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
Haunting melodies intertwine with aggressive riffs, creating an atmosphere that is both dark and transcendent in its exploration of the occult.
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Rotting Christ
A Dead Poem
Mysterious atmospheres intertwine with haunting melodies, creating a dark soundscape that embodies the essence of gothic and black metal.
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Lacrimas Profundere
Again It's Over EP
Haunting melodies entwined with heavy riffs create a dark, atmospheric landscape reflecting themes of loss and yearning.
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Lacrimas Profundere
The Grandiose Nowhere
Melancholic melodies entwine with heavy riffs, creating a haunting atmosphere of longing and despair.
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Schwarzer Engel
Sieben
A haunting blend of dark metal and gothic influences, enveloping listeners in atmospheric melodies and piercing vocals.
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Dominia
Divine Revolution
A haunting blend of symphonic elements and dark metal ferocity, exploring themes of existential despair and divine questioning.
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Ajattara
Äpäre
A haunting blend of dark metal and melancholic melodies that evoke the depths of despair and existential reflection.
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Ajattara
Kalmanto
A haunting blend of melancholic melodies and aggressive instrumentation that captures the essence of dark metal.
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Aeternus
HeXaeon
A relentless onslaught of dark melodies and aggressive rhythms, merging blackened death metal with haunting atmospheres.
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Alastis
The Other Side
Heavy riffs intertwine with dark, atmospheric melodies creating an immersive journey through themes of despair and resilience.
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Deinonychus
The Silence of December
A haunting fusion of black metal and dark atmospheric elements conjures a bleak, immersive soundscape that envelops the listener.
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Dark the Suns
All Ends in Silence
A haunting blend of melodic death metal and gothic textures, steeped in melancholic atmospheres and introspective lyricism.
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Deinonychus
Mournument
A haunting blend of atmospheric soundscapes and relentless heaviness, embodying the essence of dark metal's emotional intensity.
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Samsas Traum
Die Liebe Gottes
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Samsas Traum
A.Ura und das Schnecken.Haus
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Aeternus
Ascension of Terror
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Rapture
Silent Stage
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Rapture
Futile
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Dark the Suns
Sleepwalking in a Nightmare
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