Kulturkampf

[benji]

You literally just described a double standard.

I think they're right in that there's an agenda there, she's a target mostly because of her pitiful response regarding anti-semitism, but an agenda should never mean that you then just deny reality.

If some maga cunt claims that the sky is blue I'm not going to go around pretending that it actually might be green because I don't like the source.

Actually, the sky is green, chud. Blue is a right-wing myth.

[benji]

[HaughtyFrank]

[benji]

[HeavenIsAPlaceOnEarth]

[NekoFever]

Oh, it’s India. Carry on.

[benji]

[benji]

    

[Polident]

*passing the yams* “so as I was saying, Yakub never should’ve created whites, but at least we got anime as a result of the bleaching rejects.”

[Polident]

[HaughtyFrank]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/KareemRifai/status/1738705835142865108?t=ceaaLWiBahTEHAZmJiLWGA&s=19[/tweet]

People gotta stop handing it to Isis

[benji]

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

      

[benji]

[benji]

[Puffy Fucking Baby]

She's disabled now?

She has to be easily one of the top 5 worst people breathing rn.

[Nintex]

Christ is back

[HaughtyFrank]

No one warned us about the propaganda e-girls

[HeavenIsAPlaceOnEarth]

No one warned us about the propaganda e-girls

[Nintex]

I agree with Gun Waifu. How do you fuck development of a coastal city. It's literally the easiest to do.

[Potato]

Someone's big mad that their identity politics arse got fooled into liking a band based on identity politics.

Big mad

The Viral Black Metal Band Who Pretended To Be From China

Black metal flourishes under a shroud of dark ambiguity. 

Encased in the enigma of stage names, masks, and grim corpse paint, the genre relishes its clandestine façade, as though it were a cloak of obscurity, stitched from the threads of mystery.

Some bands delve even deeper into the illusion, casting aside reality itself to weave elaborate mythologies and fictional backstories. While this masquerade is not exclusive to black metal, it’s an interesting paradox given the movement’s reverence for authenticity.

Emerging from this enigmatic labyrinth is Ghost Bath, a second-rate Deafheaven rip-off, lacking the songwriting prowess to capture their fanbase without resorting to an elaborate ruse that borders on an outright lie. 

Utilizing an aesthetic that was so steeped in Chinese culture that fans, the music press, and even the people who put out their records were led to believe they were from Chongqing, their debut album Funeral was released on Chinese record label Pest Productions in 2014.

Moving on from Pest Productions to German label Northern Silence Productions, Ghost Bath released their sophomore album Moonlover to critical acclaim in 2015. However, much of the celebration would be short lived, as it quickly came to light that the band were actually a bunch of white dudes from North Dakota. 

One could argue that this is a classic case of a band catfishing its fans not entirely dissimilar from Velvet Cacoon, a psychedelic black metal duo who led fans on a wild goose chase for years with tales of insanity, ecoterrorism, and nonexistent albums, before confessing to their deception. 

However, Ghost Bath’s tale diverges from the usual script in that their fabrication was less a lark and more an exploitation of an industry and a fanbase that prizes novelty and exoticism. As we peel back the layers of this story, what comes into view is less an act of malicious deceit and more a reflection of our collective failure to question and verify the narrative that’s presented to us.

To quote Denis Mikula, the man behind Ghost Bath, via a conversation with Kim Kelly at Vice: “I think that a bit of mystery behind something is what makes it beautiful. It was only natural that I attempt to bring such mystery into the band. Some, like me, will appreciate that. Others, who aren’t into that sort of thing, might be put off by it. But at the end of the day you must decide for yourself if some mysteries are best left unsolved; and if you can find beauty in such things, not only music, but the universe in general.” 

Mikula’s words offer a glimpse into the mindset of a musician using deception as an artistic tool. However, while the band might have wanted to remain anonymous and connect with all human beings on a basic level, one cannot overlook the fact that they essentially lied about their origins.

Asked about the ruse, Pest Productions said: “Before the deal with us they were Chinese (including for us), because our doors are open highly to Chinese band. Then one friend told me they were not Chinese, so I had a big discussion with the band, they were near to be sacked on the label. Ghost Bath said us were sorry about the mistake and finally we did the release. I remember that day when I was informed about the nationality of the band, I was very angry because I thought they used the Chinese thing to sign easy with us…then with the sorry words of the band and after listen the record, Pest decided release the record just because finally all this is about music, and the music was/is fucking great.”

Mikula may argue that their music is what truly matters, but in a genre that values authenticity, such a charade leaves a bitter taste. By crafting a false narrative, they’ve not only breached the trust of their fans, but they’ve also played into the problematic nature of cultural appropriation, which raises a whole different host of issues outside of simple credibility.

Ghost Bath’s story is a cautionary tale about the risks of fetishism towards ethnic groups and the potential fallout from a failure to authenticate a band’s narrative. Regardless of the controversy, Ghost Bath has continued to have a successful career. They signed with Nuclear Blast, one of the most influential metal labels in the world, and have released two albums since the Moonlover fiasco.

Yet, their legacy will forever be marred by their initial deception. As the dust settles, one is left with the haunting question: Would Ghost Bath have garnered the same level of attention without the Chinese gimmick? Would Nuclear Blast have shown interest? Would their music have been received the same way? The answers remain elusive. As Ghost Bath’s saga unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the thin line between creating a captivating persona and venturing into the realm of deceit.

[D3RANG3D]

[Nintex]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1739434702258258317?t=XDUXcym8Ap91eMwG8GkgDA&s=19[/tweet]

insurrection

[HaughtyFrank]

[Nintex]

[HaughtyFrank]

"Oops, sorry Jews"

[D3RANG3D]

Sorry Ms. Jewkson

[benji]

[benji]

[benji]

[Nintex]

What's their post count on Resetera?