Hello everybody! I just wanted to start off by saying THANK YOU to everybody who voted. This was a wild year for the poll, breaking both previous records by generating
137 ballots with votes for
565 unique albums. The results are presented with the final number of votes for each position on their respective ballots. Point totals can be found in the other thread if you'd like a refresher. Anyway, I know what you're all here for, so HERE ARE THE RESULTS:
THE BEST BLACK METAL ALBUMS OF ALL TIME- Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas: 8-10-10-4-3-1-2-2-5-1 = 647pts
- Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse: 12-3-3-2-2-3-2-4-1-1 = 498pts
- Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss: 8-6-3-0-3-2-2-2-3-0 = 425pts
- Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky: 5-3-4-2-0-1-5-2-2-2 = 315pts
- Bathory - Under the Sign of the Black Mark: 5-4-2-5-1-0-0-1-0-4 = 305pts
- Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon: 2-7-2-4-2-2-1-0-0-1 = 297pts
- Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger: 3-2-4-4-3-0-1-2-2-1 = 268pts
- Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk: 2-3-8-1-1-1-1-0-1-0 = 262pts
- Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane: 2-2-1-2-5-6-4-0-2-2 = 253pts
- Immortal - At the Heart of Winter: 2-2-3-5-1-1-2-3-2-1 = 223pts
Immortal - Pure Holocaust: 1-5-1-2-2-3-1-2-1-1 = 215pts- Bathory - Blood Fire Death: 1-6-2-0-2-3-1-0-0-0 = 213pts
- Ulver - Bergtatt: 1-4-2-2-2-1-1-2-0-1 = 198pts
- Burzum - Filosofem: 2-2-1-5-1-1-0-2-1-0 = 189pts
- Deathspell Omega - Paracletus: 4-2-1-1-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 173pts
- Ulver - Nattens Madrigal: 3-0-0-1-0-3-1-0-3-2 = 125pts
- Bathory - Bathory: 1-4-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 122pts
- Dissection - The Somberlain: 3-0-2-0-0-1-1-0-0-0 = 119pts
- Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness: 2-2-1-0-0-2-0-0-1-0 = 119pts
- Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun: 2-2-0-0-1-1-0-3-0-0 = 116pts
- Enslaved - Vikingligr veldi: 1-0-3-1-1-0-3-1-1-0 = 116pts
- Beherit - Drawing Down the Moon: 2-1-0-2-0-0-3-0-0-1 = 111pts
- Darkthrone - Panzerfaust: 0-2-2-1-3-0-0-0-0-0 = 108pts
- Satyricon - Nemesis Divina: 1-0-0-0-2-2-4-3-1-2 = 101pts
- Rotting Christ - Thy Mighty Contract: 2-0-2-0-0-0-1-2-1-0 = 100pts
- Burzum - Det som engang var: 1-1-0-4-0-0-0-2-0-0 = 99pts
- Rotting Christ - Triarchy of Lost Lovers: 0-1-1-0-5-1-0-1-0-0 = 95pts
- The Ruins of Beverast - Rain Upon the Impure: 2-0-1-2-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 89pts
- Taake - Nattestid ser porten vid: 2-0-0-1-1-1-1-0-1-1 = 89ts
- Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide: 2-0-0-1-1-1-1-0-0-2 = 88pts
- Sabbat - The Dwelling: 1-2-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 88pts
- Bathory - The Return.....: 1-1-2-1-0-0-0-0-1-1 = 88pts
- Mgla - Exercises in Futility: 1-1-1-0-1-1-1-0-2-1 = 87pts
- Gorgoroth - Pentagram: 1-0-1-0-2-1-2-1-1-0 = 86pts
- Master's Hammer - Ritual: 0-2-0-1-2-1-0-2-1-0 = 86pts
- Summoning - Minas Morgul: 2-0-1-1-0-0-1-0-0-0 = 83pts
- Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the Stars: 0-2-1-0-2-0-1-0-0-0 = 77pts
- Nokturnal Mortum - Голос сталі (The Voice of Steel): 2-0-0-0-1-1-1-0-0-2 = 76pts
- Negură Bunget - OM: 2-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0 = 74pts
- Sarcófago – I.N.R.I.: 0-0-3-1-1-0-0-0-2-2 = 73pts
- Blut aus Nord – Ultima Thulée: 1-0-0-1-2-1-0-1-0-0 = 69pts
- Primordial - To the Nameless Dead: 1-2-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1 = 66pts
- Windir - 1184: 0-2-1-0-0-0-1-2-0-0 = 65pts
- Deathspell Omega - Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice: 0-1-2-0-0-0-2-1-0-0 = 64pts
- Abigor - Nachthymnen (From the Twilight Kingdom): 1-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-1-1 = 61pts
- Leviathan - Massive Conspiracy Against All Life: 1-0-1-1-0-1-0-0-0-0 = 60pts
- Cultes des Ghoules - Henbane: 1-0-1-0-0-1-1-0-0-1 = 55pts
- Venom - Black Metal: 0-1-1-1-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 55pts
- Deathspell Omega – Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum: 0-2-0-1-0-0-0-1-1-0 = 54pts
- Summoning - Oath Bound: 1-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0 = 53pts
- Vinterland - Welcome to My Last Chapter: 1-1-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0 = 53pts
- Drudkh - Autumn Aurora: 1-0-1-0-0-1-0-0-1-2 = 52pts
