Nargaroth
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Nargaroth |
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Nargaroth is a German black metal solo project lead by René "Kanwulf" Wagner.
History
According to Kanwulf, Nargaroth was formed in 1989, but due to contradictory statements of Kanwulf, this date is disputed, as well as the release of the seven track instrumental demo Orke in 1991. It is supposed that this demo was actually released in 1999. The demo Herbstleyd, which Kanwulf claims to be released in 1993, was probably not released before this date. Nargaroth's first album Herbstleyd was released by No Colours Records in 1999, followed in 2000 by Amarok, which is not an album but a re-release of old recordings, as well as the controversial demo Fuck Off Nowadays Black Metal, (released as a demo resulting to disputes over production values). This demo is said to be limited to 333 tapes and 100 LPs, but more units were probably released.
In 2001, No Colours Records released Black Metal ist Krieg, considered Kanwulf's dedication to black metal. It was followed in 2002 by Rasluka Part II. The third album Geliebte des Regens was released in 2003. 2004 saw release of live album Crushing Some Belgian Scum, Rasluka Part I, and Prosatanica Shooting Angels. The next album Semper Fidelis was released by No Colours Records in 2007.
Kanwulf
Kanwulf classifies his music as "German Hateful and Misanthropic Metal", not as black metal; he does so especially because black metal is mainly influenced by Satanism whereas Nargaroth is not. Despite Kanwulf’s denial, as the music resembles classic black metal and the emotional background and influence being an essence of black metal, Nargaroth is often seen as a black metal band.
Kanwulf has been criticized for his appearance at a German talk show[1], and his exclamation "Black Metal ist Krieg" has often been a target of both black metallers and people with no connection to that subculture. Sometimes Nargaroth is seen as a part of the National Socialist black metal (NSBM) scene although Nargaroth songs do not contain obvious racist or Anti-Semitic statements, due to Kanwulf's participation in NSBM band Totenburg.
Kanwulf was attacked by Ronal "Wolf" Möbus of the NSBM band Absurd at the North American Black Metal Invasion concert in Bitterfeld in 2001 for having threatened his son.[2][3]
While interviewed by "Magacinum ab ovo" Kanwulf said he sees Nazism as a mental restriction and is a supporter of the Kriegsgräberfürsorge, a German organization similar to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the MIA International.[4]
Kanwulf has been seen doing the Hitler and the so-called Kühnen salute while performing on stage.[5][6] More recent controversies surrounding Kanwulf have been his masturbating over a select group of fan's T-shirts which were included with the contents of the 'Semper Fidelis' Boxsets.[7]
Kanwulf toured Mexico and Guatemala in 2008.
Discography
- Orke demo (1991, date disputed)
- Herbstleyd demo (1993, date disputed)
- Herbstleyd (1999)
- Amarok (2000)
- Fuck Off Nowadays Black Metal demo (2000)
- Black Metal ist Krieg (2001)
- Rasluka Pt. II (2002)
- Geliebte des Regens (2003)
- Crushing Some Belgian Scum (live) (2004)
- Rasluka Pt. I (2004)
- Prosatanica Shooting Angels (2004)
- Semper Fidelis (2007)
- Semper Fidelis Boxset (2007)
References
- ^ Good-quality recording of Kanwulf’s often-discussed 1999 talkshow appearance (27 MB, DivX AVI)
- ^ interview with Ronald Möbus
- ^ Article from Runenblut magazine
- ^ Interview with Magacinum ab ovo, 1999 Template:De icon
- ^ Nargaroth live
- ^ Nargaroth covering Burzum's "Black Spell of Destruction" live
- ^ Official Nargaroth site