funky black metal

lordnyra · #1 05-04-2007, 04:03 PM

well im not sure if anyone here listens to black metal, but me and my guitarist friend have decided to embark on a new project, mixing black metal and funk.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me about funk, I know a decent amount about black metal, but any advice is good.
I was inspired in the idea of mixing genres by Atheist, who are a jazz/death metal band.
I have been playing bass for a bit (like 4 months) but If it's tabbed, I can play it. I have been progressing well and I practice a lot.

trasser · #2 05-06-2007, 03:36 AM

Haha, that project sounds neat (spelling?)
Well, I don't know that much about black metal, but I believe that it has a lot of 1/16 notes in it, right? The drummers pounding away on his pedals.
About the funky part - people in here will tell you, that funk is a feel. And it is, you have to feel it.
But it is also often said that funk is all about the tension between spaces, and "less is more". So, maybe you could start writing a black metal riff in 1/16 notes, then leave some of the notes out? That might give a funky feel.
You might also wanna try NOT to hit right on the first beat of a bar, but an 1/8 note before (called "lifting" I believe) or maybe a 1/16 note after the one.
And do some syncopations, check out bands like Meshugga. Hope this is useful

mayhem · #3 05-06-2007, 04:50 AM

Great way to kill the best genre of music ever made.

You cant really make 'funky' black metal. As changing it, then makes it merely Metal.

It's like trying to mix wood and steel. Not gonna happen.

lemur821 · #4 05-06-2007, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayhem

Great way to kill the best genre of music ever made.

I don't think that would kill black metal. You've just got to play it all with respect to both your influences.

mayhem · #5 05-06-2007, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

I don't think that would kill black metal. You've just got to play it all with respect to both your influences.

What I mean is taking a great song and making it ****.

Baryonyx · #6 05-06-2007, 06:04 AM

I can't see that working. I mean..black metal is so serious, and they are just so different.

It would be like eating ice cream on steak.

uturnbass · #7 05-06-2007, 09:28 AM

Me either honestly, like metal is usually just shredding and I don't see how a funky groove could be made to fit all the double kicks and guitar riffs pounding out notes.

Good luck, though!

Rumblestiltzkin · #8 05-06-2007, 04:58 PM

Sounds like an interesting project.

There's a song on the latest Cryptopsy CD, Track 2, In The Kingdom Where Everything Dies, the Sky is Mortal, at about 2:15 in, there is a funky (for death metal) section. Might want to check that out as well as some other death metal for some ideas. I know it's not black metal, I don't really listen to black metal, but cryptopsy has some funky things going on in a lot of their songs.

Earthday · #9 05-08-2007, 11:02 AM

You'll have to choose what characteristics of each genre you want to take very carefully, because they definitely wont mix well. I could see it working if you took black metal's atmosphere and vocal style with funk's groove. I'm not saying you're gonna have a big following, but I could at least see it working.

throwdown · #10 05-08-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordnyra

well im not sure if anyone here listens to black metal, but me and my guitarist friend have decided to embark on a new project, mixing black metal and funk.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me about funk, I know a decent amount about black metal, but any advice is good.
I was inspired in the idea of mixing genres by Atheist, who are a jazz/death metal band.
I have been playing bass for a bit (like 4 months) but If it's tabbed, I can play it. I have been progressing well and I practice a lot.

Go and get a copy of T.M. Stevens ´Boom´

stealth51 · #11 05-08-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordnyra

well im not sure if anyone here listens to black metal, but me and my guitarist friend have decided to embark on a new project, mixing black metal and funk.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me about funk, I know a decent amount about black metal, but any advice is good.
I was inspired in the idea of mixing genres by Atheist, who are a jazz/death metal band.
I have been playing bass for a bit (like 4 months) but If it's tabbed, I can play it. I have been progressing well and I practice a lot.

Go for it!

lordnyra · #12 05-08-2007, 03:29 PM

ok mayhem you need to calm down a bit.

dont get your panties in a bunch

Now its only a project between a bassist and a guitarist, so no drummers or vocals for now. tho a drum machine might be added.
I like to mix very different genres, its a hobby.
It will be a big challenge but it will be fun, wed probably only make one or two songs tho.
I know there are some very groovy basslines in Mayhem's deathcrush album, notable songs include "deathcrush" and "chainsaw gutsfuxk", im thinking of maybe adding slap to those basslines, and my guitarist will just do a funky guitar riff, but faster and with distortion.
itll end up probably being more funk than black metal, but w/e.
thats all i can see to do, we knew it would be very hard to do, but we'll try and get through it, this is mainly for fun, im not trying to ruin black metal.
i think we will have to layer it out, for we are far away and will have to record it unorthodoxly. once we are finished if u want the tracks thats fine.