- Venom - Welcome to Hell: 1-0-0-0-1-2-0-0-0-1 = 52pts
- Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters: 0-0-1-2-0-1-0-1-0-1 = 52pts
- Cradle of Filth - Midian: 1-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0 = 51pts
- Moonsorrow - Verisäkeet: 0-1-0-0-2-1-0-1-0-0 = 50pts
- Obtained Enslavement - Witchcraft: 1-0-0-2-0-0-0-0-0 = 49pts
- Gorgoroth - Under the Sign of Hell: 1-0-0-0-1-0-1-2-0-0 = 49pts
- Marduk - Opus Nocturne: 1-0-0-0-0-1-2-1-0-0 = 49pts
- Cradle of Filth - Dusk... and Her Embrace: 0-1-1-1-0-0-0-1-0-0 = 49pts
- Blasphemy - Fallen Angel of Doom: 0-0-2-1-0-0-0-1-0-1 = 47pts
- Thorns - Thorns: 0-0-1-1-1-1-0-0-1-0 = 47pts
- Rotting Christ - Non Serviam: 0-0-1-0-1-1-0-2-2-1 = 46pts
- Taake – Hordalands doedskvad: 0-0-1-1-0-1-1-0-1-1 = 44pts
- Enslaved - Below the Lights: 0-0-0-2-2-0-0-0-0-0 = 44pts
- Noenum - Black Esoteric Evangelium: 1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 43pts
- Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers of the Icy Age: 1-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-0-0 = 43pts
- Drudkh - Blood in Our Wells: 0-1-0-1-0-0-1-1-1-0 = 42pts
- Satanic Warmaster - Carelian Satanist Madness: 1-0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0 = 41pts
- Dawn - Slaughtersun: 0-0-0-2-1-0-1-0-0-0 = 40pts
- Varathron - His Majesty at the Swamp: 0-0-0-1-2-1-0-0-0-0 = 40pts
- Tormentor - Anno Domini: 0-0-0-1-0-2-0-1-0-0 = 40pts
- Graveland - Thousand Swords: 0-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-2-1 = 38pts
- Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion: 0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0 = 38pts
- Absu - Tara: 0-0-2-0-0-0-1-0-1-0 = 38pts
- Nagelfar - Virus West: 1-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 37pts
- The Ruins of Beverast - Unlocking the Shrine: 1-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 37pts
- Cobalt - Gin: 0-0-1-0-1-1-0-0-1-0 = 35pts
- Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape: 0-0-1-0-1-1-0-0-1-0 = 35pts
- Mgla - With Hearts Towards None: 0-0-1-1-0-0-1-0-0-1 = 34pts
- Satyricon - The Shadowthrone: 0-0-0-0-1-2-0-2-0-0 = 34pts
- Elysian Blaze - Blood Geometry: 1-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0 = 33pts
- Mystifeir - Goetia: 1-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0 = 33pts
- Cradle of Filth - Hammer of the Witches: 0-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 33pts
- Nokturnal Mortum - Goat Horns: 0-0-1-0-1-1-0-0-0-0 = 33pts
- Marduk - Nightwing: 0-1-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-0 = 32pts
- Svartidaudi - Flesh Cathedral: 1-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0 = 31pts
- Alcest - Écailles de lune: 0-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0-0 = 31pts
- Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast: 0-0-1-0-1-0-0-1-0-1 = 30pts
- Limbonic Art - Moon in the Scorpio: 0-0-0-1-1-1-0-0-0-0 = 30pts
- Horna - Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne: 0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-2-0 = 29pts
- Beherit - The Oath of Black Blood: 0-1-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 28pts
- Horna - Sanojesi Äärelle: 0-1-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 28pts
- Zemial - Nykta: 0-1-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 28pts
- Marduk - Heaven Shall Burn... When We are Gathered: 0-1-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0 = 28pts
- Kvist - For kunsten maa vi evig vike: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0 = 27pts
- Ved Buens Ende - Written in Waters: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2 = 27pts
- Windir - Arntor: 0-1-0-0-0-0-1-0-1-1 = 27pts
- Burzum - Burzum: 0-0-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 27pts
- Deafheaven - Roads to Judah: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 26pts
- Destroyer 666 - Unchain the Wolves: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 26pts
- Moonspell - Wolfheart: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 26pts
- Primordial - The Gathering Wilderness: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 26pts
- The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite: 0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0 = 26pts
- Marduk - Plague Angel: 0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 25pts
- Samael - Blood Ritual: 0-0-1-0-0-0-1-1-0-0 = 25pts
- Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon: 0-0-0-2-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 24pts
- Katharsis - Fourth Reich: 0-0-0-2-0-0-0-0-0-0 = 24pts
- Peste Noire - La Sanie des siècles: 0-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0 = 24pts
- Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times: 0-0-0-0-0-0-2-2-2-0 = 24pts
- Deathspell Omega – Kénôse: 0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-1-0 = 23pts
- Anorexia Nervosa - New Obscurantis Order: 0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-1 = 22pts
- Mayhem - Wolf's Lair Abyss: 0-0-0-1-1-0-0-0-0-0 = 22pts
- Summoning - Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame: 0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-2 = 22pts
- Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia: 0-0-0-0-1-0-2-0-0-0 = 22pts
- Darkspace - Dark Space III: 0-0-0-0-1-0-1-1-1-0 = 22pts
- Bal-Sagoth - Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule: 0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0 = 21pts
- Melechesh - Sphynx: 0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0 = 21pts
- Mortuary Drape - All the Witches Dance: 0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0 = 21pts
- The Ruins of Beverast - Exuvia: 0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0 = 20pts
- Borknagar - Borknagar: 0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-1-0 = 20pts
- Inquisition - Invoking the Majestic Throne of Satan: 0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-1-0 = 20pts
- Necromantia - Scarlet Evil Witching Black: 0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 19pts
- Dark Fortress - Tales from Eternal Dusk: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1-0-0 = 19pts
- Verdunkeln - Einblick in den Qualenfall: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1-0-0 = 19pts
- Nightbringer - Ego dominus tuus: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-2-0 = 19pts
- Sigh - In Somniphobia: 0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0-0 = 18pts
- Bathory - Hammerheart: 0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-0 = 18pts
- Impaled Nazarene - Ugra-Karma: 0-0-0-0-0-1-1-1-0-0 = 18pts
- Marduk - Those of the Unlight: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-1-0 = 17pts
- Aosoth - IV: An Arrow in Heart: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 16pts
- Behexen - By the Blessing of Satan: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 16pts
- Leviathan - Tentacles of Whorror: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 16pts
- Varathron - Walpurgisnacht: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0 = 16pts
- Behemoth - Sventevith: 0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0 = 16pts
- Carpathian Forest - Black Shining Leather: 0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0 = 16pths
- Grand Belial's Key - Judeobeast Assassination: 0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0 = 16pts
- Judas Iscariot - To Embrace the Corpses Bleeding: 0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0 = 16pts
- Sargeist - Let the Devil In: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-1-0 = 16pts
- Summoning - Dol Guldur: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-2 = 16pts
- Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Misanthropic Euphoria: 0-0-0-0-0-2-0-0-0-0 = 16pts
- Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-2-0-0 = 16pts
- Master's Hammer - Jilemnický okultista: 0-0-0-0-0-0-2-1-0-0 = 16pts
- Summoning - Stronghold: 0-0-0-0-0-0-2-1-0-0 = 16pts
- Anaal Nathrakh - In the Constellation of the Black Widow: 0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-1 = 15pts
- Hate Forest - Purity: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1-0 = 14pts
- Silencer - Death - Pierce Me: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1-0 = 14pts
- Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1-0 = 14pts
- Forgotten Tomb – Springtime Depression: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0 = 14pts
- In the Woods... - Heart of the Ages: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0 = 14pts
- Mayhem – Grand Declaration of War: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0 = 14pts
- Shining – V: Halmstad: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0 = 14pts
- Sort Vokter - Folkloric Necro Metal: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0 = 14pts
