SharkTooth
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Getting Into Black Metal - My journey so far

Hello, It's user who used to be relevant a decade ago. After years of the only black metal album I knew and liked being Ulver's Bergtatt (I've only really been into doom and stoner metal to this point) I decided I wanted to really take a dive into this genre since it's so popular. Here's some opinions on various albums I've checked thus far, my write ups are prob stupid but yolo
1Deafheaven
Sunbather

Yeah this doesn't strike me as black metal at all, like instrumentally it is, but the way it's produced feels like the most furious dream pop album ever. It's an interesting listen but not very enjoyable as music per se. I dunno, my only thought whenever I listen to this thing is "What a very strange combination of sounds." I'd give it a 2/5 cuz it does some weird shit which is cool, but I don't enjoy a single song here on a personal level.
2Deafheaven
Lonely People With Power

Okay this one is awesome. Maybe it's melodies I can easier get into, maybe it's because it's got that black metal melancholy that I crave really badly right now, but even the tracks that aren't black metal really work here, already I can see this as a 4-4.5, but I need more listens to settle on a score.
3Agalloch
The Mantle

I have trouble getting into this record beyond the first two tracks. A Celebration For the Death of Man and In The Shadow of Our Pale Companion just go together to create a really beautiful, haunting piece, but I struggled to really enjoy anything beyond those. My best guess is that the first two tracks were so good they set the bar too high for the rest of the album which ruins the listening experience for me beyond the 18 minute mark, I might have to try the album without those tracks and see if they click easier for me that way. a working 2/5
4Ulver
Bergtatt - Et eeventyr i 5 capitler

This is the only black metal record before this year that I've listened to in full on a regular basis, other than Blood Fire Death. But unlike Blood Fire Death, this one still holds up in my pov. Coming from doom metal I'm a sucker for sadness, atmospheres, and slower songs, and this album satisfies that itch in a really neat way. I think another factor that really made me click with this record early on was the stronger melodies and blend bedween the growls and cleans that sound straight out of gregorian chants, 5/5
5Wayfarer
American Gothic

I was drawn into this album by its old west album cover, and the fact that an album title like 'American Gothic' just goes hard. I went in completely blind and was not expecting "cowboy metal" as it's so called, and especially not to be as good as THIS. The combination of country and black metal is such a weird concept, but to quote Sunnyvale's review: "this album doesn’t feel like a novelty at all - yes, this might be “cowboy metal” or whatever you’d like to call it, but the mood and vibes are utterly convincing". Also it has incredibly strong melodies and riffs, probably my favorite outside the Ulver record above and the other Wayfarer record below. 4/5
6Wayfarer
A Romance with Violence

Same feelings as above but even better. This feels like a darker, moodier, more atmospheric version of American Gothic, while the above has better melodies and riffs. I swear Wayfarer might become a favorite band of mine if they keep it up with albums this good. 4.5/5
7Darkthrone
A Blaze in the Northern Sky

There's a really good record here, I just find the kvlt audio quality to be a bit of an obstacle when it comes to enjoying this as music for me, I don't think it's fair to rate this thing so I'll just default to what I said on a previous list and describe it as television static/5
8Darkthrone
Transilvanian Hunger

same thing here, it's just too kvlt for me right now.
9Triptykon
Melana Chasmata

Apparently these guys are black metal, honestly I got into this a long time ago for the doom metal tag and yeah, as a doom metal record this rips. m/ /5
10Bathory
Blood Fire Death

I first tried this album almost a decade ago thanks to it being on a list by former Sput user Jacquibim about the hardest riffs or something, they put this at the top and it made me want to check it out. The riffs are great, but honestly I just don't vibe with this album anywhere near as much as I used to, back in the day this was an easy 5, but the riffs don't do anything for me these days, and the production is somewhat of a turnoff, a lot of 80s extreme metal has this lo fi production that just makes everything sound flat which just ruins the music for me. Nowadays I'd put it at a 2/5 unfortunately
11Darkthrone
The Underground Resistance

I remember checking this out years ago and enjoying it, but upon relisten this just does nothing for me. The riffs are solid but I fail to connect with a single song here. honestly I just feel like a 2/5, it's solidly made but ultimately I just feel indifferent when listening to this.
12Emperor
Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk

Goddamn this one might dethrone Ulver as my favorite black metal record, I LOVE how sinister the whole thing sounds! the synths and songwriting just make this sound straight up evil and so goddamn grandiose at the same time my god! easily a 5/5 and imo the best black metal record I've heard thus far
13Mayhem
Deathcrush

