You could try: Reverorum ib Malacht (http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=45017). Strange, strange music.

Looks like this thread might be dying so I'll finish it of with an recommendation for everyone to check out Malign "Divine Facing and Fireborn".

I'm completely a n00b when it comes to this genre, and honestly not really sure if I'll like it all that well or not, but I thought I'd give it a try and go ahead and ask for some recommendations from you all. I've heard one of Mayhem's albums before and it grew on me pretty well, but other than that I don't know much about the style, music, or any bands for that matter.

Thats a hugely broad request, but I'm gonna try and answer.

A few of the bigger name bands you should try:

Immortal- At The Heart of Winter. Mix of older BM with good melodies and epic themes.
Dark Funeral- Vobiscum Sathanas. Usually extremely fast and quite melodic; this band get a fair bit of shit for being commercial, but they are one of my favorites.
Marduk- Heaven Shall Burn When We Are Gathered (older, more simplistic BM, very fast with occaisional melodic undertones) or Rom 5:12 (newer album, murky, mixture of fast and slow, great vocals...)
Behemoth- Zos Kia Cultus. Black/death metal, awersome band and their best album...
Darkthrone- Under a Funeral Moon. The epitome of raw BM.

I'd also suggest Peste Noire, Alcest, Drudkh, Deathspell Omega, Antaeus, Catamenia, Enslaved and others.

From what I've heard so far I really like Darkthrone, Mayhem, Emperor and Burzum. Where's the best place online to purchase these?

If you want cds, Relapse records probably has the best prices. They may miss a couple of Darkthrone releases though. Otherwise there's Hells Headbangers.

^Just go to the bands MA pages, they should have links to purchase online (if you haven't turned that function off though...)

I just buy mine from the local record shop, so can't answer any better...

Another band you must try: Sacramentum- Far Away From The Sun. Awesome melodic black metal...

Fun thing about BM is how, for the lack of a better word, broad it is.
Even the godfathers of the genre, Immortal, Hades, Burzum, Emperor, Mayhem, Darkthrone sounded hardly anything alike one another.

They all had a penchant for putting on makeup and pulling daft faces, but musically, they didn't really sound too simillar.

Some random suggestions though

Emperor: In The Nightside Eclipse
(Though posers like myself prefer Prometheus. It's cheesier!)

Mayhem: Ordo Ad Chao
(Ooooooooh, lovely, lovely album. Sounds like if cavemen learned how to play Black Metal and took up nihilism)

Immortal: Pure Holocaust
(Fun album. Essential listening for when you're standing on a hill wearing a cape and holding a silver battleaxe, and howling at the wind, shit like that. Don't make the mistake of taking Immortal seriously, they're fully aware how camp/tongue-in-cheek they are. And they fucking REVEL in it)


Burzum: Filosofem
(Fuzzy, repetetive, hypnotic and EEEEEEVILLLLLLLLLLLLLLL etc)

Darkthrone: Under A Funeral Moon
(Personally I'd suggest every single thing Darkthrone have done, even their cringe-inducing demos, but this was the first BM album I ever bought and it's still one of my faves. Alternatively, get Sardonic Wrath)


1349: Demonoir
(1349 were awesome when they were no-frills "here's a load of fast angry songs about Satan" BM, then they went all 'What if Pink Floyd did BM?' and got more awesome. Now they combine both eras so you get a double whammy of grim nordic shouting!)


Anaal Nathrakh: Anything they have ever done
(Think of the angriest thing you've ever heard. Anaal are angrier!)



Leviathan: Massive Conspiracy Against All Life
(Should have originally been entitled "Wrest managing to make his heroin habits sound mystical and awesome". Very raw and incomprehensible, like some H R Giger nightmare... oh wait, that's Portal (Aus)... still, Leviathan's cool.)

Bathory: The Return...
Bathory: Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
(It's awesome enough Bathory went ahead and near enough created the genre without their second and third albums ever managing to be surpassed in terms of filthy blacky metal [Though Sadistik Exekution try])

Drear: Warring Against The Sun
(Black/Doom at 2 miles per century.)


