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.
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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Dissection
Reinkaos
A haunting blend of melodic black metal that intertwines philosophical themes with epic instrumentation.
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Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
A haunting blend of atmospheric black metal and dark folk, enveloping listeners in nature's desolation.
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Dissection
The Somberlain
A haunting blend of melodic riffs and atmospheric darkness, punctuated by fierce vocals and intricate arrangements.
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Woods of Ypres
Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light
Melancholic doom metal intertwines with delicate melodies, creating a haunting atmosphere that reflects on life and loss.
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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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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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Dimmu Borgir
In Sorte Diaboli
Orchestral grandeur and relentless blast beats intertwine in a darkly theatrical symphony of melodic black metal.
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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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Dimmu Borgir
Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
A sweeping orchestral landscape envelops ferocious black metal fury, creating a cinematic yet haunting atmosphere.
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Dimmu Borgir
Sons of Satan Gather for Attack
A ferocious blend of symphonic elements and relentless black metal aggression that immerses listeners in a dark, atmospheric experience.
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Dimmu Borgir
Alive in Torment
A furious blend of orchestral grandeur and relentless black metal aggression drives this sonic onslaught.
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Dimmu Borgir
Stormblåst
A tempestuous blend of orchestral arrangements and ferocious black metal that evokes a haunting Nordic landscape.
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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
Spiritual Black Dimensions
Dark, orchestral soundscapes intertwine with ferocious guitar riffs and haunting vocals to create an immersive black metal experience.
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Dimmu Borgir
Stormblåst MMV
A tempestuous fusion of orchestral grandeur and relentless black metal ferocity unfolds throughout this album.
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Dimmu Borgir
Inn i evighetens mørke
Epic symphonic arrangements collide with ferocious black metal intensity, creating a hauntingly atmospheric experience.
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Dimmu Borgir
Death Cult Armageddon
A grandiose blend of symphonic arrangements and ferocious black metal intensity, creating a darkly cinematic atmosphere.
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Dimmu Borgir
Eonian
Epic orchestration intertwines with ferocious riffs, creating a vast soundscape of melodic black metal.
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Dimmu Borgir
For all tid
Epic symphonic arrangements entwined with fierce black metal aggression create a hauntingly atmospheric experience.
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Dimmu Borgir
Godless Savage Garden
A tempest of orchestral melodies and harsh vocals intertwining to create a haunting sonic landscape.
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Dimmu Borgir
Devil's Path
A haunting blend of symphonic arrangements and aggressive melodies that embody the essence of black metal.
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Agalloch
Tomorrow Will Never Come
A haunting blend of atmospheric black metal and dark folk that evokes desolation and introspection.
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Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
A haunting blend of atmospheric black metal and dark folk, drenched in melancholic melodies and expansive soundscapes.
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