Chuck Foster’s Top Ten — June 8

by Chuck Foster
8 June 2008

DVD’s, Theatrical Releases and Music Downloads

Movies and black metal – it’s what I’m all about right now.

1. There Will Be Blood®

   I saw this movie in the theater and it floored me; I couldn’t get it out of my head for two weeks. So I bought the DVD. Sure, Daniel Day-Lewis did an excellent job, but it was the subtext of the film that really got to me. In many ways I understand the ruthless drive of Daniel Plainview and I can empathize with it. One of two films in recent memory that was actually deserving of an Oscar nomination.

2. No Country For Old Men®

   Okay, this film won the Oscar, but, for the first time in maybe 25 years (with very few exceptions – none off the top of my head) a movie that was actually Oscar-worthy won the award. Another film about obsessive, ruthless drive – the characters of Anton Chigurh and Daniel Plainview had a lot of similarities in my head. Bought this one for my girlfriend for her birthday. Romantic, huh?

3. The Strangers®

   I really wasn’t expecting much with this one, but, as a horror fanatic, I was very happy. This movie follows the tradition of sleazy exploitation films like Death Game and House on the Edge of the Park and does an excellent job with the formula. By the way, contrary to common belief, this so-called “Torture Porn” genre is nothing new. Movies have been depicting sadistic graphic violence for decades. Do a little research.

4. Sex and the City®

   I’m male, I’m straight, I eat meat, I listen to black metal and I’m happy to say that I loved this movie. There was a lot of annoying talk in the media about “guys” needing a way to get out of seeing this movie with their girlfriends. Well, any “guy” with half a brain would recognize that the story is about tribal friendship with a classic fairy tale twist, a la fashion and romance. Plus, Chris Noth is an old favorite of mine from old Law & Order episodes.

5. Francis E. Dec, Esq. – Rantings (WFMU)

   Francis Dec was a paranoid schizophrenic who mailed thousands of pages of incoherent ranting to unsuspecting recipients. Some of these rants ended up in the hands of a DJ called Doc on the Roq and, “on a chilly Sunday in ‘86” he recorded some of these rants. The results are quite unique to say the least.

6. Ildjarn – Ildjarn (Norse League)

   Ildjarn’s first official album has all the bouncy Negative Approach-style hardcore-infused black metal that characterizes his other albums, but, uncharacteristically, there are Flipper-esque dirges, forays into jagged post-punk and one track that I swear sounds like a Joy Division rehearsal.

7. Sargeist – Satanic Black Devotion (Moribund) & Disciple of the Heinous Path (Moribund)

   This Finnish band reminds me a lot of Sweden’s Craft, only a lot more melodic. Really – there are guitar lines that are actually quite pretty. Very unique for black metal.

8. Ludicra – Another Great Love Song (Alternative Tentacles) & Fex Urbis Lex Orbis (Alternative Tentacles)

   A black metal band on AT? Yup. And they’re really good, too. The band is fronted by two females, but you’d never know it by listening to them.

9. Sarcofago – The Laws of Scourge (Cogumelo)

   Sarcofago are recognized as being the first band to wear corpse paint and their 1987 album, INRI anticipated the Scandinavian black metal that appeared five years later. This album was recorded in 1991 and, while it lacks the blistering rough quality of INRI, it’s still pretty good.

10. Mayhem – Pure F***ing Armageddon (Funny Fram)

    First demo by the notorious Norwegian black metal band that came to be known for suicide, murder and church-burning. The band didn’t even have a vocalist at this point – all vocalizations are by guitarist Euronymous (RIP).