- Ancient Rites – Fatherland: 0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-0 = 14pts
- Belphegor – Lucifer Incestus: 0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-0 = 14pts
- Immortal – Battles in the North: 0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-0 = 14pts
- Cradle of Filth - Principle of Evil Made Flesh: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 13pts
- Isengard - Høstmørke: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 13pts
- Satyricon - Volcano: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-1 = 13pts
- Blut aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-1-1 = 13pts
- Weakling - Dead as Dreams: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0 = 12pts
- Judas Iscariot - Of Great Eternity: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0 = 12pts
- Sigh - Hangman's Hymn: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0 = 12pts
- 1349 - Hellfire: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1 = 11pts
- Ondskapt - Dödens Evangelium: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1 = 11pts
- Tsjuder – Desert Morning Hell: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1 = 11pts
- Hades – Alone Walkyng: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0 = 10pts
- Lorn – Arrayed Claws: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0 = 10pts
- Melechesh – Emissaries: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0 = 10pts
- Melechesh – Djinn: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0 = 10pts
- Nagelfar - Srontgorrth: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0 = 10pts
- Paysage d'Hiver – Das Tor: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0 = 10pts
- Urfaust – Geist ist Teufel: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0-0 = 10pts
- Kampfar – Kvass: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1 = 9pts
- Warloghe – Womb of Pestilence: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1 = 9pts
- Kampfar - Mellom skogkledde aaser: 0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1 = 9pts
- Enslaved – Frost: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0 = 8pts
- Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0 = 8pts
- Spectral Lore – III: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1-0 = 8pts
- Watain – Lawless Darkness: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-0-0 = 8pts
- Impaled Nazarene - Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1 = 7pts
- Lord Belial – Enter the Moonlight Gate: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1 = 7pts
- Peste Noire - Ballade cuntre lo anemi francor : 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1 = 7pts
- Borknagar – The Olden Domain: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-1 = 7pts
- Mayhem - Deathcrush: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0 = 6pts
- Vlad Tepes / Belketre - March to the Black Holocaust: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-0 = 6pts
- Arckanum – Kostogher: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1 = 5pts
- Inquisition – Nefarious Dismal Orations: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1 = 5pts
- Manes - Under ein Blodraud maane: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-1 = 5pts
- Forgotten Woods - The Curse of Mankind: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-0 = 4pts
- Coldworld – Melancholie²: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1 = 3pts
- Drudkh – Estrangement: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1 = 3pts
- Forest Silence – Philosophy of Winter: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1 = 3pts
- Hate Forest – Battlefields: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1 = 3pts
So with the most devastating victory to date, I'm pleased to give a
massive congratulations to
Mayhem, with
De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas absolutely SHATTERING Vektor's previous record of 411 with 647, an astounding 236 points ahead of the previous record (for Album of the Year 2016). This was an absolutely dominant showing, with nothing else even coming close. DMDS had basically a hundred point lead after the first six or so ballots and never lost that lead. It's an admittedly predictable, yet agreeable choice.
