Proggy/Avant/Dissonant Black Metal: Listening List
A preliminary list (subject to future modification and expansion) of variously progressive, avant-garde, experimental, and dissonant black metal that I have recently compiled as part of a growing listening list. Here, I have focused on records that I have not yet listened to (extensively) but that I am, as it stands, quite excited to check out, with special attention paid to more obscure underground releases. Check out my previous list for the death metal version of this. Feel free to add any recommendations based on what is listed here. |
| 80 |  | Jute Gyte
Unus Mundus Patet
To start this list of obscure records I thought I would commence with two artists perhaps relatively more well-known among the 'trve' black metal underground dwellers, starting here with an artist whose material I have listened to (and been thoroughly impressed by) but never extensively: this enigmatic one-person serialist microtonal black metal project fusing avant-garde black metal and modern classical music into meticulously constructed, complexly layered soundscapes. |
| 79 |  | Scarcity
Aveilut
To continue with this initial theme of avant-garde micortonal black metal, here we have the debut record by Brooklyn-based (as far as I understand it) experimental, totalist, abrasively dissonant avant-noise atmopsheric black metal project Scarcity (I am thinking this will very much hit the musical sweet spot for me). |
| 78 |  | Petrale
The World Down There
Apparently another instantiation, this time from a Swiss-Croation outfit, of avant-gardistic, densely atmospheric dissonant black metal (forming the hitherto penultimate record in an already expansive catalogue). |
| 77 |  | Narzissus
Akt III: Erlösung
Apparently some rather strange/avant-gardistic melodic black metal with dark jazz inflections (?) from this one-person (i.e. Erech Leleth) Austrian black metal project forming the third installment in a three-volume project (with this record following on from two preceding EPs). |
| 76 |  | Sleep Paralysis (ITA)
Sleep Paralysis
Apparently some avant-gardistic genre-bending dissonant black metal with experimental and dark jazz inflections (?) from this Italian outfit's eponymous debut record (with the I, Voidhanger stamp of approval). |
| 75 |  | Gorrch
Stillamentum
Apparently another slab of viciously intense spiralling, enveloping dissonant black metal from this Italian due's 2026 sophomore full length (may be right up my alley). |
| 74 |  | Skin Tension
Inaugurate Renaissance
Apparently some immensely challenging avant-gardistic brutal-prog-infused dissonant black metal with disso-death inflections and avant-garde jazz lineaments: seems like it will very much it the musical sweet for me (this record here being this outfit's latest release though its back catalogue entices in equal measure). |
| 73 |  | Strigiform
Aconite
Apparently some adventurous deathly dissonant black metal from this Italian outfit's relatively recent debut record (again with the I, Voidhanger Records' stamp of approval). |
| 72 |  | Kvadrat
The Horrible Dissonance of Oblivion
Apparently some intense heavily death-metal-inflected dissonant black metal from this one-man Greek outfit's fairly recent debut record (certainly very aptly titled it seems). |
| 71 |  | Amiensus
Reclamation: Part 1
Apparently some progressive, post-metal-inflected, genre-bending melodic atmospheric black metal forming the first installation of a two-volume project from this Rochester-based outfit. |
| 70 |  | Cthuluminati
Tentacula
Apparently a rather strange progressive black/stoner-doom fusion hailing from my home country of the Netherlands (which makes me think that it probably just about qualifies for a black metal listening list, because at this point, black metal is about the only kind of metal being made over here). |
| 69 |  | Hallucivore
Shrouded in Exogaian Petrichor
Apparently some vicious technical/progressive black/death metal from this emerging Boston-based outfit's recent debut record (the convulated album title and intriguingly strange album art bode well for this one). |
| 68 |  | Juodvarnis
Tėkmės
Apparently some equal parts proggressive and blackened atmopsheric metal from this Lithuanian quartet (this being their fourth and supposedly most acclaimed record). |
| 67 |  | Amun
Spectra and Obsession
Apparently some massively grandiose progressive/avant-gardistic genre-bending atmospheric black metal music from this outfit's third, and as I understand it final, release. |
| 66 |  | Wormreign
Abyssus
Apparently some viciously intense dissonant black metal with deathened and sludgy inflections from this obscure Canadian quartet (whose only release I had to add to this site myself in composing this list). |
| 65 |  | Vehementer Nos
Vehementer Nos
Apparently some particularly progressive black metal with neoclassical darkwave inflections (?) on this French outfit's debut record. |
| 64 |  | Wild Hunt
Afterdream of the Reveller
