

A few suggestions on the lyrical themes - first of all, get rid of these: social isolation, suicide, drugs. Lyrics on those topics really need to be driven by the current state of a person, so the result would either be detached or uncomfortable from the subject. Touching on those subjects should really be at the discretion of the writer. Perhaps mental illness/insanity fit into that too, but lyrics on insanity tend to not be ones own experiences with it anyway.

There are a few other subjects that I would love to add to the list. The cosmos, space, witchcraft & magic[k], Moorcock's "Elric" series, and folklore of either your locale or your ancestry.


Elric +1 awesome :D

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~Guest 43555
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:06 pm
Posts: 86
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:18 pm 
 

I know this is probably silly of me to add, but I can also help with lyrics/themes, especially ones pertaining to occultism and mythology.

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Syntek
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:14 pm
Posts: 655
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:18 pm 
 

Zodijackyl wrote:
I'll join in for this challenge.

A few suggestions on the lyrical themes - first of all, get rid of these: social isolation, suicide, drugs. Lyrics on those topics really need to be driven by the current state of a person, so the result would either be detached or uncomfortable from the subject. Touching on those subjects should really be at the discretion of the writer. Perhaps mental illness/insanity fit into that too, but lyrics on insanity tend to not be ones own experiences with it anyway.

There are a few other subjects that I would love to add to the list. The cosmos, space, witchcraft & magic[k], Moorcock's "Elric" series, and folklore of either your locale or your ancestry.


Ahhh, yes, both the cosmos/space and local/ancestral folklore would be great ones. I'm not as familiar with Moorcock as I am with Tolkein or Lovecraft, but I'll add him in there for those who are.
I've kept social isolation, seeing it's a very relevant subject for many, but removed suicide and drugs, as agreeably they'll likely seem a bit contrived.

EDIT: I'm on the fence with this one, so I've decided to keep them in the list. Lyrics about suicide or drugs don't necessarily have to be based on personal experience, after all.


Last edited by Syntek on Tue Oct 01, 2013 6:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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FearTheNome
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 8:41 am
Posts: 201
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:27 pm 
 

I'm interested in doing this.

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CloggedUrethra
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2002 4:30 am
Posts: 499
Location: Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:36 pm 
 

I'd personally rather write lyrics about suicide and drugs than some of the stuff on that list, since I at least know what they are and don't have to do research first.
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ShaolinLambKiller
King Asshole

Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:10 pm
Posts: 13320
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:43 pm 
 

Yea I agree with that. I've written a ton on mental illness, suicide and drugs.

I suffer from no mental illness, I've never been suicidal, and I've literally never done a single drug.
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infinitenexus
Metalhead

Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:35 am
Posts: 1895
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:48 pm 
 

I'll do it. I've been looking for a reason to finish a black metal album.
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ShaolinLambKiller
King Asshole

Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:10 pm
Posts: 13320
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 9:25 pm 
 

it's an excuse for me to do a good black metal song that's devoid of other influences. cause a ton i do has black metal in it. but I have never really done a true pure bm song.
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Mysticaloldbard
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:10 pm
Posts: 1620
PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:13 am 
 

Sign me up! I hope you guys like your recordings lo-fi.
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guitartheist
Metal newbie

Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:11 pm
Posts: 83
PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 12:59 pm 
 

I'm in!
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SweetSilence
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:52 pm
Posts: 569
PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:42 pm 
 

Might as well give this a shot.
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analog_winter
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:34 pm
Posts: 1184
PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 2:54 pm 
 

I'm really looking forward to hearing what everyone does for this challenge, but now that I'm living in my college dorm I don't have any equipment with me other than an acoustic guitar, so I can't really do any black metal.
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Syntek
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:14 pm
Posts: 655
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 3:11 pm 
 

analog_winter wrote:
I'm really looking forward to hearing what everyone does for this challenge, but now that I'm living in my college dorm I don't have any equipment with me other than an acoustic guitar, so I can't really do any black metal.


Even if you have but the shittiest of mics on you, feel free to collaborate! :)
I'm sure acoustic intros/interludes/outros will be greatly appreciated.