MonkForHire · #13 05-08-2007, 09:37 PM

What if you had funk interludes or breakdowns in a metal-style song? Of course, it would REALLY have to fit the song, else it would sound too drastic and forced.

That's really the only thing I can think of to help, but if you do get a vocalist, do not play a straight funk song w/ black metal style vocals over it. I tried that once with an acoustic ballad. Was not pretty, by any means.

Bass Mule · #14 05-08-2007, 09:56 PM

Just because it's black don't make it funky. Why can't white metal be funky too? It's got soul, don't it?

lordnyra · #15 05-10-2007, 04:58 PM

well, we dont ahve a vocalist, i dont know how to slap well, thankfully the whole bass line is on the e string
heres the tab if u want it (listen to the song for rhythm) Deathcrush by mayhem
E string- 0-03-0-76 0-03-0-66 (all slapped) this will be the driving bassline thoughout the song

ric1312 · #16 05-10-2007, 05:09 PM

Just call it what it probably is....crap.... and don't insult either kind of music.

mayhem · #17 05-11-2007, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Mule

Just because it's black don't make it funky. Why can't white metal be funky too? It's got soul, don't it?

Just....

What I mainly meant is changing the song just makes it a Metal song.

The bassline for Mayhem - Funeral Fog, is pretty cool too.

Although, if you can get someone to tab the bassline for Slaughter Of Dreams, that's gonna instantly do it for you!

Mark Perry · #18 05-11-2007, 05:02 AM

I'd have a listen to some straight funk - sounds like your well versed on the metal front.
Listen to the following bands (with key albums in brackets): James Brown (Jungle groove), Sly and the family stone (Stand), Parliament/Funkadelic (Mothership connection/Lets take it to the stage), Herbie Hancock (Headhunters), the Meters and Kool and the gang. Do a search on TB, Wikipedia etc. for those bands.
Have a listen to some early Faith no more, Infectious grooves, fishbone and Primus to hear some metal/funk crossover and get a few ideas.
I couldn't imagine how a cross between Funk and Black metal would soound. Good luck though, i love to see that kind of thing work.

lordnyra · #19 05-11-2007, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric1312

Just call it what it probably is....crap.... and don't insult either kind of music.

I can play whatever I want, nothing is set in stone, ass. Im just trying something new, we will probably do like 2 songs and move on. If musicians had had this kind of attitude, being creative, you wouldn't see music like funk, or metal which were created by mixing genres. Creativity is very important, and you certainly aren't a fan of creativity. But you have your opinion, but there is more positive support than negative.

I have recently got into funk, and I do listen to strait funk like parliament-funkadelic and others. I am also a fan of Primus.

As for the funeral fog bassline, it is a good bassline but I couldn't find a way to "funkify" it, its too black metal, although I could try if anyone had ideas. I just picked basslines that had a groove in them, and i am attempting to funkify them too. I recorded the bassline yesterday, and my guitarist is gonna record over it. well see how it goes, itll be tough but might as well try it.

blindeddie · #20 05-11-2007, 07:36 AM

dude, i think it's a great idea! friggin' go for it! Atheist is a good place to start, as is Cynic, and Death.
the thing is, "black metal" was cool in the 90's, but now the style is flooded with posers, jumping the bandwagon with their corpse-paint, b.c. rich imorts, and tired-ass SOS!
any good band is not going to limit themselves to being influenced by their contemporaries. great bands/musicians are FREE THINKING and open-minded enough to draw influence from various sources. but i do have some suggestions
1. whatever you do, try to make sure you DON'T double the guitar parts. let him do the "black metal" thing. just try to make it groove, and provide a counterpart.
2. go heavy on the thumb slaps. pops can get too "twinkie" in the highs, but a heavy thumb can add major crunch.
3. i'd also tend to think that Les Claypool style of "flamenco" strumming could add some nasty chording to fill things out!

just my two cents. good luck!