The albums that define
black metal.
Our picks for where to start with black metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top black metal artists
Start with one of these.
The black metal essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Gorgoroth
Twilight of the Idols
A relentless barrage of dark melodies and aggressive rhythms, steeped in Satanic themes and raw emotion.
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Burzum
Umskiptar
A haunting blend of dark ambient soundscapes and traditional Nordic elements that evoke ancient mythologies.
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Burzum
Fallen
Atmospheric soundscapes blend with haunting melodies, reflecting a meditative yet eerie exploration of darkness.
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Celtic Frost
Into the Pandemonium
A chaotic blend of avant-garde metal and experimental sounds, pushing boundaries with haunting melodies and aggressive riffs.
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Satyricon
The Shadowthrone
Fierce riffs and haunting melodies intertwine, creating an atmosphere steeped in Nordic mythology and raw emotion.
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Satyricon
Megiddo – Mother North in the Dawn of a New Age
An atmospheric blend of aggressive black metal and experimental textures, pushing boundaries within the genre.
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Mayhem
The Dawn of the Black Hearts
A harrowing descent into darkness with raw vocals, chaotic instrumentation, and haunting atmosphere defining black metal's early edge.
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Mayhem
Deathcrush
Raucous and raw, this album channels chaos through frenzied guitar riffs and guttural vocals.
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Marduk
Fuck Me Jesus
Raw, unrelenting black metal that intertwines blasphemous themes with aggressive instrumentation.
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Marduk
Obedience
Raw, relentless black metal fury imbued with dark atmospheres and fierce energy.
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Ulver
Vargnatt
A haunting fusion of black metal and atmospheric soundscapes that evokes the mystique of Norse mythology.
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Ulver
1993–2003: 1st Decade in the Machines
A haunting tapestry of soundscapes blending metal, electronics, and ethereal vocals wrapped in atmospheric experimentation.
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Darkthrone
Plaguewielder
A relentless onslaught of raw riffs and haunting atmospheres, epitomizing the essence of black metal.
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Darkthrone
Old Star
Raw riffs and hypnotic rhythms intertwine with a haunting atmosphere, showcasing Darkthrone's evolution in black metal.
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Immortal
At the Heart of Winter
Epic and frostbitten soundscapes intertwine with relentless rhythms, creating an atmosphere of haunting grandeur.
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Immortal
Battles in the North
Fierce tremolo picking and atmospheric keyboards forge a chilling, relentless soundscape drenched in icy melancholy.
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Enslaved
Eld
A sprawling tapestry of black metal ferocity intertwined with progressive soundscapes and Norse mythology themes.
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Enslaved
Ruun
A relentless blend of atmospheric black metal and intricate progressive elements that evoke cosmic themes.
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Rotting Christ
A Dead Poem
A haunting blend of black and gothic metal that intertwines melodic passages with atmospheric darkness.
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Rotting Christ
The Heretics
A relentless fusion of black metal fury and atmospheric gothic textures, exploring themes of faith and existential dread.
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Necrophobic
The Third Antichrist
A relentless barrage of dark melodies and fierce rhythms embodying the essence of Swedish blackened death metal.
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Necrophobic
The Nocturnal Silence
A haunting blend of black and death metal, steeped in atmospheric darkness and occult themes.
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Moonsorrow
Suden Uni
A sweeping tapestry of atmospheric black metal, blending epic melodies with Finnish folklore themes.
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Moonsorrow
Voimasta Ja Kunniasta
Epic melodies intertwine with harsh black metal aggression, creating a sweeping narrative landscape steeped in Finnish folklore.
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