"Black metal has evolved to become more adventurous, curious, and comfortable with how queer the whole putting-on-costumes-and-makeup-to-sing about your fantasies thing is."
"Dmitry Marchenko's first two albums as Këkht Aräkh were relatively straightforward collections of frosty Depressive Suicidal Black Metal offset with neoclassical acoustic guitar interludes."
"Marchenko embeds his digressions more deeply in the music; not even the plaintive singing of Swedish emo-rapper Bladee on single 'Eternal Martyr' pulls us out of the black metal experience."
Black metal has adapted over the years, integrating elements from various genres and becoming commercially viable. Musicians have diversified the sound, while brands like e.l.f. cosmetics and KFC have embraced its aesthetic. The genre has become more inclusive, particularly regarding queer identities. Këkht Aräkh, a Ukrainian artist, exemplifies this evolution, blending traditional black metal with campiness. His works maintain a connection to black metal's roots while exploring new musical territories, prompting mixed reactions from traditionalists who feel the genre's essence is compromised.
Read at Pitchfork
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