Also, I have no idea if they're really black metal but Agalloch.
Not anything specifically, just get everything they've done.
Or just Ashes Against The Grain.
... Actually, get the lot.

More random suggestions

Epheles "Le Dernier Pardon"
Behexen "My soul for his glory"
Katharsis "VVorldVVithoutEnd"
Watain "Casus Luciferi"
Svartahrid "Malicious Pride"
Ljå "Till Avsky För Livet"
Anything by Funeral Mist, although they probably are not a beginners first choice.

Honorable mentions to Acidgobblin for bringing up Marduk's "Heaven Shall Burn..." and "Rom 5:12" which are probably my favorite albums by them. Many recommend "World Funeral" and shit like that and misses the few great albums Marduk have released.

If your just getting into the genre and want things that are more accessible try out these bands

Emperor- Beautiful and majestic music with an amazing atmosphere

Dissection- Melodic and expertly written music, dont listen to reinkhaos

Ceremonial Castings- Very creative and interesting band

Enslaved- Progressive and deep, constantly pushing theyre sound forward

Diabolical Masquerade- Awesome easily accessible BM with great song writing

Arkheth- Epic... check out IX and I you will be happy you did.

Bathory- Dark fucked up and awesome

Lunar Aurora- My favorite BM band of all time, excellent on all fronts, original with amazing atmosphere and some of the best song writing in BM

Deathspell Omega- not for everyone but crazy BM

I mainly did bands with better recording quality since that seems to be a good place for most to start. I also did bands from the different sides of black metal, there is one side of fans that only listen to 2nd wave (burzum, darkthrone, mayhem ) and bands that sound similar to them, and the other side of fans that listen to everything else namely blut aus nord, DSO, and enslaved.

Burzum, Darkthrone, and mayhem are classics but don't constrict yourself to them, even though doing so wouldn't hurt.

I'd like some bands in the vein of Mystifier's 2nd and 3rd album as well as Varathron's first. Old school styled black metal (chock full of Hellhammer/Celtic Frost influence) with very doomy, melodic and almost heavy metallish moments. I think another band that comes close to Grand Belial's Key, although it is not as dark and doomy as the first two bands, has the right amount of melody

I'd like to know that also, since those albums slay. There's probably not many like it. However, I can recommend Goatlord - Reflections of the Solstice as something you will probably like.

Maybe it's a fairly obvious choice, but Arckanum albums usually feature a track of Shamaatae performing some ritual or another.

They're a lot closer to Varathron (and Rotting Christ and the rest of the important Greek BM bands) than Mystifier but I'd strongly recommend Agatus. They're one of the last bands I'm aware of trying to keep that old heavy metal infused swampy BM sound alive. I haven't heard them since my downloading days but I remember loving both albums.

Oh, and if you haven't already I'd suggest checking out every Mortuary Drape album (and EP/demo stuff) except the most recent. Prominent and interesting bass work, riffing that takes inspiration from Frost/Hellhammer and Mercyful Fate. Still not quite as evil sounding as Mystifier, but not many are in my opinion.

It seems like most 90's Norwegian black metal bands are pretty much just derivative of one another and lacking anything that sounds really out of the box. The only exceptions I've found to this rule have been Raven, Mysticum, Ved Buens Ende, and Thorns. Anyone have some more recommendations for 90's Norwegian BM that sounds "different"?

check out Windir and Vreid
i love Carpathian Forest, it's typical BM but with a nice black'n'roll attitude with their latest albums, i think they bring different atmospheres than others

Not sure how far off the deep end you want to go, but Fleurety and Solefald certainly put their own spin on the genre. Ulver's Vargnatt release is a bit more along the lines of Ved Buens Ende as well (Czral is drumming on it after all). In the Woods... early stuff is something to check out too.

I like all of these bands releases, but Solefald is really the only one that stayed true to what they began doing genrewise so if you're looking for something that could be classified as black metal at all the earlier works from these bands are what you should be listening to.

I've got a fairly ambiguous and subjective request, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway.

