Looking for "beautiful" heavy/black metal

[Awesoham]

OK, so this is my first post

I'm pretty new to the black/death/extreme metal scene and I've only heard, like, 5 or 6 tracks. I'm a longtime Iron Maiden and Metallica fan, though.

I'm looking for some epic black/death metal. I'm not comfortable with (please don't flame me for this) extremely violent lyrics (e.g Disasterpiece) or themes (dying fetuses, rotting corpses and the like.) In fact one thing I like about the genre is the extremely challenging instrumental work that goes with the vocals. I also like "melodic"/"orchestral" metal and instrumentals.

Could the gurus here recommend me some mindblowing bands/songs?

(I like some Cradle of Filth, especially Nemesis and the Iron Maiden covers!)

 

[KonkeyDong]

Check out Summoning or Caladan Brood.

 

[pipsydoodles]

There is also: Amorous Anathema, Amber tears (admittedly I can't vouch for the lyrics since it is in Russian), also you could check out forest stream, but I am guessing they might push your boundary on lyrics. however, that being said it is only a few of their songs that would.

 

[HafgufaKraken]

It depends on what you consider "beatiful".

Alcest often have very "soft" and "dreamy" melodies, maybe you like that:


Same goes for "Lustre":


If you're more into the epic stuff, listen to the beforementioned "Summoning", or stuff like "Árstíðir Lífsins":


A great band I personally like are "Dråpsnatt" - nice melodies with strings and piano and an amazing voice:


The new "Gris" album is great too, but a bit more sombre or sad, you might say:


Another band I worship is "Falkenbach", who combine great accoustic parts with very metal-unusual vocals:



"Eisregen" are a fun band, although I guess you need to understand the lyrics, to fully enjoy them - and they're pretty bloody sometimes, which you said you didn't like, but you may try:

In fact one thing I like about the genre is the extremely challenging instrumental work that goes with the vocals.

I wouldn't consider them "beatiful", but challenging instrumental work fits to "Deathspell Omega":

 

[Awesoham]

Thanks! I'm giving these a listen.

 

[UltimateApathy]

Obviously Limbonic Art:

 

[Podgie]

I'll second pretty much everything in HafgufaKraken's post.

And add Sig:Ar:Tyr, Aquilus, Nachtreich, and maybe Miserere Luminis and Pensées Nocturnes' Grotesque...

 

[neuroatrophy]

Sigh's Hangman's Hymn sounds like it would fit your epic black metal requirement.