My Top 23 Influential Black Metal Albums

Whilst working on Vanaheimr's debut EP 'As Above, So Below' (Link below), I realised how much this particular genre of metal music had grown on me over the last year and a half or so. I have been more immersed in the history of the genre and musicians within the scene for the first time in a long time. The raw and unrelenting chaos of the genre gave me something I'd been looking for, especially at that moment in time. Despite having a few minor encounter's with black metal in the past, learning about the genre now and exploring the more recent interpretations and incantations the genre as well as the traditional black metal bands. It even lead me to create my own 'battle jacket'! You will see a few of the usual suspects in this list and possibly a few surprises. I will put one entry per band, as there are so many unique artists I don't think it's fair if one band has two or three entries! So without further ado in no particular order;

Saor (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿) - Guardians (2016)

Saor means 'free' or 'unrestrained' in Gaelic, and that is exactly what this album represents for me. This Scottish band have had a profound effect on me, the soaring atmospheres entwined with Scottish heritage and Highland nature stories brimming with passion and ferocity has been truly inspirational to me. It helped me a lot through my last year of BIMM on a mental and creative level as it often empowered me to keep creating even when the going was tough.

Favourite song; Hearth

Alcest (🇫🇷)- Les Voyages de L'âme (2012)

Every time I hear Autre Temps, I am taken back to an October night and a half filled O2 Academy Bristol in 2014. It was the first time I was going to see Opeth and Alcest were recommended to me by a very good friend of mine. This was the first album I heard and I fell in love with it. I think the significance of this album is greater now than it was back then, as it invaded my subconscious and as a direct consequence influenced my love for reverb and atmosphere. This was the first album I heard in French, the language lent itself to the elegance of the music, especially with many of Alcest's theme's coming from Niege's childhood dreams of 'Fairy Land'. I think the best way to describe this album is if Tolkein's elves made metal, this would be it, graceful and dignified and thought provoking.

Favourite song; Autre Temps/Beings Of Light (I can't chose one of this album!)

Myrkur (🇩🇰) - Mareridt (2017)

Myrkur has taken the world by storm of late. This album was featured in Rough Trade's Albums Of The Year 2017 and Myrkur herself being nominated for Prog Rock's Limelight award. This album should be a must listen for everybody not just metalheads. A raw and relentlessly haunting album, like Guardians, it inspired me endlessly. The powerful black metal passages blended in with surging atmospherics and traditional Scandinavian instruments is something to be admired. The mixture of Danish and English lyrics is also quite refreshing. Myrkur definitely draws on Scandinavian history and mythology whilst taking influence musically from the Norwegian black metal of the early 1990s and putting a contemporary twist on the genre. Myrkur has redefined some of the boundaries of black metal in my opinion, as a result this album is on repeat.

Favourite song; Ulvinde

Darkthrone (🇳🇴) - A Blaze In The Northern Sky (1992)

Darkthrone need no introduction. The work of Fenriz and Nocturno Culto is nothing short of legendary. Pioneers of the Norwegian black metal sound I first discovered Darkthrone after watching the infamous 2009 documentary Until The Light Takes Us. I had heard of Burzum and Mayhem and the murder of Euronymous by Varg Vikernes but Darkthrone went under the radar until this documentary. Once I had listened to their groundbreaking 'trilogy' A Blaze In The Northern Sky (1992), Under A Funeral Moon (1993) and Transilvanian Hunger (1994), I was simply blown away. I don't need to justify to anyone why this album is on the list, its influence on me in a production sense as well as musical is endless. Just listen and you'll see!

Favourite song; In The Shadow Of The Horns

Behemoth (🇵🇱) - The Satanist (2014)

Behemoth appeared to me in the form a music video, ironically I couldn't handle the satanic imagery in Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel, but as you can see that changed very quickly. I think this is mainly due to my interests in the paranormal, spirituality etc. but that's a post for another time. Once I had listened to Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel I realised I liked the sound of Behemoth, which subsequently ended up with me listening to the whole of The Satanist and loving every satanic second. I also have a lot of admiration for Nergal, not only as a songwriter and musician but as a person. Having overcome cancer and taking on and defeating the Polish government in several court cases and continuing not to let anything get to him is truly inspiring. All in all, this album is artistic to its core, thundering riffs and rhythms with crushing vocals to match. The Satanist reflects everything that the band was, is and will be.

Favourite song; O Father, O Satan, O Sun!

Bathory (🇸🇪) - Bathory (1984)

As much as I love A Fine Day to Die on 1988's Blood Fire Death, my entry for Bathory has to be Quorthon's debut self-titled. As soon as my ears were exposed to the face-melting riffs on this album I was hooked. After a Storm of Damnation, Hades emerges from his Necropolis and devours your soul. Once you're soul disappears into the abyss the rest of the album envelops you with a fast, unrelenting pace. Bathory's first four albums also carry on in this manner and will always be the roots of black metal for me, alongside Venom and Celtic Frost.