I'm looking for albums that are really immersive, that take you away. Now this could apply to any number of things so let me clarify. I'm not talking necessarily about bands that specify themselves as such (i.e. the entire genre of atmospheric black metal).

I'm talking more of a qualitative description, a band that created an album with sufficient depth and quality black metal to create an immersive and unique atmosphere. One that evokes mental imagery that stays with you, even when not listening to it (or maybe that's just me and I should see a doctor).

Just to give a couple of examples of what I consider such an album:

Ruins of Beverast - Rain upon the impure
Burzum - Filosofum
Drudkh - Forgotten legends
Walknut - Graveforests and their shadows
Ulver - Nattens Madrigal
Vrolok - Within the masters chamber (song)

Etc. As you can see there's some correlation between the items, but mostly it's just that they all create a certain atmosphere through their quality BM. If any people have albums that they feel this way about, I'd love to hear about them.

Sorry for the somewhat vague request and thanks in advance for any reccomendations.

I'm looking for the most malevolent black metal ever created. Stuff that sounds evil, and not in a cheesy kind of way. Silencer is a good example, although the high pitched falsetto yells are not required (in fact, i'd prefer shrieked vocals). I want it to be evil, not spiteful, so not like Anaal Nathrakh.

^One of the more sinister bands (if your willing to mix some death metal into it) would be Portal. Seepia is an excellent album; the others aren't as good, but this album is truly claustrophobic. You might want to try Teitanblood as well, chaotic death metal (with a blackened vibe)...

Perhaps Nightbringer too. Either of their full lengths are very dark, and well produced too...



I will presume that you know of Darkspace and Paysage d'Hiver? If not, just post back and I will recommend some of the various albums...

Withcraft by Obtained Enslavement; this album, despite the symphonic elements, is still quite raw and very much wall-of-sound. In terms of emotion, it induces some nostalgia and weird kind of sadness. The song, Carnal Lust, is incredible.

Yes I know Darkspace and Paysage d'Hiver. Didn't know Obtained enslavement though. I don't like symphonic stuff, but I have to say the opening riff to Carnal Lust is absolutely incredible, it definitely has that quality I tried to explain in my post. I'm going to download the album and give it a shot, thank you for the rec!


Edit: Obtained Enslavement is growing on me, they have a lot of great songs.

In addition to the others I posted I forgot to mention Pest from Finland. Their compilation "Hail the Black Metal Wolves of Belial" is absolutely flooring in its ability to combine black metal, heavy metal, and even some touches of rock and roll here and there. Its a compilation of demo tracks and the like so it isn't a completely cohesive work but its good all the way through and a few of the songs (Sabbath of Lust, Possessed Wolves Howling) are ridiculously good, heavy, and evil.

This is by far the best project Tyrant Werewolf has been involved with so far, in my opinion.

I've been listening to a lot of black metal before I fall sleep lately. More specifically, Satyricon (three first), Immortal (ATHOW), Fen (Malediction Fields), Ulver (Bergtatt and Nattens Madrigal), Wolves In The Throne Room (Diadem of 12 stars) and Strid (End Of Life demo)

Basically, I'm looking for more music like this. Calming, atmospheric black metal to listen to while slowly falling asleep.

i hope you know Enslaved!!!
maybe the latest Watain, a bit atmospheric
Summoning is obvious

Yeah, symphonic BM genrally sucks for me; however, Obtained Enslavement merge the keyboards with raw guitars, semi-sloppy drumming, minimal compression and, of course, Pest's demonic vocals. The last track, O Nocturne is one of the only good outro's ever. It highlights the fact these guys are truly great musicians.

Have you heard much stuff by Lunar Aurora? Andacht has a really great atmosphere; also Verdunkeln (one of the Ruins of Beverasts guys plays in them)...Eerie and doomy BM...

I'm gonna re-recommend Verdunkeln for that. Check them out...

You might find interest in Forgotten Woods ''The curse of mankind''.

Hats Barn is one of the more kick ass bands to come along in a while. You can find a link on this page.

http://bloggersinthenorth.blogspot.com/

Thanks for all the recommendations, everyone. I will have to check these out later tomorrow.

