Blackgaze

Blackgaze emerged in the early 2000s, primarily in France, as a response to the rigid boundaries of black metal. The term was coined by French journalist Nicolas Lahbib in a 2005 review of Alcest's demo, describing their blend of black metal's raw aggression with shoegaze's dreamy, reverb-heavy guitar work¹. Alcest's debut album, Souvenirs d'un autre monde (2007), is often cited as the genre's foundational work, featuring a shift from harsh vocals to clean, ethereal singing while retaining the tremolo picking and blast beats of black metal. Other early pioneers include Amesoeurs and Lantlôs, both also French, who further developed the sound by incorporating post-rock and ambient elements.

Blackgaze is defined by its juxtaposition of opposing sonic elements. The genre typically employs the fast, tremolo-picked guitar riffs and shrieked vocals of black metal, but layers them with the lush, effects-laden guitar textures and melodic basslines of shoegaze. Drumming often alternates between blast beats and slower, more atmospheric passages. Production is usually cleaner than traditional black metal, allowing the melodic layers to shine through. Many bands incorporate keyboards, string sections, or clean vocals to enhance the ethereal quality. The result is a dynamic, emotionally charged sound that ranges from aggressive to serene, often within a single song.

Beyond Alcest, several bands have become central to blackgaze. The American band Deafheaven gained mainstream attention with their 2013 album Sunbather, which blended black metal with post-rock and shoegaze, earning critical acclaim and expanding the genre's audience². Other notable acts include Lantlôs, whose collaboration with Alcest's Neige on .neon (2010) is a landmark; the German band Heretoir; and the American project Sadness, which has pushed the genre into more experimental territories. The genre has also spread to Asia, with bands like the Japanese group Asunojokei incorporating blackgaze elements into their sound.

Blackgaze has a rich underground history that extends beyond the well-known acts. The term 'blackgaze' was initially used pejoratively by some black metal purists, but it was embraced by the bands themselves. The genre has strong ties to the French 'Les Legions Noires' scene, though it diverged from its raw, lo-fi aesthetics. A notable subgenre is 'post-black metal,' which overlaps with blackgaze but often incorporates more progressive or avant-garde elements. Bands like the Austrian act Harakiri for the Sky blend blackgaze with post-punk and gothic rock. The genre has also influenced other styles, such as 'blackened shoegaze' and 'atmospheric black metal,' and has been used in film soundtracks, notably in the 2018 film Mandy.

Tremolo picking

A guitar technique where the pick rapidly alternates between two notes, creating a fast, repetitive sound.

Blast beat

A drum pattern characterized by rapid, alternating strokes on the bass drum and snare, common in extreme metal.

Post-rock

A genre of experimental rock that emphasizes texture and atmosphere over traditional song structures.