This was recommended to me from this very comment section. It's cool, rather groovy sometimes, but nothing mindblowing, it's a fine metal record that doesn't particularly do much to scratch my BM itch. 3/5
14Mayhem
Esoteric Warfare

This is good. Great riffs, great energy, great production, It's just a really solid metal record altogether. Not what I look for in BM but I completely get the appeal. 3.5/5
15Caladan Brood
Echoes Of Battle

I really like this one, it's got its own vibe with the fantasy medieval music paired with the atmospheric black metal. BM with an epic fantasy vibe does work extremely well, which is not surprising given a lot of BM tends to go for the grandiose, and what is high fantasy if not grandiose? 4/5
16Gehenna
First Spell

Spooky! That organ on the first track comes straight out of a cheesy dracula reference, which when combined with black metal growls and those hazy riffs is a whole vibe into itself. budgie described it as "first spell coziest album ever its like a crackling fireplace in ur ears" and I completely get it. the synths combined with the riffs just give a warmth I wouldn't have expected from a black metal record. Also, it's hard to describe but instrumentally this does remind me a lot of Katatonia's Brave Murder Day which is a classic so that also is a point in this album's favor 4/5
17Ulver
Nattens Madrigal

This is a another kvlt one, instrumentally this is very good. I'll give it that, but honestly when I listen to this, the production just makes me think of crossover thrash a la Cryptic Slaughter. Instrumentally sure it's nothing alike, but production goes a long way when it comes to creating a vibe, and while this is a very good record, it just doesn't register as black metal to my brain. Definitely a good record but it's just too kvlt for my taste 2.5/5
18Mayhem
Live in Leipzig

Yeah upon listening to 3 Mayhem records, I have concluded that their BM is not the BM will scratch my BM itch. On the positive side, this is raw but not potato quality kvlt raw. On the other side, I just don't get anything out of it as a listener. I dunno, I like black metal for the *atmospheres* as overused as that word is, this is just straightforward punch you in the face extreme metal, which is all fine and dandy, just not what the Sharktooth of 2025 desires in his metal. 3/5
19Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain

Upon first listen this is immediately a better whole album compared to the Mantle. Whereas The Mantle started off with the greatest 18 minutes of music to have ever graced my eardrums and then a bunch of songs that comparatively were just fine, this starts off fantastic and stays that way the whole runtime. there's no high like In the Shadow, but traded for that is a much more consistently enjoyable listen imo 4.5/5
20Panopticon
Roads to the North

I feel like this has the exact opposite issue for me as opposed to more "kvlt" records, the production is too clean here! like it starts off with a breeze audio which sets the mood but when the guitars start it's very strange to hear them with such clean production after so much BM that puts them in at least some haze, it's offputting for me. I won't rate this but if i had to I'd give it a 2/5, well made but the production is really weird and distracting in its cleanliness.
21Agalloch
Pale Folklore

This does not feel like black metal to me, sure there's elements but this feels like a folk metal record first and foremost with small elements of black metal. It just doesn't do much for what I'm looking for, and as such I will not rate it as I went in with preconceived expectations and it wouldn't be fair to judge the record based on those as opposed to the merit of its own music.
22Dimmu Borgir
Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia

I like this, it's got strong enough melodies to keep me interested beyond the riffs and blastbeats. I can see myself spinning this for fun. the synths and chord progressions make for a very fun listen. 3.5/5 great rec, thanks Hawks
23Negative Plane
Stained Glass Revelations

This is raw but in a way that I fully fuck with. I love the reverb like it's being recorded in a big church or warehouse, it really gives a sense of place to this thing, and melodically this thing is fantastic. Upon listening for the first time this album grabbed me and straight up hooked me. That reverb really is what sells this record to me holy shit I am definitely gonna listen to this one again. 4.5/5
24Cradle of Filth
Midian

I like how accessible this album is, would not expect that from black metal but it works really well here, and when combined with the campy artwork it's just a fun ride. Not sure if I'd listen again but I'm glad I checked this out. 3.5/5
25Evoking Winds
Your Rivers

Just started this record and already impressed with the way it sounds. This feels thoroughly modern, but something about the synths and compositions is very emotionally evocative even when I don't understand what they're saying, I think the review for this gave the best descriptor as 'cinematic', every song feels grand, like a scene from lord of the rings. I don't really have many other descriptions for this, it's just really fucking good! 4.5/5
26Lantlos
.neon

My main impression of this album is "very angsty". It does play around with jazz a bit which is pretty cool, just did a relisten, it's good, but idk, angsty blackgaze isn't for me. 3/5
27Panopticon
Autumn Eternal

