The albums that define
melodic black metal.
Our picks for where to start with melodic black metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top melodic black metal artists
Start with one of these.
The melodic black metal essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Enslavement of Beauty
The Perdition EP
Ethereal melodies intertwine with harsh vocals, creating a haunting soundscape that explores despair and beauty.
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Dimmu Borgir
Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
Orchestral arrangements intertwine with ferocious guitar riffs and guttural vocals, creating a grand yet sinister soundscape.
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Dimmu Borgir
Abrahadabra
Epic orchestration and thunderous rhythms meld with dark, atmospheric melodies to create an immersive sonic experience.
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Agalloch
The Serpent & the Sphere
Ethereal melodies intertwine with sprawling black metal landscapes, evoking cosmic themes and existential contemplation.
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Dissection
Storm of the Light's Bane
A tempest of melodic riffs and haunting atmospheres intertwining with fierce black metal vocals.
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Agalloch
Pale Folklore
A haunting blend of atmospheric black metal and dark folk, evoking nature's beauty and melancholy.
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Dissection
Where Dead Angels Lie
A haunting blend of melodic black metal and gothic themes, steeped in atmospheric melancholy.
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Graveworm
(N)utopia
A dark and atmospheric blend of gothic and melodic black metal, exploring dystopian themes with symphonic undertones.
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Graveworm
Diabolical Figures
A dark and haunting blend of gothic melodies and aggressive black metal textures.
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Vreid
Kraft
A relentless fusion of melodic black metal and atmospheric soundscapes that evoke both despair and beauty.
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Vreid
Pitch Black Brigade
Melodic black metal intertwines with atmospheric elements, creating a haunting and immersive auditory experience.
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Enslavement of Beauty
Megalomania
Melodic black metal intertwines with symphonic elements, creating an ethereal yet dark soundscape filled with intricate melodies.
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Woods of Ypres
Woods IV: The Green Album
A haunting blend of doom metal and melodic black metal that explores themes of despair and introspection.
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Woods of Ypres
Woods III: The Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues
Sombre melodies intertwine with heavy riffs, creating an atmospheric exploration of despair and introspection.
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The Funeral Pyre
The Nature of Betrayal
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The Funeral Pyre
Immersed by the Flames of Mankind
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Dismal Euphony
All Little Devils
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