Blackgaze (a
portmanteau of
blackened shoegaze), also known as a second variation of
post-black metal, known as Post-Post black metal; It is a style of "
heavy metal music" that developed as a stylistic fusion of the popular 2nd Wave Norweigian styled
Black Metal prototype sound and
shoegazing in the early 2000s. Defined by acts such as
Deafheaven with post-hardcore & screamo element and noise band with indie rock influenced
Bosse-de-Nage, blackgaze often incorporates heavier elements common of black metal such as blast beat drumming and high-pitched screamed vocals with melodic elements and heavily distorted guitar styles typically associated with shoegazing. Elements of
post-metal such as lengthy crescendi and extended pieces are also frequently found in this style. Blackgaze also contains metalcore & post-hardcore occasionally and generally has a far more pristine, modern production standard. It also tends to feature a more positive, "beautiful" sound than traditional black metal, due to it's much more frequent use of major-scale composition.