Apparently some strange progressive atmospheric black metal on the sophomore release from this Oakland-based outfit (supposedly also with some twisted doom-inflections). |
| 63 |  | Waning
The Human Condition
Apparently some progressive dissonance-inflected black metal from Gothenburg, Sweden (because of course). |
| 62 |  | Velnezers
I: Es Uzcēlu Durvis Tīrumā
Apparently some avant-gardistic proggy dissonance-inflected black metal serving as the first volume in a double-record from this Latvian quartet (sounds right up my alley) |
| 61 |  | Douaumont
Chironex Fleckeri
Apparently some progressive dissonant black metal from this Minneapolis-based two-piece outfit comprised of Matt Wees and Andy Meyer (sounds right my alley). |
| 60 |  | Occulta Veritas
Irreducible Fear of the Sublime
Apparently some progressive dissonance-inflected, post-metal-tinged, black metal from this Italian band's sophomore record (with I, Voidhanger Records' stamp of approval). |
| 59 |  | LVME
Of Sinful Nature
Apparently some proggy, dissonance-inflected black metal from this black metal outfit of international origin's fairly recent debut record (sounds right up my alley aesthetico-musically). |
| 58 |  | LKVGT
Manische omarming van een alomvattend niets
Apparently some avant-gardistic deathened/blackened extreme metal music (which could just as easily have ended up on the death metal list) from this obscure outfit hailing from my home country of the Netherlands (whose intriguing title literally translates to 'manic embrace of an all-encompassing nothing'). |
| 57 |  | Fardeaux
The Den Has Become An Abyss
Apparently some viciously intense, pummelling avant-gardistic dissonant black metal from this French two-piece's debut record (this sounds right up my alley as well). |
| 56 |  | Nervous (POL)
Acquiescence
Apparently some progressive avant-gardistic dissonant black metal from this one-person Polish project (this album its first and only release). |
| 55 |  | Voluptas
Towards the Great White Nothing
Apparently some vicious dissonant, psyhedelic/doom-inflected experimental black metal from this Czechian outfit's debut record (with an excellent title for a record in this apparent style by the way). |
| 54 |  | Maladie
For We Are the Plague
Apparently some avant-gardistic progressive genre-bending black metal from one this German six-piece's latest releases (with an expansive back catalogue of distinct record's to boot). |
| 53 |  | Arkheth
Clarity Came With A Cool Summer's Breeze
Apparently some highly experimental avant-gardistic genre-bending deathly-inflected, strongly jazz-tinged death metal from this Australian group's latest release (with the I, Voidhanger stamp of approval). |
| 52 |  | Nirrti
Cyberpsychosis
Apparently some avant-gardistic dissonance-inflected, disso-death-tinged black metal from this Czechian one-person black metal project's latest release (supposed genre-combination very much piques my interest). |
| 51 |  | Stagnant Waters
Stagnant Waters
Apparently some avant-gardistic proggy dissonance-inflected, industrial/jazz-tinged black metal from this French-Norwegian outfit's eponymous debut record (supposedly this is some straight up musical insanity). |
| 50 |  | Lugubrum
Heilige dwazen
Apparently one of the more acclaimed records in the this prolific Belgian avant-gardistic black metal outfit's extremely expansive discography (the title literally translates to 'holy fools' in Dutch/Flemish). |
| 49 |  | In Tormentata Quiete
Krononota
Apparently some highly avant-gardistic progressive (melodic?) black metal pushing towards the genre's very aesthetic edges from this Italian seven-piece (this being the latest release in an extensive discography). |
| 48 |  | Epectase
Nécroses
Apparently some highly experimental, genre-bending avant-gardistic black metal from this French duo's sophomore outing (including electronic and krautrock inflections; colour me intrigued). |
| 47 |  | Gudveiki
Vængför
Apparently some extremely chaotic, dissonant black/death metal from this Icelandic group (which like many of the entries on this list could probably just has easily have made it onto the death metal list instead). |
| 46 |  | Vermanthropes
Antagonisme
Apparently some enveloping dissonance-inflected atmospheric black metal (with deathened influences) on this debut EP (added to this site by yours truly) from this outfit of French origin. |
| 45 |  | Odz Manouk
Bosoragazan (Բոսորագազան)
Apparently some dissonance-inflected atmopsheric black metal from this American-Armenian outfit (this being their sophomore full length following on their generally even more acclaimed debut). |
| 44 |  | Angr
III
Apparently some hellish dissonance-inflected darkly atmospheric black metal from this one-person Russian metal project (this being their third obscure release, added to this site by myself). |
| 43 |  | Ploughshare
Second Wound
Apparently some adventurous dissonant (deathly-inflected) black metal from this Australian group's third record (again sounds right up my alley). |
| 42 |  | Reflection of Misery
Contranatura
