Feminazgûl
{{Short description|American feminist black metal band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Feminazgûl
| image =
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = North Carolina, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Black metal
- atmospheric black metal
}}
| years_active = {{Start date|2018}}–present
| label =
| associated_acts = Awenden
| website = {{official URL}}
| current_members = {{flatlist|
- Margaret Killjoy
- Laura Beach
- Meredith Yayanos
}}
| past_members =
}}
Feminazgûl is an American feminist black metal band from North Carolina. Founded by Margaret Killjoy in 2018, Feminazgûl released their debut EP, The Age of Men Is Over, the same year. The band released their first full-length album, No Dawn for Men, in 2020.
History
Feminazgûl was founded by Margaret Killjoy, a transgender anarchist author, in 2018.{{Cite web|last=Kelly|first=Kim|date=November 12, 2020|title=Inside Heavy Metal's Battle Against White Supremacy|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a34633291/heavy-metal-nazi-anti-fascist-movement/|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=Esquire|language=en-US}} They created the band's debut EP, The Age of Men Is Over, as a solo project the same year. The band was also included in the 2018 Worldwide Organization of Metalheads Against Nazis (W.O.M.A.N.) compilation album.{{Cite web|last=Orchid|first=Raul|date=June 12, 2018|title=Blackened Death Records - Worldwide Organization of Metalheads Against Nazis, 2018|url=https://subterraneowebzine.com/blackened-death-records-worldwide-organization-of-metalheads-against-nazis-2018/|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=Subterraneo Webzine|language=es}}{{Cite web|title=Feminazgul|url=https://isni.oclc.org/xslt/DB=1.2//CMD?ACT=SRCH&IKT=8006&TRM=ISN:0000%200004%207122%203586&COOKIE=U51,KENDUSER,I28,B0028++++++,SY,NISNI,D1.2,Eff096c92-9f,A,H1,,3-28,,30-41,,43-59,,65-70,,74-75,R208.80.154.81,FY|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=OCLC}} In 2020, the band released their first full-length album, No Dawn for Men, with the addition of Laura Beach as lead vocalist and Meredith Yayanos as violinist and theremin player.{{Cite web|last=Kendrick|first=Monica|date=April 17, 2020|title=Feminazgûl spins anarchy, feminism, and literature into atmospheric black metal on No Dawn for Men|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/feminazgul-spins-anarchy-feminism-and-literature-into-atmospheric-black-metal-on-no-dawn-for-men/Content?oid=79287105|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=Chicago Reader|language=en}} Lars Gotrich writing for NPR described the album as "a viciously beautiful piece of feminist black metal".{{Cite web|last=Lars|first=Gotrich|date=March 24, 2020|title=Viking's Choice: Raging Black Metal, Burly Math Rock, Escapist Shoegaze|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2020/03/24/820486950/vikings-choice-raging-black-metal-burly-math-rock-escapist-shoegaze|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=NPR|language=en}} In 2021, Feminazgûl released a split album with Awenden.{{Cite web|last=Treppel|first=Jeff|date=May 7, 2021|title=Sh*t That Comes out Today: May 7, 2021|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/05/07/sht-that-comes-out-today-may-7-2021/|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=MetalSucks|language=en}}
The group, which is based in North Carolina, has been described as black metal and atmospheric black metal. The band has been noted for their feminist, anti-fascist, and anarchist beliefs.{{Cite web|last=Kelly|first=Kim|date=August 21, 2018|title=Unmasking Gaylord, Black Metal's Latest Anti-Fascist Enigma|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/vbjnqx/gaylord-anti-fascist-black-metal-interview|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=Vice|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Burley|first=Shane|date=July 21, 2019|title=Black Metal For The Oppressed|url=https://proteanmag.com/2019/07/21/black-metal-for-the-oppressed/|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=Protean Magazine|language=en-US}} These beliefs come through in their music, which also often incorporates quotes and themes from mythology and fantasy.
Feminazgûl's name is a reference to "feminazis", a derogatory term for feminists,{{Cite interview|last=Killjoy|first=Maggie|title=Smashing Nazism Through Tolkienist Thematics With Feminazgul|url=https://astralnoizeuk.com/2018/07/23/smashing-nazism-through-tolkienist-thematics-with-feminazgul/|access-date=June 22, 2021|date=July 23, 2018}} as well as to the Nazgûl, a group of {{Wikt-lang|en|wraith|wraiths|i=-}} controlled by Sauron in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Both of the band's album titles, The Age of Men Is Over and No Dawn for Men, are quotes from The Lord of the Rings.
Band members
- Margaret Killjoy – multiple instruments, backup vocals
- Laura Beach – harsh vocals
- Meredith Yayanos – violin, theremin, backup vocals
Discography
= Studio albums =
= EPs =
= Singles =
= Other albums =
- Worldwide Organization of Metalheads Against Nazis (compilation album, 2018)
- Awenden/Feminazgûl (split album with Awenden, 2021)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Feminazgul}}
Category:American black metal musical groups