10 essential black metal albums

[TheNooseInYourEmptySoul]

Greater masters of darkness, lend me your knowledge:


You know the song, Decade of Therion by Behemoth? WTF is THERION?

There are tons of black/death metal bands that have that in their titles/songs but I'm still clueless as to what the hell they're talking about. Any one?

 

[Scythes of Vengeance]

I think Therion has something to do with Hell but I'm not sure. Maybe another name for Hell? I'm sure somebody knows.

 

[TheNooseInYourEmptySoul]

I think Therion has something to do with Hell but I'm not sure. Maybe another name for Hell? I'm sure somebody knows.

Perhaps... maybe a reference to Dante's Inferno? It's always mentioned by bands that are into the black arts too, like scrying and divination and conjuration and such. Bands with Hermetic/Kaos themes are prone to mentioning it too.

*still stumped*

 

[TheNooseInYourEmptySoul]

AHHHH I found it. I FOUND it

Therion = greek name for the Antichrist of Revelations.


Thank you About.com

 

[Scythes of Vengeance]

Cool.

 

[VoldamaresGollum]

Here's my list in no particular order:

Emperor - Anthems to the welkin at dusk
Marduk - Nightwing
Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
Dawn - Slaughtersun
Dark Funeral - Secrets of the dark arts
Cradle of filth - Vempire
Immortal - Damned In Black
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina
Mayhem - Grand Declaration of war
Eclipse Eternal - Self titled demo (shameless self promotion)

 

[Psychonaut]

Emperor - In The Nightshade Eclipse

Satyricon - Nemisis Divina

Cradle Of Filth - Dusk And Her Embrace

Cradle Of Filth - Vempire Or Dark Fairytales In Phallustein

Ulver - Bergtatt

Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

Borknager - Borknager

Burzum-Hvis Lyset Tar Oss

Marduk - Nightwing

Marduk - Panzer Division Marduk
Dark Funeral - In The Sign...

 

[Edgecrusher]

Wow, at first I was afraid to bring up Dimmu or Cradle in a black metal thread...

Cradle Of Filth- Damnation and a Day
Dimmu Borgir- Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
Dimmu Borgir- Death Cult Armageddon
Emperor- Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
Estuary of Calamity- The Sentencing
Goatwhore- The Eclipse of Ages Into Black
Satyricon- Rebel Extravaganza

 

[skeptik]

Mayhem - Deathcrush
Burzum - Det Some Engang Var
Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times
Massemord - Skogen Kaller (anyone else check this band out?)
Taake - ...Bjoergvin...
Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky
Darkthrone - Under A Funeral Moon
Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse
Immortal - Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism
Borknagar - The Olden Domain

That's just right now, it often changes..

 

[666Phoenix666]

Emperor - in The Nightside Eclips
Bathory - Blood, Fire, Death
Darkthrone - Transsilvian Hunger
Immortal - At The Heart of Winter
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina
Enslaved - Frost
Dimmu Borgir - For All Tid
Mayhem - De Mysteriis dom Sathanas
Thorns - s/t
Burzum - Aske

 

[None_So_Vile]

Not hugely into black metal, but here we go...In no order...

1. Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky
2. Darkthrone - Transylvanian Hunger
3. Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
4. Satyricon - Nemesis Divina
5. Ulver - Bergtatt
6. Enslaved - Blodhemn
7. Emperor - Anthems to the welkin at Dusk
8. Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse
9. Absu - Tara
10. Dissection - The Somberlain

 

[Henrik Main]

What's so special about Burzum's "Aske", when excluding its symbolical value? It's only got 3 tracks, and one of them is even an instrumental.

@ DG: I haven't heard about "Massemord", (it's "Mass murder" in Norwegian, by the way). What kind of BM do they perform?

 

[666Phoenix666]

Hm, first let me say that in my opinio Varg has made only two good albums Aske and of course Det Som Engang Var.
My list is made of what I think to be the most classic albums in BM and there Aske seems a better choice.

 

[Necro Joe]

Black metal isn't really my "thing" but my favourites are:

Necromantia - Scarlet Evil Witching Black
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath
Moonblood - Blut und Krieg
Immortal - Pure Holocaust
Summoning - Dol Guldur
Bathory - Under the sign of the Black Mark
Burzum - Det Som Engang Var
Countess - The Return Of The Horned One
Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger
Graveland - Thousand swords

Blackened Thrash:
Destroyer 666 - Unchain the Wolves
Gospel of the Horns - A Call to Arms

 

[spaffe]

Yea, that is a great fucking album. I sort of miss the fact that Behemoth have begun to steer to a more death metal sound. Don't get me wrong, they're still a great fucking band, but I miss songs like From the Pagan Vastlands and Moonspell Rites etc.

I'm trying to get ahold of their first ever demo tape. I heard it was horrible quality but it'd be great to own just because. Anyone know where to look? I hear there's only like a thousand copies :S

yeah i like their "new" death meatl style as well, inferno's drumming is killer, and i think that nergal handles both black- and death vox really well. their lyrics are cool as well, even though i can't say i understand it all, though i'm trying to increase my knowledge of the occult and similar subjects

well keep an eye out on ebay, i saw their second the demo for sale on german ebay some time ago, can't really recall the reason i had for not buying it... oh well. btw, one song from the endless damnation demo is on the chaotica-compilation in case you didn't know.

 

[Lokar]

1. Darkthrone - Under A Funeral Moon
2. Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
3. Carpathian Forest - Black Shining Leather
4. Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
5. Setherial - Nord
6. Keep Of Kalessin - Through Times Of War
7. Immortal - Battles In The North
8. Ulver - Bergtatt
9. Satyricon - Nemesis Divina
10. Marduk - Those Of The Unlight

 

[DiscipleOfPlato]

What's so special about Burzum's "Aske", when excluding its symbolical value? It's only got 3 tracks, and one of them is even an instrumental.

In my opinion, the first Burzum release is easily Varg's worst. It's total shit musically(here come the pseudo-intellectuals to tell me it's "technically brilliant"), and it sounds like he recorded it in a basement.

 

[VoldamaresGollum]

I wouldn't consider Burzums music brilliant (technically speaking) but it does seem to capture a truly grim atmosphere that few others have ever been able to create. It just captivates the mind and grips the emotions like no other. While I didn't put Aske in my top 10 it is a worthy mention and is in my top 20ish.

 

[ffanatic]

Not enough people have listed Summoning. Same goes for Sigh (even though they're way on the experimental side).

 

[skeptik]

@henrikmain: http://www.extrememetalmp3.com/massemord.html