Apparently some nightmarish atmospheric/dissonance-inflected black metal from this Nicaraguan group's debut record (comprised of three mammoth tracks, two reaching well over 15 minutes). |
| 41 |  | Agonanist
The Cynicism of Solitude
Apparently some more rather adventurous atmospheric dissonant death metal on the debut record from this San Fransico-based group (this being their only release thus far). |
| 40 |  | Asmodee (FRA-Poitou-Charentes)
Symptômes de ruine
Apparently some technical deathly-inflected black metal from an outfit of French origin (this being their debut record: I have added the remainder of their LPs for those wanting to dive deep). |
| 39 |  | Istava
Dual
Apparently some avant-gardistic dissonant death metal from a Vienna-based outfit (an EP to be specific, comprised of a two-part suite consisting of dual 13+ minute compositions). |
| 38 |  | Unknown Artist (FRA)
The Stench of Delusion
Apparently some particularly intense dissonant black metal from an unknown outfit of French origin (this being their second EP comprised of a single 19+ minute track). |
| 37 |  | Dispersion
Monochrome
Apparently some avant-gardistic dissonance-riven post-metal-inflected black metal from this Italian outfit (their latest release, which I had to add to the site myself). |
| 36 |  | Sacrificial Vein
Black Terror Genesis
Apparently some intense contemporary dissonant death metal from this US-based two-piece on their debut record (supposedly quite DsO-esque in their overall sound, with some deathened inflections). |
| 35 |  | Synthema Occvlta
Synthema Occvlta
Apparently some deathened dissonant black metal (or perphaps equally blackened death metal) on the debut EP from this Philadelphia-based duo (released through the antifascist black metal network) |
| 34 |  | Christian Necromancy
The Pederast
Apparently some unhinged avant-gardistic viciously intense microtonal black metal from this aptly named group's debut record (inspired by classical Greek texts of various kinds from lyric poetry to medical journals). |
| 33 |  | An Isolated Mind
I'm Losing Myself
Apparently some fairly experimental post-rock/metal-inflected atmospheric black metal from this one-person black metal project by Eureka-based musician Kameron Bogges (probably one of the 'lightest' entries on here). |
| 32 |  | Lux Absentia
Worship Nothing
Apparently another debut record from an obscure dissonant black metal band, by a one-person project hailing from New Jersey (which I actually had to add to the site myself; philosophically appealling title). |
| 31 |  | Acephalic Void
We Chose Death
Apparently some avant-gardistic industrial-inflected dissonant black metal on this group's debut EP (short but supposedly full of promising viciously spiralling dissonance; for the jaded disso-metal connoisseur) |
| 30 |  | Oculus
Of Temples and Vultures
Apparently another iteration of deathened/blackened dissonant extreme metal (this being the band's second record; again one of those records that could easily have made it onto the already too long death metal list). |
| 29 |  | Depths Above
Ex Nihilo
Apparently another slab of deathened/blackened dissonant extreme metal from Czechia (which much like some other releases on this list could probably just as easily have been placed on the complementary death metal list but that one is already too long so...). |
| 28 |  | Azoic
Gateways
First and only release from this Icelandic (of course) apparently dissonant black/death, blackened death, deathened black, metal band (which probably fits just as well on the death metal list but that one is already too long, and this band is from Iceland so I thought well...) |
| 27 |  | Ange de la Mort
Bequeathed
Latest release from this one-man dissonant black/death metal project by prolific metal musician Jared Moran, hailing from Gulfport, MS, United States (which apparently could just as easily have gone onto the death metal list, but since it is a one-man band I thought well...). |
| 26 |  | Bekor Qilish
Consecrated Abysses of Dread
Latest release from this avant-garde/technical/dissonant deathly black metal (slightly more so than blackened death metal) outfit whose first two releases, EP and first full length, thoroughly impressed me with dense, unrelentingly intense yet jagged riffage: hoping this latest release hits a similar musical sweet spot. |
| 25 |  | Salqiu
Orfeu
Apparently some avant-gardistic atmospheric black metal from this Portuguese outfit (this being their sophomore record within a rather packed discography; intriguing album cover by the way). |
| 24 |  | Atrorum
Structurae
Apparently some avant-gardistic/progressive black metal from this German two piece (this being the group's third full release). |
| 23 |  | Sconsacrata
Paroxysms
Apparently some avant-gardistic/experimental black metal (with industrial inflections) hailing from London, UK (this being the band's first, and currently sole, release). So obscure I had to add this to the site myself. |
| 22 |  | Genevieve
Akratic Parasitism
Apparently some experimental/avant-garde dissonant black metal from this Maryland group who have been going at it since 2014/2015 (possibly exciting back catalogue to peruse therefore). |
