Favorite Atmospheric Black Metal Records
One of my favorite and most important list. Every record means greatness. Included here are classics not newer masterpieces which could be here in a few years. |
| 1 |  | Lurker Of Chalice
Lurker Of Chalice
100/100.
Unique sounding darkness. This is my perfect version of black metal. The cult of this album will never die. |
| 2 |  | Ash Borer
Ash Borer (Remastered)
95/100.
US black metal classic and such an important record for black metal going into newer directions. Cassette version and remastered version are both highly recommended. |
| 3 |  | Paysage d'Hiver
Paysage d'Hiver
95/100.
These 3 songs are the ice coldest winter black metal i know. And it is not norwegian second wave. Treble is so high that it will hurt your ears and you have to listen closely to find all the things of the music. Close second are Winterkälte and the Schnee compilation album. Both are easier to listen. |
| 4 |  | Weakling
Dead as Dreams
90/100.
A lost classic. If you own this on vinyl or cd, be happy! Vocals and atmosphere are creepy and there are a lot of sludgy riffs going on. |
| 5 |  | The Ruins of Beverast
Rain Upon the Impure
90/100.
Band always delivered on a very high level. This album stood out as the bands uncut gem and for me it is their best. Production is raw, harsh and cold. A lot of details are hidden behind high treble and ambient noise. Music is great atmospheric black metal variety with a lot of doom in it. |
| 6 |  | Spectral Lore
III |
| 7 |  | Blut Aus Nord
The Work Which Transforms God
90/100.
You can't compare Blut Aus Nord albums. This one stands out as relatively raw but modern, twisted and mostly pacy version of the band. It its straight but complex. |
| 8 |  | Mayhem
Ordo ad Chao
90/100.
Mayhem is not an atmospheric black metal band, i know. But Ordo ad Chao has one of the most evil and disturbing atmosphere which you will ever find on a black metal album. You won't find a flow here. This is like an one shot experimental highly anti music which will never be reproduced. Even not by the band itself. |
| 9 |  | Lunar Aurora
Andacht
87/100.
Creepy album with german lyrics, fantastic sound ideas and totally fine songwriting. |
| 10 |  | Verdunkeln
Einblick In Den Qualenfall
86/100.
Think of a post punk or darkwave version of black metal. Verdunkeln can delivered that and not many bands had followed that path. |
| 11 |  | Leviathan
Massive Conspiracy Against All Life
87/100. |
| 12 |  | Mare Cognitum
Phobos Monolith
80/100. |
| 13 |  | Coldworld
Melancholie² |
| 14 |  | Darkspace
Dark Space III |
| 15 |  | Summoning
Stronghold |
| 16 |  | In the Woods...
Heart of the Ages |
| 17 |  | Panopticon
Roads to the North
88/100.
A lof of decent folk influences and even melodeath riffs here and this stood the test of time as Panopticons best...good thing if you have such an unreal back catalogue. |
| 18 |  | Wolves in the Throne Room
Two Hunters
84/100.
Shocking and genreblowing record when it came out back in the days. Lost a little bit of its magic over the years. |
| 19 |  | Castevet
Obsian
87/100.
The most underrated record of this list. This could have opened the door for a modern sludgy approach of black metal. It rocks the hell out of everything. Obsian has no lengths or wasted time. |
| 20 |  | Altar of Plagues
Teethed Glory and Injury
85/100.
The most experimental and industrial record of this list and therefore an very important record for the genre. It's a huge grower so you probably might not see its greatness after the first spins. |
| 21 |  | Ulver
Bergtatt - Et eeventyr i 5 capitler
95/100.
No words needed for this norwegian classic. The mother of all atmospheric black metal albums. |
| 22 |  | Negura Bunget
OM
95/100.
Maybe the most varied and creative black metal record ever made. A lot of progressive sounds here. It will never ever get boring. |
| 23 |  | Saor
Aura
80/100.
Fantastic and warm atmospheric folk black metal with love for details. |
| 24 |  | Fen
Carrion Skies
75/100.
This album is a lot post metal and offers a lot details to discover. Sound is overall more friendly and not so dark and evil like many other albums listed here. |
| 25 |  | Fell Voices
Untitled
Very instrumental and clever black metal here. Only two long songs which won't bore you. |
| 26 |  | Deafheaven
Sunbather
81/100. |
| 27 |  | 1349
Revelations of the Black Flame
78/100.
For sure the most maybe one and only controversial listing here. But for me this is the best anti-record a black metal band has ever done. Atmosphere is dense and you should find satisfaction here if you like drone music and black metal. |
| 28 |  | Shining (SWE)
IV - The Eerie Cold
85/100.
The most progressive and least depressive album of Shining which comes with almost post rock parts. Not all Shining albums are so well-rounded like this one. |
| 29 |  | Woods of Desolation
Torn Beyond Reason (Remastered) |
| 30 |  | The Axis of Perdition
Deleted Scenes From Transition Hospital |
| 31 |  | Krallice
Krallice |
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