I remember hearing about a japanese post black metal band that was supposedly pretty damn good, I dont remember anything about them other then it was one guy and their MA page was just the dude standing their.

Does anyone by chance have the faintest clue in hell what I'm talking about?

Kaddenzza, maybe, if you don't know Sigh, of course check them out

I'm looking for music that sounds like the spiritual successor of Transylvanian Hunger (since Darkthrone are too drunk and into Punk to deliver). Anyone knows something like this?

Try Sargeist's "Satanic Black Devotion", this album is often compared to "Transylvanian Hunger" and might be what you are looking for.

You could try Pest - They've got some major Darkthrone worship going on in a lot of their songs:

Pest - Rest in Morbid Darkness

Canadian band "Forteresse" have a good album called Metal Noir Quebecois which is sort of a more melodic version of old Darkthrone...

Sigh is an awesome band. One of my favorites.

Could somebody recommend me some blackened punk/ blackened trad metal similar to F.O.A.D and Dark Thrones and Black Flags?

Try out the excellent Bretwaldas of Heathen Doom (UK), what a name, they should be just the sound you are looking for, very overlooked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beYyTxT8q_k

http://www.myspace.com/bretwaldasofheathendoom

I really hate SOlefald, but second all that other stuff, especially the FLeurety debut and demos...really interesting and different, probably appealing if you like VBE, though I must stress they're not that similar, Fleurety being generally much less dark and gloomy...
I can also think of the following 90s Norse bands that you haven't mentioned, which I'd say are rather different.

Mysticum: Raucous, drugged-out black metal with a really abrasive guitar tone, keening keys and an incessantly pounding industrial-style drum machine. Definitely not for everybody, but "real freaks" will enjoy it. I hardly ever listened to this album in the past but recently when I threw it on for a spin I got really into its strange atmosphere. The last track is a simple almost ambient piece with quiet synth and piano and a strange heartbeat sound..it's very haunting!

Tulus: Well, their first album was pretty unique anyway. Really short songs by Norse BM standards, with some delicious riffs and loud, almost slappy-sounding bass. There are also some weird flourishes with noisy violin and maybe a bit of female vocal additives, too.

DOdheimsgard: You probably know them already as you're familiar with VBE and Thorns, but I'm just throwing them out there because I think their debut is actually quite unique in Norwegian black metal, despite some clear Darkthrone references. they got pretty weird by Satanic Art, of course....

Well, that's all I have time for at the moment. There are other bands though...just keep searching.

I really hate SOlefald, but second all that other stuff, especially the FLeurety debut and demos...really interesting and different, probably appealing
if you like VBE, though I must stress they're not that similar, Fleurety being generally much less dark and gloomy...
I can also think of the following 90s Norse bands that you haven't mentioned, which I'd say are rather different.
 
Mysticum: Raucous, drugged-out black metal with a really abrasive guitar tone, keening keys and an incessantly pounding industrial-style drum machine. Definitely
not for everybody, but "real freaks" will enjoy it. I hardly ever listened to this album in the past but recently when I threw it on for a spin I got really
into its strange atmosphere. The last track is a simple almost ambient piece with quiet synth and piano and a strange heartbeat sound..it's very haunting!
 
Tulus: Well, their first album was pretty unique anyway. Really short songs by Norse BM standards, with some delicious riffs and loud, almost slappy-sounding
bass. There are also some weird flourishes with noisy violin and maybe a bit of female vocal additives, too.
 
DOdheimsgard: You probably know them already as you're familiar with VBE and Thorns, but I'm just throwing them out there because I think their debut is
actually quite unique in Norwegian black metal, despite some clear Darkthrone references. they got pretty weird by Satanic Art, of course.../.

Forgotten Woods, and their brief incarnation as Joyless, should be of interest. Particularly of note for me at least is the CUrse of Mankind album. Vocals are similar to those of Burzum, but there the parallel essentially ends. FW has a much more rocking and yet very sorrowful approach to creating black metal. You will love the relaxed rock drumming and the deliciously clean bass tone.

Also, while no full-lengths were released in the 90s, you might want to check out the project known as Furze...