I like this a fair bit more than Roads To the North, which makes me wonder if I'd enjoy Roads to the North if I give it another shot. What's the difference between the two that makes me prefer this one? I have no idea, perhaps you BM fans who know more about this genre would know. All I do know is this is a solid good time. I'm feeling between a 3.5 and a 4/5, probably a 3.7/5
28Null (USA)
Hiraeth

This is a very different black metal record compared to anything else I've heard. What I find curious is how this is a black metal record with the signature whispery growls, but it's thematically it's anything but grim. It's kinda an amusing juxtaposition. Also it's just extremely sonically diverse, goes into stereotypical medieval music and old school prog at different points which makes it a really fun listen beginning to end. Definitely worth the listen and I'm thankful for the recommendation. I do gotta say, the review was completely correct on the riffs, this album riffs hard, and not just in the metal sections, the folk riffs are also fantastic 4/5

only complaint is holy hell this is a long one, a double album almost 2 hours in length.
29Summoning
Stronghold

Instrumentally this doesn't strike me as black metal given there's no blastbeats or rapid tremolo riffs. That being said this is still an excellent listen and I'm glad I checked this out, very high fantasy which, like, duh. Anyway 4/5 great rec
30Kvelertak
Kvelertak

So I learned about this subgenre called "Black 'n' Roll" on rym and was intrigued, this was the top album for it. And goddamn this thing SLAPS. Easy 4.5/5. It grooves, it moves, it's the first certified HEADBANGER on this list.
31Lantlos
Agape

Sorry Hawks, I prefer Agape to .neon. It's just heavier, slower, fuzzier, all things that make me happy. 3.8/5
32Alda
Tahoma

Very solid. The the folk segments are easily the highlight here, the black metal segments are fine but they vary from great to just fine, so whether I'm drawn into the album depends on what song and riff much of the time. 3.3/5
33Ne Obliviscaris
Portal of I

If I were to sum up my thoughts on this record in one sentence, it would be "symphonic black metal opeth". And tbh that's pretty rad. I like what these guys are doing. The album art looks like shlocky novels you might find at the bargain bin at walmart, but musically I'm fucking with what these guys are putting out and will def check out more Ne Obliviscaris. 4/5
34Ne Obliviscaris
Citadel

I sorta goof'd it cuz this was the album actually recommended to me and not Portal of I. that being said I thought Portal of I was excellent so I'm expecting great things from this. I find a lot of modern prog to be fascinating in how songs are always shifting between stages and trying to be epic and stuff. I personally think of this and the above as more prog than they are black metal, but I have nothing against that. These both are great listens regardless 4/5.
35The Ruins of Beverast
The Thule Grimoires

Okay now THIS is my shit! I love the way he pairs the sludge in the background like it's the ocean with black metal riffs in the foreground, they just build atop each other to create this bleak crushing sound that is my dorm of pure auditory bliss! I want to put this in the background of my day to day life just so I can mentality zone out and get lost in the fuzz, which is exactly what I I find appealing about doom/stoner/sludge. 4.5/5 I need to check out the rest of this guy's stuff STAT
36Skagos
Chariot Sun Blazing

An excellent recommendation, it has all the atmospherics that a guy like me with an 18% psychedelic on his pie chart would desire. but beyond your typical epic atmospherics, this has some loungey jazzy sections which is pretty fun! Reminds me of the more relaxed segments in ISIS's music. 3.5/5
37Shade Empire
Omega Arcane

Honestly this is a headbanger. I could say something about the synths or how the intro seemed out of some video game, but really the one thing that stands out to me is just that I really like 'em riffs. 4/5
38Cultes Des Ghoules
Coven

I just can't figure out what I feel about these guys, between Coven and Henbane I've spent a long time trying to form an opinion and I just don't really know what i feel about these. It's very confusing for me because I don't know if I even like their music. It's a very strange experience for me
39Lord Belial
Enter the Moonlight Gate

This album screams 2 things: theatrical and camp. This just feels like I'm entering the lair of an evil skeleton or something, it's got that vibe. 4/5 this is oddly accessible imo
40Saidan
Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity

Okay so it's been a bit, I've recharged my batteries, and I'm jumping back into my black metal journey with this album. Well for starters, I'm not a fan of the art. And secondly, I really like the combination of sounds here. It's got some punk riffs, some black metal moments, and then you got some riffs that just sound like something out of an anime theme song. It's a good juxtaposition that helps give this thing its own unique vibe. 3.5/5
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