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CloggedUrethra
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2002 4:30 am
Posts: 499
Location: Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:29 pm 
 

I totally wouldn't mind hearing some Impaled Northern Moon Forest stuff in this challenge :)
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HeWhoIsInTheWater
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:47 pm
Posts: 251
PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 6:03 pm 
 

I'd be happy to provide lyrics and vocals as a collaborator. I don't currently have the means to records anything other than vocals, but I'd still like to be involved.
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Mysticaloldbard
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:10 pm
Posts: 1620
PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 11:20 pm 
 

CloggedUrethra wrote:
I totally wouldn't mind hearing some Impaled Northern Moon Forest stuff in this challenge :)

I may consider this as an extra track. That'd be great actually, seeing as I can't drum but I'm proficient at knee-slapping.
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InThyKingdom
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:25 am
Posts: 197
Location: Bulgaria
PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:08 pm 
 

Ì'm ready with the song :D 6 hrs in total - miss the vocal lines and the lyrics tho :)
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Fallen Art - Most of the active bands and projects I'm working with
Schadenfreude - Some late recorded stuff
LITTLE NORWAY PRODUCTIONS

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Syntek
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:14 pm
Posts: 655
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:46 pm 
 

InThyKingdom wrote:
Ì'm ready with the song :D 6 hrs in total - miss the vocal lines and the lyrics tho :)


Well, I certainly look forward to hearing it, man!

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InThyKingdom
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:25 am
Posts: 197
Location: Bulgaria
PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:54 pm 
 

Hm I can post the raw instrumental, but not sure if it is not against the rules :)
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INSPELL - Black-death metal
Fallen Art - Most of the active bands and projects I'm working with
Schadenfreude - Some late recorded stuff
LITTLE NORWAY PRODUCTIONS

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Syntek
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:14 pm
Posts: 655
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 6:07 pm 
 

InThyKingdom wrote:
Hm I can post the raw instrumental, but not sure if it is not against the rules :)


Keep it to yourself for the moment. It'll be more rewarding to hear the completed song alongside the other entries, than for us to form any opinions just yet.

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MoonPenatrator
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:43 pm
Posts: 563
Location: USA
PostPosted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 12:06 am 
 

I get a week off soon, for the first time in like 2 years, I'll enter this challenge. Thinking of doing either Black n' Roll or Black/Speed Metal. Definitely want to include bluesy punk riffs in my black metal song. So sign me up please! I can't wait to do this again!

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xThe__Wizard
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:59 pm
Posts: 845
PostPosted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 1:45 am 
 

I'll sign up.
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iamntbatman
Chaos Breed

Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:55 am
Posts: 11421
Location: Tyrn Gorthad
PostPosted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 1:50 am 
 

I'm gonna skip out on participating in this one, but I am looking forward to the results and will be sharing my thoughts on them as I usually do for these things.
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HeWhoIsInTheWater
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 9:47 pm
Posts: 251
PostPosted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 4:00 pm 
 

Oh, I can also provide violin parts for anybody who wants to add that to their song.
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diamond_famicom
Metal newbie

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:03 pm
Posts: 72
PostPosted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 3:03 pm 
 

sign me up, please. don't give me lycanthropy, though. I had that for last year's doom metal challenge

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Necromancer of Lossoth
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 3:27 pm
Posts: 14
PostPosted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 4:32 pm 
 

I would say the most important lyrics for black metal are Satanism, Christianity, Paganism, Lord of the Rings, Vikings, Medieval Warfare, Apacolypse, or anti-satanism, anti-christianity, or anti-paganism.
l' ordre du temple is a black metal band based on the knights templar, so maybe they have an anti-muslim theme?

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analog_winter
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:34 pm
Posts: 1184
PostPosted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 4:40 pm 
 

Syntek wrote:
analog_winter wrote:
I'm really looking forward to hearing what everyone does for this challenge, but now that I'm living in my college dorm I don't have any equipment with me other than an acoustic guitar, so I can't really do any black metal.


Even if you have but the shittiest of mics on you, feel free to collaborate! :)
I'm sure acoustic intros/interludes/outros will be greatly appreciated.


I have a really crappy built-in laptop mic, so if people don't mind bad sound quality I could provide some acoustic guitar. There are some recording studios around, campus, but I'm not sure on the protocol on using them is.
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CloggedUrethra
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2002 4:30 am
Posts: 499
Location: Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:51 pm 
 

I'm going to listen to and review every submission, regardless of sound quality. Looking forward to it!
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