And now for something completely the same, all those lonely souls who wound up with only one vote throughout the month. Great albums nonetheless, but still shuttled off to the side to make the list readable. I give you:
RANDO CORNER
1st place = 25pts
Peste Noire – Peste Noire
Life Is Pain - Bloody Melancholy
Graveland – Prawo Stali
Dark Funeral – Diabolis Interium
Blut aus Nord – Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry
Reverend Kriss Hades - Paganini, Bloodlust, Static Age
Drudkh – Forgotten Legends
The Meads of Asphodel – The Middle Ages
Destroyer 666 – Cold Steel... for an Iron Age
Forest – Like a Blaze Above the Ashes
Necromantia / Varathron – The Black Arts / The Everlasting Sins
Anorexia Nervosa – Drudenhaus
Odz Manouk / Tukaaria – split
1349 – Liberation
Hellhammer – Apocalyptic Raids
Fjoergyn – Lvcifer Es
The Meads of Asphodel – Sonderkommando
Mare Cognitum – An Extraconscious Lucidity
2nd place = 18pts
Teitanblood – Death
Operation Winter Mist – Imperial Grand Strategy
Grausamkeit – Pink Green 666
Grand Belial's Key – Mocking the Philanthropist
Gaahls Wyrd - GastiR - Ghosts Invited
Desaster – Tyrants of the Netherworld
Dark Funeral - Attera Totus Sanctus
Burzum – Aske
Bloody Tyrant – Solitary Eagle
An Autumn for Crippled Children - Try Not to Destroy Everything You Love
A Forest of Stars – A Shadowplay for Yesterdays
Darkspace – Darkspace I
Sigh – Gallows Gallery
Nachtgeblut - Dying Echoes Of A Past Forlorn
Musta Surma - Demo 1997
Branikald – Kveldulv
Peste Noire - L'Ordure à l'état pur
Emperor / Enslaved – Hordanes Land
Merrimack – Omegaphilia
Ash Borer – Ash Borer
Nachtmystium – Black Meddle pt 2: Addicts
Abyssmal Sorrow – Lament
Rhinocervs – RH-12
Akercocke – Choronzon
Thy Serpent – Forests of Witchery
Drudkh – The Swan Road
Macabre Omen – Gods of War at War
Svatan – Awakening of the Mighty Flame
3rd place = 15pts
Thormesis – Von Leere und Tod
Sinmara – Apothic Womb
Panopticon – Autumn Eternal
Necrophobic – The Nocturnal Silence
Ildjarn – Ildjarn is Dead
Heretoir - Existenz
Dark Forest – Land of the Evening Star
Branikald – Stormheit
Abruptum – Evil Genius
Benighted Leams - Astral Tenebrion
Baxaxaxa - Hellfire
Necrophobic – Death to All
Xasthur – Subliminal Genocide
Negator – Panzer Metal
Acherontas - Amenti - Ψαλμοί Αίματος και Αστρικά Οράματα
Destroyer 666 – Phoenix Rising
Panopticon - The Scars Of Man On The Once Nameless Wilderness
N.K.V.D. - Diktatura
Carpathian Forest – Bloodlust and Perversion
Hades - The Dawn of the Dying Sun
Decameron – My Shadow...
Leviathan – Howl Mockery at the Cross
Judas Iscariot – Distant in Solitary Night
Gernotshagen – Weltenbrand
Dawn - Nær sólen gar niþer for evogher
Old Man's Child – The Pagan Propserity
Forest Stream – Crown of Winter
4th place = 12pts
Kroda/Velimor – By a Hammer of Spirit and Identity of Blood
Helheim – Jormundgand
Enthroned – Towards the Skullthrone of Satan
Dimmu Borgir – Stormblast
Darkend - Grand Guignol Book I
Batushka – Litourgiya
Aura Noir – Out to Die
Antestor – The Forsaken
Amestigon – Thier
Alrakis - Alpha Eri
Havohej - Kembatinan Premaster
Lunar Aurora – Weltenganger
Sigh – Hail Horror Hail
Watain – Sworn to the Dark
Burzum – Fallen
Countess – The Shining Swords of Hate
Windir – Likferd
Graveland – Celtic Winter
Iskandr – Euprosopon
Dragged into Sunlight – Hatred for Mankind
Eneferens – The Bleakness of Our Constant
Anaal Nathrakh – The Codex Necro
Samael – Ceremony of Opposites
Odz Manouk – Odz Manouk
Oranssi Pazuzu – Varahteljia
Ildjarn – Ildjarn
Akercocke – The Goat of Mendes
Forefather – Steadfast
Naglfar – Diabolical
I – Between Two Worlds
Bethlehem - Dictius Te Necare
Inquisition – Obscure Verses for the Multiverse
Rebirth of Nefast – Tabernaculum
Mystifier – The World is So Good that Who Made It Doesn't Live Here
Algaion – Vox Clamentis
Forgotten Woods – Sjel av natten
5th place = 10pts
Woods of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason
Vreid – Kraft
Terminal Lost – Chapter 2: Phoenix Mountains
Strid – Strid
Satyricon – Rebel Extravaganza
Satanic Warmaster – Strength and Honour
Katharsis – World Without End
Hyadningar - The Weak Creation
Der Weg einer Freiheit - Der Weg einer Freiheit
Bestial Warlust – Blood and Valour
Spite Extreme Wing – Vltra
Sear Bliss – The Haunting
Mortuary Drape – Tolling 13 Knell
Tjolgtjar - Ikarikitomidun, Lord Of The Forest
Wulkanaz - Kaosnåjd
Abhorer - Zygotical Sabbatory Anabapt
Kriegsmachine – Apocalypticists
Pillorian – Obsidian Arc
Misþyrming - Söngvar elds og óreiðu
Bethlehem – S.U.I.Z.D.
