The albums that define
dark metal.
Our picks for where to start with dark metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top dark metal artists
Start with one of these.
The dark metal essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Rotting Christ
Genesis
Dark, atmospheric textures intertwine with haunting melodies and relentless rhythms, embodying a ritualistic intensity.
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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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Lacrimas Profundere
La Naissance D'Un Rêve
Ethereal melodies intertwine with haunting vocals, creating a dreamlike landscape steeped in darkness and melancholy.
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Lacrimas Profundere
Fall, I Will Follow
Haunting melodies intertwine with heavy riffs, creating an atmospheric blend of dark metal and gothic rock.
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Aeternus
HeXaeon
A relentless assault of blackened death metal fused with dark, atmospheric melodies and hauntingly guttural vocals.
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Ajattara
Kuolema
A haunting blend of black metal intensity and Finnish folklore, echoing themes of death and despair.
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Ajattara
Itse
Dark and atmospheric, blending heavy riffs with haunting melodies that evoke the depths of despair.
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Deinonychus
Mournument
Unearthly melodies intertwine with guttural growls, creating a hauntingly immersive soundscape steeped in darkness.
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Dark the Suns
All Ends in Silence
Melancholic melodies intertwine with heavy riffs, creating a haunting soundscape of despair and beauty.
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Dominia
Divine Revolution
A haunting blend of orchestral arrangements and crushing riffs, evoking a darkly cinematic atmosphere.
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Deinonychus
Warfare Machines
A relentless barrage of aggressive riffs and haunting atmospheres, echoing the chaos of warfare.
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Alastis
The Other Side
A haunting blend of dark metal riffs and atmospheric melodies that evoke a sense of despair and urgency.
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Schwarzer Engel
Sieben
A haunting blend of gothic melodies and dark metal aggression envelops listeners in a shadowy, atmospheric experience.
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