The Gathering of Shadows is a
clandestine gathering of Black Metal musicians and musical devotees in the
seclusion of the deep Rocky Mountains. The venue is the forest and the night
sky. The bands play whatever they wish, for as long as they wish. There are no
restrictions placed on the musicians or the audience. The intention and purpose
of the Gathering of Shadows is to take this form of art away from the
irreverence of bars and nightclubs in order for the music to somewhat transcend
entertainment. The Gathering of Shadows presents an opportunity to express Black
Metal, through live performance, which is not available otherwise.
The
Gathering of Shadows has been an unparalleled event for the last five years,
setting a new standard for live Black Metal. The process and program has
remained unchanged. No money is charged of anyone and no money is paid to
anyone. There are no tickets sold and no profits taken. The bands travel to
perform at this event at their own expense. We simply provide the opportunity
for all in attendance to experience Black Metal in a completely unique
environment, free from the distractions and limitations of typical venues. This
is the only Black Metal performance that is set up this way. The Gathering of
Shadows event is intended for, and dedicated to, individuals who are committed
to Black Metal as an ultimate art form. Those who follow this path are
welcomed.
The Gathering of Shadows is an Invite Only event. However, we
do our best to include an acceptable amount of people who contribute to the idea
and atmosphere of Gathering of Shadows. For information about attending the
Gathering of Shadows and to secure an invitation send an E-mail
to
Lord Aäkon Këëtrëh
Lord Beleth'Rim
Vordb Bathor Ecsed
Worlok Drakksteim
Wlad Drakksteim
Past members
Dark Wizzard of Silence
Krissagrazabeth Lord Meyhna'ch
Lord Ogvdreb
Lord Urvdrem
Mørdrëd
Les Légions Noires (also known as The Black Legions in English,
or simply abbreviated to LLN) is a group of French underground black metal musicians and their
bands, centered mostly around the city of Brest, in Britanny. The bands involved limited their releases to
very small numbers (often just enough to get to the other circle members), and
distributed them among friends and close workers.
History
Possibly the circle was formed in the late 1980s, early 1990s, in response to
the supposed Norwegian "Black
Metal Inner Circle". According to a 2005 series in Terrorizer magazine on the history of
black metal, "A bunch of corpsepainted characters, rumoured to be drawn from
such acts as Mütiilation,
Torgeist and Vlad
Tepes named themselves the 'Black Legions' as a tribute to the so-called
'Black Mafia' Norwegian BM heroes Darkthrone and Burzum, who were supposedly ready to terrorize
Christians a couple of years before."[1] The first recordings
of LLN members came about in the early 1990s, and their influence was
acknowledged in the same issue of Terrorizer: "One should never count out
France, primarily as the home of the inscrutably influential Black Legions of
ridiculous rawness during the mid-90s."[2]
Regarding their influences, Wlad Drakksteim of Vlad Tepes referred, in an interview with
Petrified magazine, to Hellhammer and especially Bathory: "Every True Black Metal Horde should
play in old Bathory style."[3] When asked
about the "Norwegian Black Metal Mafia", he said, "Norwegian mafia did lots of
'bad' things to this world. With Euronymous death MAYHEM is definitely dead and
it's better like that as it will help Black Metal to return to darkness.
[Euronymous] must be in peace now so I don't complain [lament?] him. And about
Varg Vikernes (BURZUM) I don't have any opinion. WE have OUR opinions and he
certainly knows them so..."[4]
The best-known bands of the LLN are Mütiilation (the one-man band formed by William Roussel, also
known as Meyhna'ch), Belketre, Torgeist, and Vlad Tepes.
Vlad Tepes have been outspoken in the goals of their black metal: "We are
Black Legions of Satan, we are the immortal warriors of Black imperial blood. We
are here to pervert christian worms and they shall face the Black holocaust.
It's near!"[4]
Bands and projects
Personnel: AäK = Lord Aäkon Këëtrëh BLT = Lord Beleth'Rim VRD = Vordb Bathor Ecsed (aka Vordb Dreagvor Uezeerb) WOR = Worlok Drakksteim (aka Vorlok Drakkstein) WLD = Wlad Drakksteim (aka Vlad Drakkstein) NFL = Nifleim NAI = Naimlambre KRS = Krissagrazabeth MYH = Meyhna'ch ADS = A Dark Soul
Function: ┿ = member (┿) = former/past member all = all instruments dr = drums vo = vocals gt = guitar ba = bass guitar