| 21 |  | Morpheus Tales
Secular Noir
Apparently some obscure progressive black metal (with psychedelic inflections?) hailing from this Greek two-piece (their sophomore being the more acclaimed of their releases). |
| 20 |  | De Magia Veterum
The Divine Antithesis
Apparently some avant-garde dissonant black metal from a one-man outfit hailing from the far north of my home country, the Netherlands, this being this project's third full length (colour me intrigued). |
| 19 |  | Dola
Tabernakulum
Had to add this third, and latest, release by this group to the site myself: apparently some avant-garde dissonance- and post-metal-inflected black metal (sounds right up my alley). |
| 18 |  | Maledictum
Sempiterno
Apparently some proggy dissonant black metal from Chile (comprising this band's sophomore release; if my preliminary description is even half-right this will probably hit a musical sweet spot for me). |
| 17 |  | Myrkul
The Wayward Path
Apparently some DIY progressive techy dissonant black metal (currently only with a single rating; might very well be worthy of a wider appreciation on this site). |
| 16 |  | Nihilism (GR)
Cataclysme Vers l'Ascendance
Apparently another slab of dissonant black metal from one of the many metal bands named 'Nihilism' (Greek band, French album title that seems befitting of what I expect this music to sound like). |
| 15 |  | In the Court of a Broken Flesh
In the Court of a Broken Flesh
Apparently so 'obscure' I had to add this to the site myself. Supposedly some dense, fairly progressive, dissonant atmospheric black metal (this being the band's first and only release thus far). |
| 14 |  | Pincer Consortium
Geminus Schism
Apparently so 'obscure' I had to add this to the site myself. Supposedly some grandiose, progressive, industrial-inflected dissonant black metal from a quixotic anonymous duo (sounds right up my alley). |
| 13 |  | Wolok
Servum Pecus
Apparently some Luxembourgian (industrial-infused) jagged dissonant death metal (sounds right my alley again; band also has an enticingly sizeable large discography to further peruse). |
| 12 |  | Ecferus
Pangaea
Apparently some rather atmospheric proggy dissonant black metal hailing from Indiana, US (this being the group's second full length with the enticing I, Voidhanger stamp of approval). |
| 11 |  | Hwwauoch
Into the Labyrinth of Consciousness
Apparently some rather dense, dissonant, suffocating labyrinthian black metal of unknown geographic origin (this being their second and generally most lauded release). |
| 10 |  | Yaldabaoth
That Which Whets the Saccharine Palate
Apparently some terrifying (progressive) dissonant black metal emerging from Alaska (music that gets firmly labelled as 'dissonant', even if it is not purely so, tends to hit the sweet spot for me so colour me intrigued). |
| 9 |  | Blattaria
Dismantle The New Cult
Apparently a one-man psychedelic dissonant black metal project (with this being its fourth, and latest, project; typically like psychedelic influences in my black metal so this is probably right up my alley). |
| 8 |  | Patrons Of The Rotting Gate
Bathed In Ash
Apparently some dark, dissonant, and chaotic progressive black metal from this two-piece group hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland (apt location for starting a black metal project; band title a historical reference?). |
| 7 |  | Stone Healer
Conquistador
Apparently some stoner-influenced (huh) progressive black metal from this group's debut full length (with an interesting historical reference in the title; colour me intrigued). |
| 6 |  | Gorath
Apokálypsis (Unveiling the Age that is not to Come
Apparently some progressive black metal from Belgium (with an album title seemingly rather befitting of the current historical moment; colour me intrigued). |
| 5 |  | Uulliata Digir
Uulliata Digir
Apparently some very strange avant-garde jazz-infused doomy dissonant black metal from Poland (sounds right up my alley; colour me intrigued). |
| 4 |  | Kexelur
Epigrama De Un Pasado Perdido
Apparently some viciously dissonant death metal from Chile (this being this band's first full length if one excludes their demo records and their split with Licht- und Schattensaiten). |
| 3 |  | Illkynja
Sæti Sálarinnar
Apparently from ice-cold weird dissonant black metal from the thinly populated Iceland (which has a habit of producing of high-quality black metal of the viciously dense variety). |
| 2 |  | The Clearing Path
Watershed Between Firmament And The Realm of Hyper
Apparently some techy, deathly, dissonant black metal with an album title so long this site does not permit you to add it in full (which is usually an indication of quality to be honest). |
| 1 |  | Lux Occulta
The Mother and the Enemy
Apparently some weird industrial-influenced progressive black metal (quity terrible cover, almost equally silly album title, but the music might very well be quite good). |
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