The albums that define
post-metal.
Our picks for where to start with post-metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top post-metal artists
Start with one of these.
The post-metal essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Alcest
Spiritual Instinct
Ethereal melodies intertwine with heavy, atmospheric textures, creating a dreamlike yet intense sonic landscape.
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PSOTY
Fragments of Uniforms
Ethereal soundscapes merge with heavy riffs, creating a hauntingly immersive journey through post-metal landscapes.
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PSOTY
Sunless
Ethereal soundscapes blend with crushing riffs, evoking a sense of cosmic dread and introspection.
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Sigur Rós
Von
Ethereal soundscapes blend haunting melodies and expansive dynamics, evoking the vast Icelandic landscape.
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Alcest
Les Chants de l'Aurore
Ethereal melodies intertwine with atmospheric layers, creating a dreamlike soundscape that transcends the boundaries of metal.
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Alcest
Écailles de lune
Ethereal soundscapes intertwine with harsh vocals, creating a haunting yet transcendent listening experience.
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Alcest
Shelter
Ethereal melodies intertwine with atmospheric textures, creating a serene yet haunting sonic landscape.
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Alcest
Kodama
A haunting blend of ethereal melodies and black metal ferocity envelops the listener in a dreamlike landscape.
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Alcest
Souvenirs d'un autre monde
Ethereal soundscapes intertwine with haunting melodies, creating a dreamlike journey through nature and memory.
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Alcest
Les Voyages de l'âme
Ethereal soundscapes intertwine with heavy textures, creating a dreamlike journey through light and darkness.
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Long Distance Calling
Avoid the Light
A sprawling, atmospheric exploration of sound, intertwining heavy riffs with meditative sections and intricate melodies.
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Cult of Luna
Cult of Luna
Atmospheric soundscapes intertwine with heavy riffs, creating a haunting yet immersive post-metal experience.
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Cult of Luna
Eternal Kingdom
A vast soundscape where atmospheric melodies intertwine with heavy riffs, evoking an emotional journey through desolation and beauty.
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Russian Circles
Enter
Instrumental soundscapes blend heavy riffs and intricate melodies, creating an immersive post-metal experience.
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Russian Circles
Station
A sprawling journey of atmospheric soundscapes mixed with intricate post-metal rhythms and haunting melodies.
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Pelican
What We All Come to Need
Heavy, immersive soundscapes intertwine with moments of delicate melody, crafting an emotional journey through post-metal landscapes.
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Pelican
City of Echoes
A sprawling exploration of atmospheric intensity and intricate instrumentation that defines the post-metal sound.
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Cult of Luna
The Beyond
A sprawling landscape of heavy riffs and atmospheric soundscapes that evoke a haunting journey through desolation.
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Russian Circles
Empros
A sprawling, textured soundscape where intricate guitar work intertwines with dynamic rhythm shifts and atmospheric depth.
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Russian Circles
Geneva
Instrumental soundscapes intertwine with crushing riffs, creating an immersive post-metal journey that captivates and overwhelms.
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Cult of Luna
Somewhere Along the Highway
Expansive soundscapes blend crushing heaviness with haunting melodies to create a profound emotional journey.
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Neurosis
Pain of Mind
Raw and aggressive, blending hardcore punk intensity with dark atmospheric undertones and existential themes.
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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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Cult of Luna
Salvation
Dense, atmospheric soundscapes intertwine with haunting vocals, creating a meditative yet intense post-metal experience.
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