Hellhammer – Satanic Rites
Dödsrit – Spirit Crusher
The Crevices Below / Tempestuous Fall / Midnight Odyssey – Converge, Rivers Of Hell
Thyrane – Symphonies of Infernality
Moonsorrow - Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa
Serpent Column – Ornussi Thalassa
Chrome Waves – Chrome Waves
Enslaved – Eld
Cobalt – Eater of Birds
Trollech - Skryti v mlze
Keep of Kalessin – Through Times of War
Moonsorrow – Suden Uni
Nazxul – Iconoclast
Peste Noire - Phalènes et pestilence - Salvatrice averse
Varathron – Patriarchs of Evil
Mutiilation – Vampires of the Black Blood
Dzoavits - تيسب ليهث
6th place = 8pts
Old Man's Child – In Defiance of Existence
Lux Ferre - Antichristian War Propaganda
Kult Perunov - Slavenski crni metal
Funeral Mist – Hekatomb
Eis – Bannstein
Code – Resplendent Grotesque
Bosse-de-Nage – All Fours
Bornholm – Inexorable Defiance
Ash Borer – Cold of Ages
Reverend Kriss Hades – The Wind of Orion
Gehenna – Seen Through the Veils of Darkness
Ophthalamia – Dominion
Agatus – The Weaving Fates
I Shalt Become - In The Falling Snow
Nåstrond - Digerdöden
Sauron – Satanic Assassins
Alda – Tahoma
Lubbert Das – De plagen
Xasthur / Leviathan – Split
Blaze of Perdition – Conscious Darkness
Anti – The Insignificance of Life
Thy Darkened Shade - Liber Lvcifer I: Khem Sedjet
Demoncy – Joined in Darkness
Aborym – Generator
Godkiller – The End of the World
Wyrd – Huldrafolk
Mizmor – Yodh
Limbonic Art – Ad Noctum – Dynasty of Death
Necromantia – Crossing the Fiery Path
W.A.I.L. - Wisdom Through Agony into Illumination and Lunacy
VON – Satanic Blood Angel
Marduk – Wormwood
Bathory – Blood on Ice
Panopticon – Collapse
Nocte Obducta - Nektar - Teil 2: Seen, Flüsse, Tagebücher
Midnight – Satanic Royalty
Aura Noir – Deep Tracts of Hell
Primordial – Journey's End
Denial of God – Death and the Beyond
Nehemah – Requiem Tenebrae
Emperor – Emperor
Svartsyn – His Majesty
Moonspell – Under Satanae
Abyssic Hate – Suicidal Emotions
Tha-Norr – Wolfenzeitalter
7th place = 6pts
Woman Is the Earth - Torch of Our Final Night
Sigh – Scorn Defeat
Putamen Insula – Souriez
Primordial – Imrama
Mytile Vey Lorth - Moloch
Ende - Emën Etan
Diapsiquir - Crasse
Craft – Terror Propaganda
Paysage d'Hiver – Steineiche
Urgehal – Ikonoklast
Shub Niggurath – The Kinglike Celebration
Gehenna – Malice
Arathorn - Treue & Verrat
Vitsaus - Iäti vihassa ja kunniassa
Stargazer – A Great Work of Ages
Ride for Revenge – Wisdom of the Few
Sühnopfer - Hic Regnant Borbonii Manes
Inquisition – Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult
Raventale – Mémoires
Aosoth – III: Violence & Variations
Woe – A Spell for the Death of Man
Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukulainen puhuu
Desaster – Hellfire's Dominion
Nortt – Gudsforladt
Deathspell Omega – The Synarchy of Molten Bones
Wayfarer – World's Blood
Urgehal – Goatcraft Torment
Xasthur – All Reflections Drained
Namtar – The Apokalypse
Condor – Unstoppable Force
Absu – The Third Storm of Cythraul
Enslaved – Isa
Armagedda – Only True Believers
Agatus – Dawn of Martyrdom
Satanic Warmaster – Fimbulwinter
8th place = 4pts
Volahn - Aq’ab’al
Ur Falc'h - Ur Falc'h
Shining – IX: Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends
Satyricon – The Age of Nero
Rotting Christ – Genesis
Naglfar - Pariah
Gorgoroth - Incipit Satan
Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra
Behexen – Rituale Satanum
Acrimonious – Eleven Dragons
Horna - Haudankylmyyden mailla
Enslaved – Hordanes Land
Helheim - Niðr ok Norðr Liggr Helvegr
Obsiquiae – Suspended in the Brume of Eos
Taake – Noregs vaapen
Lugubrum - De vette cuecken
Empyrium – Weiland
Nyss – Princesse Terre
Lord Mantis – Pervertor
Krieg – Blue Miasma
Howls of Ebb - Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows
Celtic Frost – Morbid Tales
Paysage d'Hiver – Paysage d'Hiver
Bestial Summoning - The Dark War Has Begun
Samael – Passage
Summoning – Old Mornings Dawn
Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
Rhinocervs – RH-11
Angantyr – Haevn
Midnight Odyssey – Shards of Silver Fade
Hellveto - In Arms of Kurpian Phantom
Progenie Terrestre Pura - U.M.A.
