The albums that define
doom metal.
Our picks for where to start with doom metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top doom metal artists
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The doom metal essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Katatonia
City Burials
A haunting blend of atmospheric melodies and heavy riffs, encapsulating a journey through loss and introspection.
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Katatonia
Teargas EP
Heavy guitar riffs intertwine with haunting melodies, evoking a sense of desolation and introspection throughout the EP.
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Black Sabbath
The Sabbath Collection
A compilation of thunderous riffs, haunting melodies, and dark themes that defined the heavy metal genre.
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Black Sabbath
Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978
A thunderous exploration of dark themes, heavy riffs, and haunting melodies that defined the blueprint for heavy metal.
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Ozzy Osbourne
Under Cover
A powerful homage to classic rock, blending Ozzy's signature vocals with reimagined interpretations of iconic tracks.
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Ozzy Osbourne
Ordinary Man
A reflective blend of hard rock and poignant balladry, showcasing a vulnerable side of a metal icon.
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Runemagick
On Funeral Wings
This album showcases Runemagick's ability to meld atmospheric heaviness with intricate riffing. It serves as a introduction to their sonic landscape while maintaining a strong narrative throughout.
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Runemagick
Resurrection in Blood
A relentless barrage of dark riffs and guttural growls that conjures images of a haunted underworld.
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Paradise Lost
Believe in Nothing
A haunting blend of gothic metal and melancholic melodies, layered with introspective lyrics that explore existential themes.
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Paradise Lost
Host
A melancholic blend of gothic metal and alternative rock, exploring themes of loss and isolation through haunting melodies.
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My Dying Bride
Like Gods of the Sun
Melancholic melodies intertwine with crushing riffs, creating an atmospheric soundscape steeped in sorrow and despair.
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My Dying Bride
Towards the Sinister
A haunting blend of melancholic melodies and oppressive rhythms that encapsulates the essence of early death-doom metal.
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Type O Negative
Life Is Killing Me
Gritty and introspective, the album blends doom metal's weight with gothic melodies, creating a hauntingly reflective soundscape.
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Type O Negative
Slow, Deep and Hard
A haunting blend of doom and gothic metal, steeped in themes of despair and existential anguish.
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Swallow the Sun
When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light
This album represents a mature phase in Swallow the Sun's career, highlighting their evolution while maintaining their characteristic sound. The deep emotional currents are palpable throughout, making it an impactful introduction.
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Swallow the Sun
Plague of Butterflies
A haunting blend of atmospheric doom metal and melancholic melodies, evoking a sense of existential despair and beauty.
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Draconian
Arcane Rain Fell
This album encapsulates the essence of Draconian’s style, balancing despair and beauty across its tracks. It introduces listeners to their signature intertwining of heavy riffs and delicate melodies, setting a strong foundation for further exploration.
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Draconian
Under a Godless Veil
Dark, melancholic melodies intertwine with haunting vocals and heavy instrumentation, creating a visceral atmosphere of despair and longing.
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Reverend Bizarre
The House on the Borderland / The Gate of Nanna
A sprawling exploration of cosmic themes, blending monolithic riffs with haunting atmospheres and ethereal vocals.
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Reverend Bizarre
In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend
Heavy, suffocating riffs intertwine with haunting melodies and dark thematic elements, creating an immersive doom metal experience.
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Conan
Violence Dimension
A relentless onslaught of heavy riffs and oppressive atmospheres that immerse listeners in a world of sonic chaos.
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Thou
May Our Chambers Be Full
Heavy, atmospheric riffs intertwine with haunting vocals, creating a suffocating yet immersive soundscape that defines the essence of doom metal.
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Thou
Magus
A dense tapestry of crushing riffs and haunting melodies that challenge the boundaries of doom and sludge metal.
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Theatre of Tragedy
Theatre of Tragedy
A fusion of gothic metal and doom, layered with atmospheric synths and hauntingly melodic vocals.
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By decade
Where doom metal landed in each era.