I am looking for what I guess would be called minimal metal; metal with repetition and minimal variations yet still an emphasis on steadily building and progressing over time.
Im by no means looking for classical-music influenced metal, rather metal that takes its structural influences from classical minimalism and even minimal-electronica/techno.
The closest ive come to what im looking for is Meshuggah and ISIS. I know many would argue that ISIS is way too layered and dynamic to be considered minimal throughout, but it does have highly repetitive moments, that contain slight variances in structure throughout.
I agree with the Boris suggestion. Also worth checking out is another so-called "drone metal" band, Sunn O))). They have collaborated with Boris in the past. Sunn O))) will sustain a single chord for several minutes at a time, and are known for bone-crushing volume in their live sets. Despite the "drone" tag, their music does evolve over the course of a track, though at times the progress is best described as glacial.
They are a very polarizing group; people seem to either love them or hate them. I'm not really sure where I fall on that spectrum yet, but I've been listening to their stuff a fair amount and I find it fascinating, at least. If you like towering waves of sustained distortion, you might like them.
Meshuggah minimalist? I disagree, their songs are so full of wierd polyrythms that its quite complex to listen at the times. Never heard of ISIS. You want minimalist with heavy repetion but still steady melody buildup, ambient blackmetal is good example mostly.
Im not sure if Summoning could be called minimalist (in the way as I understand that word) as it is actually very big and epic as hell, they are actually closer to neoclassical than metal nowadays. But its SO GOOD stuff that I will post a sample anyway.
The prehistoric times in England born the brood of our grandfathers, Black Sabbath. This is the true protometal where all riffs, all beats and album looks as well as lyric concepts all came from. As you study at the alter of these times the true knowing of Atomic Rooster, Blue Cheer and all the other "less metal" created the foundation for this birth. As you hear Sabbath 1, Masters Of Reality, Vol 4, this is the minimal, as there is no other more minimal and never will be.
+1 for ambient BM. I've only heard Wolves in the Throne Room, and they sound like exactly what you're after (and everyone says they're a Burzum ripoff, so by extension, so should Burzum).
An off topic comment, but I never understood why people label WITTR as Burzum ripoff, because I think it doesnt sound anything like them. Judas Iscariot in the other hand is clearly a Burzum clone, perhaps a ripoff, though it concentrates less on the ambient side than Burzum.
Originally Posted by MaZa /img/forum/go_quote.gif Meshuggah minimalist? I disagree, their songs are so full of wierd polyrythms that its quite complex to listen at the times.
You can absolutley be minimal yet highly complex at the same time (hence the classical greats, i.e. Glass, Reich, Adams, etc.)
Ironically, this is the genius that is Meshuggah. Highly complex music that is repetitive yet constantly evolving-all while being quite minimal.
I'm not sure Meshuggah can even be called repetitive because of the constant variation in each pass through of what looks/sounds to be the same continued structure but I cite this as an example of how things can count as minimal and be complex, as opposed to a claim that meshuggah isn't affiliated with minimalism
Try the band Sleep. I've heard pieces of it but never a whole album. Sleep's Holy Mountain is considered by same as the starting place for Stoner Metal.
You're probably familiar with them, but Neurosis seems like the most obvious recommendation to me. The Eye of Every Storm, is a minimalist masterpiece.
Not quite as minimalist as the stuff on The Eye of Every Storm, but here's my current favorite Neurosis song:
Originally Posted by Luminette /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not sure Meshuggah can even be called repetitive because of the constant variation in each pass through of what looks/sounds to be the same continued structure but I cite this as an example of how things can count as minimal and be complex, as opposed to a claim that meshuggah isn't affiliated with minimalism
Not exactly dedicated to the minimalism but for the most part there isn't really in metal unless you move toward the drone & noise areas of things
You are quite right with your definition above; a correction on my part is needed here. I incorrectly termed this as repetitive but it really should just be termed minimalism. There is repetition but as you say, there are variations within each pass-through, inherently making it NOT repetitive.
So to clarify, I guess im looking for what appears to be repetition, but really contains slight variations within as the song progresses/evolves.
As for your other comments: I wouldnt mind moving towards drone/stoner metal. It seems like the natural progression for me.
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