Obtained Enslavement – Soulblight
Dodheimsgard – Monumental Possession
Leviathan – Scar Sighted
Ascension – Under Ether
Behemoth – Thelema.6
Zemial – In Monumentum
9th place = 2pts
Trist - Zrcadlení melancholie
Trelldom – Til et annet...
Spite - Antimoshiach
Screaming Savior – Semblances of the Void
Panopticon – Roads to the North
Old Man's Child - Revelation 666: Curse of Damnation
Necrodeath – Fragments of Insanity
Marduk – ROM 5:12
Inquisition – Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith
Emperor – IX Equilibrium
Darkestrah - The Great Silk Road
Black Witchery – Desecration of the Holy Kingdom
Bethlehem – Dark Metal
Aquilus – Griseus
Angelcorpse – Exterminate
Akitsa – Credo
Absu – Sun of Tiphareth
Thorns – Stigma Diabolicum
Order from Chaos – Dawnbringer
Setherial – Nord
Abigail – Forever Street Metal Bitch
S.V.E.S.T. - Coagula - L'ether du diable
Root – Temple in the Underworld
Sargeist – Satanic Black Devotion
Akral Necrosis – Underlight
Wulkanaz – Paralys
Nachtmystium – Black Meddle
Blut aus Nord - Odinist - The Destruction of Reason By Illumination
Wolves in the Throne Room – Thrice Woven
Dark Funeral – The Secrets of the Black Arts
December Wolves - Blasterpiece Theatre
Barathrum – Legions of Perkele
Klage - Dystopias Wiege
Nifelheim – Envoy of Lucifer
Austere - To Lay Like Old Ashes
I Shalt Become – Wanderings
Hoth – Oathbreaker
Oranssi Pazuzu – Kosmonument
Domgård - Ödelagt
Craft – Fuck the Universe
Straasha – Straasha
...and Oceans – The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts
Conqueror – War.Cult.Supremacy
Evilfeast – Wintermoon Enchantment
Furia - Martwa polska jesień
Bilskirnir - Wotan Redivivus
Gaerea – Unsettling Whispers
Caladan Brood – Echoes of Battle
Funeral Mist – Salvation
Xibalba – Az Dham Poop Ek
Rotting Christ – Theogonia
10th place = 1pt
The Revenge Project - Through Blood and Ashes
Sigh – Heir to Despair
Rotting Christ – Rituals
Pagan – Heathen Upheaval
Ov Hell - The Underworld Regime
Obsiquiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs
Morrigan – Celts
Midnight – Sweet Death and Ecstasy
Marduk – Iron Dawn
Kommandant – Stormlegion
Isvind – Gud
Gris - À l'âme enflammée, l'äme constellée...
Dimmu Borgir – Stormblast MMV
Desaster - The Arts of Destruction
Covenant – Nexus Polaris
Clandestine Blaze – Deliverers of Fate
Chaos Moon – Origin of Apparition
Carpathian Forest - Defending the Throne of Evil
Aura Noir – Black Thrash Attack
Ildjarn – Forest Poetry
Seth - Les blessures de l'âme
Behexen – Eternal Realm
Ithdabquth Qliphoth - Fyre Walk With Me
Kaevum – Natur
Graveland – Creed of Iron
Baise Ma Hache - Le Grande Suicide
Lugubrum – Winterstones
Svartidaudi – Revelations of the Red Sword
Verdunkeln – Verdunkeln
Sexdrome – Grown Younger
Elderwind – The Colder the Night
Sortilegia – Arcane Death Ritual
Nagelfar - Hunengrab Im Herbst
Winterfylleth – The Divination of Antiquity
Samael – Worship Him
Havohej – Dethrone the Son of God
Nåstrond - Toteslaut
Limbonic Art – Phantasmagoria
Erraunt – The Portent
Kampfar – Fra underverdenen
Thy Worshiper - Klechdy
Darkthrone – Goatlord
Gris - Il était une forêt...