Favourite Song; Hades

Archgoat (🇫🇮) - The Apocalyptic Triumphator (2014)

I don't think it get's more satanic than this (except Gaahl). Dirty and rough production to match the doom filled riffs and apocalyptic thunder Archgoat bring. I found Archgoat during one of my many Spotify exploration sessions and I instantly was drawn to the brutality of the music. Everything you want in a black metal album can be found in the Apocalyptic Triumphator and can easily fuel your own black mass rituals. From a production stand point this album was massively influential as it mirrored the likes of Mayhem and Burzum but in a contemporary way.

Favourite Song; Nuns, C**ts & Darkness

Celtic Frost (🇨🇭) - Morbid Tales (1984)

It could be argued that this is more of a thrash sounding metal album but Celtic Frost stand alongside Bathory and Venom as innovators of the black metal style. One of the first old school black metal albums that I heard, it had to be on this list. Similar to Darkthrone, Celtic Frost went under the radar until I watch Until The Light Takes Us. With it's mixture of some Black Sabbath sounding doom riffs and Bathory sounding black metal passages it offers a bit of something for everyone and I would use it as a good starting point if you want to get into black metal. Plus, its Celtic Frost so why are you not listening to it?

Favourite Song; Visions Of Mortality

Mayhem (🇳🇴) - Deathcrush (1987)

Another band that needs no introduction, alongside Darkthrone and Burzum, Mayhem were on the frontline of the wave of Norwegian black metal in the 1990s. For me Deathcrush has to be the go to album every time I start listening to Mayhem, the vocals are so much better than De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas but the riffs on both albums hit hard, but Deathcrush hits that bit harder. The synonymous Silvester Anfang is instantly recognisable for many listeners and you know you're in for a rollercoaster ride from hell. Combined with Behemoth, Mayhem influenced many of the riffs that I have written recently and the albums production gave me a guideline when working with Vanaheimr.

Favourite Song; Chainsaw Gutsf**k

Burzum (🇳🇴) - Filosofem (1996)

I find it hard to believe anyone who says they haven't heard of Burzum and Varg Vikernes. The murder of Euronymous in 1993, in which he served 14 years of a 21 year sentence, and alleged involvement in the church burnings around that time has led to the stereotypical image of a black metal fan, a satanic, murderous, church burner. Also, Varg had a few questionable beliefs but that aside, Burzum's first four albums are the quintessential blueprints for the black metal sound. Filosofem is raw, unrelenting and aggressive and an album that could not be left out of this list, like Darkthrone, I don't need to justify why it's here, just give it a listen!

Favourite Song; Beholding the Daughters of the Firmament

Emperor (🇳🇴) - In The Nightside Eclipse (1994)

Emperor is iconic symphonic black metal. This album sounds huge, dark and epic. This is just an awesome album start to finish. This album packs so much fury into the sonic soundscape it creates and the production aesthetic is the primary influence with what I wanted to do with Vanaheimr. Alongside the likes of Dimmu Borgir, Limbonic Art and Cradle Of Filth etc., I believe that this is a seminal album for later symphonic metal variations. This is a perfect car journey album too as the countryside and hills blaze past you, it certainly gets my imagination going!

Favourite Song; I Am The Black Wizards

Nightbringer (🇺🇸) - As Wolves Amongst Ruins (2017)

Nightbringer were one of the first black metal bands I found outside of Europe and South America, alongside New Orlean's band Goatwhore. There was something very Behemoth like about this album that I instantly attached myself to, especially in the opening track. I'm a massive fan of the American TV show Ghost Hunters and recently watched an episode about a Satanic cult in Utah and all the energy that Zak Bagans and his crew experienced made me think of this album. It's dark, furious and straight from hell, for me these guys are America's version of Behemoth.

Favourite Song; As Wolves Amongst Ruins

Enslaved (🇳🇴) - E (2017)

A more progressive take on black metal, I recently saw Enslaved supporting Opeth in the Bristol O2 Academy and their performance resonated with me on a very deep level. The well crafted songs and the mixture of screamed and sung vocals offers a real contrast to most black metal bands. I'm a big fan of Ivar Bjørnson's guitar playing and the work he had done with Wardruna mastermind Einar Selvik. This album has been on repeat constantly, the atmospheric textures and thundering drums really set the scene for the themes in the album.

Favourite Song; The River's Mouth

Dark Funeral (🇸🇪) - Where Shadows Forever Reign (2016)

I discovered Dark Funeral on one of my many similar artist searches on Spotify and there was something oddly romantic about Unchain My Soul that really gripped me the first time I heard it. The album as a whole is fast and unforgiving. The lyrical themes also resonated with me on many levels and drew me in to Dark Funeral's world. After I'd heard this album I listened to their older work and the same emotions reappeared with each album. Dark Funeral are definitely one of Sweden's premier black metal bands, in my opinion.

Favourite Song; Unchain My Soul

Gorgoroth (🇳🇴) - Instinctus Bestialis (2015)

To say Gorgoroth have had a chequered past in the lead up to this album would be an understatement, that's what makes this release so good. The power of the vocals is what blew me away initially, having heard the thinness of Gorgorth's former vocals supplied by the infamous Gaahl, the raw power of Atterigner's vocals took Gorgoroth to a whole new level. I think they broke the mould of the previous albums and stepped up the intensity in all departments. I can't explain my love for this album, it psychs me up no matter what!

Favourite Song; Radix Malorum

Winterfylleth (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - The Dark Hereafter (2016)

With the majority of black metal coming from the Nordic and mainland European countries, I feel English (and Scottish, see Saor) often gets overlooked. Being an island nation we are often feel secluded at times and that's perfect for black metal. I have a deep admiration for Winterfylleth and what they do. Storytelling is a massive part of their act and with recent acoustic album The Hallowing Of Heirdom demonstrating that the band have mastered it. Storytelling has always been a massive part of my life as it allowed me to escape from and deal with a whole number of things. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Tolkien and Medieval history etc. So, when I listened to Winterfylleth singing about English Heritage (much like Saor with Scottish Heritage) it made so much sense to me. It was fun looking up the stories behind the lyrics as well. This album is a wonderful creation of black metal and English history. It has influenced my poetry and lyric writing recently that is why this album made the list.

Favourite Song; Ensigns Of Victory

Fen (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - Winter (2017)

Similar to Winterfylleth, Fen are an English black metal band that I think goes under the radar. With the band being named after the Fens in England, an area of moors and wetlands, which is known for great mysticism within its landscapes. This is primarily what inspires the band and I think they have more of a mystic sound than Winterfylleth but like Winterfylleth they're great story tellers. This album appeals more to my progressive side as there are many lengthy passages and intricacies to keep me entertained. Definitely an album to listen to on long car journeys!

Favourite Song; IV (Interment)

Misþyrming (🇮🇸) - Söngvar Elds Og Oreiðu (2015)

From the frosty island of Iceland Söngvar Elds Og Oreiðu puts so much imagery in my head of the mountains and fjords that are abundant on the small piece of land. Heavy hitting and raw with intricate and sinister melodic sections this is an album you have to experience to understand. I love the mysticism that this album has and I wanted to capture some of that for Vanaheimr.

Favourite Song; Söngur Heiftar

Auðn (🇮🇸) - Auðn (2015)

Similar to Misþyrming, Auðn also offer that mystical Icelandic charm. I feel this album is a bit more in the roots of traditional black metal, with 6/8 grooves and less focus on massive reverb soaked atmospherics. Awesome, riffs in every song and howling vocals make this album come to life! Sometimes I wish I could just sit on a mountain watching the Aurora Borealis listening to it.

Favourite Song; Undir Blóðmána

Belphegor (🇦🇹) - Lucifer Incestus (2003)

Some of Austria's finest in my opinion, Belphegor bring the blood...and lots of it. It almost seems like Baphomet and his witch coven is speaking to me personally when I listen to this album, if I walked through a dark woods listening to this album I'd probably meet them as well. Its a well crafted machine of blast beats and melodic riffs. The seamless production is definitely something I took notes on when working on Vanaheimr. Before I ran the mixes through a tape emulator I tried to get all the elements as clean sounding as this. The brutality that prevails in this album is incredible, a must listen.

Favourite Song; The Goatchrist

Mgła (🇵🇱) - Exercises In Futility (2015)

Trying to find Mgła's music was a challenge for me initially, I'd seen loads of images of them and their logo patch everywhere but had never actually heard their music. Once I realised that they weren't on Spotify I quickly found them on Bandcamp and I'm glad I did! Another fine Polish export Mgła are experts at what they do. Punishing riffs and plenty of grooves this album changed some of my preconceptions of black metal and how to write it. I don't know what is in the water in Poland but every metal band I've heard has always created quality music. Mgła are no different.

Favourite Song; Exercises In Futility II

Watain (🇸🇪) - The Wild Hunt (2013)

I read somewhere that Watain are the last truely extreme metal band out there, while they are extreme they aren't the only ones left in my opinion. Either way, for me this is a technical album musically yet still keeps a relentless pace. The equal balance of slower and faster sections is pulled off perfectly in this album, Watain know precisely when to ramp it up and slow it down. The Wild Hunt shows the full talent of Watain, this album is a thoroughly enjoyable listen!

Favourite Song; The Wild Hunt

1349 (🇳🇴) - Hellfire (2005)

As soon as you hear "HELLFIRE" shouted to open I Am Abomination you know you're meeting Satan and his many servants today. Following the Norwegian tradition of making great black metal 1349 are brutal in their approach to making albums. If Dante's Inferno started off like this album you wouldn't want to go past the first circle.

Favorite Song; I Am Abomination

That wraps up my top 23 influential black metal albums, all of these albums have influenced me in some way over the last year and a half and I was ecstatic to work with Vanaheimr on As Above, So Below. Black Metal is such a diverse genre of metal that has everything from folk tales, paganism and vikings to Satan, spirituality and all things hellish and satanic. This freedom to create whatever has been a breath of fresh air for me as it doesn't always fit a specific formula (like everything though there is some identifying characteristics). Check out Vanaheimr's As Above, So Below and I will write again soon! Keep on rocking!