Branikald – Frost Vision
Abigor - Verwüstung / Invoke the Dark Age
Hellstorm – Sacrifice Sacrifice
A Forest of Stars – Opportunistic Thieves of Spring
Cult of Fire - Mr̥tyu kā tāpasī anudhyāna
Apotheosis - Farthest from the Sun
Forteresse – Themes pour la rebellion
Fen – Carrion Skies
Naglfar – Vittra
Ludicra – The Tenant
Nadiwrath – Circle of Pest
Malignant Eternal – Far Beneath the Sun
Taake - Over Bjoergvin graater himmerik
BH's FINAL THOUGHTSThis was a total blitzkrieg on my end! You guys wound up breaking both the previous records for total ballots and unique albums by two each, and that was with a week and a half less voting time than usual when I do the AOTY polls. One thing I was kind of expecting and totally came to pass was the insane proliferation of randos. I've always noticed that black metal fans tend to spread votes out for more obscure releases, rarely concentrating on a few standouts whenever I do the AOTY polls, and that's as true here as ever, to an extent. On one hand, there were 371 randos, nearly 2/3rds of the list proper. But on the other hand, the top
six albums all scored higher than the AOTY winner in 2018, we had more albums break 200 points than ever before, and three of them actually beat the previous high score. So we had a bit of a best of both worlds scenario, with a wide spread of great obscure albums and a few standout releases that everybody rallied around. DMDS and ITNE were on 33% and 24% of all ballots, respectively, likely the highest concentration of any albums in these occasional polls. It's also worth noting that while DMDS was definitively chosen as the best album, there has to be some consideration for
Darkthrone to be chosen as the best overall band, with their entire classic trilogy landing in the top ten and Panzerfaust just barely missing the top 20. That is
nuts. They absolutely dominated overall I'd say, but just had the votes split between their best albums enough not fall down to 4th place at the highest (also worth noting that until the last day when they got a few more votes to push them over Bathory, all three of those albums were sequential and in chronological order as well!). Another interesting thing of note was just how dominant the 2nd wave out of Scandinavia was in this poll. If we count Under the Sign of the Black Mark as the album that kinda "figured out" that 2nd wave sound before anybody else, then the only entry in the entire top twenty to be from after the 2nd wave and not from Norway or Sweden is Deathspell Omega with Paracletus. Norway and Sweden ran the poll in general, but France had a pretty solid showing as well with DsO, Blut aus Nord, and Peste Noire both garnering a lot of votes on their own. I'm actually pretty shocked at how underrepresented Greece is, with Rotting Christ and Varathron squeaking in a couple albums but for the most part ignoring the Hellenic scene entirely.
It's interesting to see how MA's tastes have changed over the years, because once upon a time I would've been shocked to see Thorns, Windir, and Absu so low. I can sort of understand the ones that can be slightly more controversial in terms of their "pureness" like Primordial, Sigh, Summoning, and Melechesh, but considering how well loved all of those bands are on MA it's still surprising to see how many classic MA favorites missed the top 50 entirely.
And for some final miscellaneous awards, the Rando Calrissian award for "Highest Ranking Album with No 1st Place Votes" goes to
Darkthrone - Panzerfaust at 23rd place. This is the lowest ranking RC award yet but the top places were very packed so it's not too surprising. The Adrian Beltre award for "hitting for the cycle", aka "Garnering at least one vote for every position" goes to four albums! This has never been done before, but this time we had
Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,
Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse,
Immortal - At the Heart of Winter, and
Immortal - Pure Holocaust all managing to pull it off. The Legion award for the band with the most albums voted for goes to
Marduk with
8, and the Slightly Better Legion award for most albums voted for with no randos in the bunch surprisingly goes to
Cradle of Filth, with
5!
Well, that's all for this one, folks! The best black metal albums of all time have been officially voted for by you, the denizens of the Encyclopaedia Metallum. Did you love it? Hate it? Want to rage about Rotting Christ missing the top 20? Talk about it here! Share your lists! Discuss! Tell me where I fucked up in Rando Corner because I always, always do! Thank you all so much, this has been a smashing success and I'll definitely do another off-month poll next year based on the turnout for this one.
Actually, there is one more thing, but I won't be handling it. I mentioned wishing I had the foresight to keep track of the years each album was released and wound up completely forgetting. But luckily, since you all are so beautiful, I actually had more than one offer to take care of such analysis for me! So if he's quick enough, the next post should be from
Napalm_Satan with exactly that analysis!