Metalcatto
Since you people seemed to somehow care about my Death Metal opinion, I thought why not try with the edgiest niche. However, I’m going to avoid the most obvious albums here. So no Mayhem, Burzum, or Darkthrone. Don’t panic—I’ll still drop a Norwegian classic or two. Let’s go.
Satyricon – Nemesis Divina: Many before me have said this is peak corny Black Metal, and they’re not wrong. Everyone—especially the singer—is making such a huge effort to sound as evil as possible. It’s hard to take it seriously honestly. Having said that, the songwriting is nothing but great. Sure, Dark Medieval Times had the atmosphere, but Nemesis Divina has perfected that horrifying era vibe. It does feel like being lost in the woods in the 11th century. Yay.
Immortal – In the Heart of Winter: These guys might have never looked serious or competent, yet that’s all we have here. Riffs colder and tighter than anything that came before it. It portrays a land of eternal winter and moody gods. Even if you don’t care about all the geek stuff, it’s hard to find guitars that hit you with more memorable riffs. Once you listen to this classic, it’s almost impossible to not remember at least one riff. Sure, Abbath is a bit over the top, but the rest justifies it. So if you’re a kid and haven’t checked this one out, now it’s time.
Wolves in the Throne Room – Two Hunters: I’m not sure what’s going on with the cover, but maybe I do know what the music is about. American Black Metal has an essential trait: it reflects the vastness, beauty, and brutality of nature. What better way to introduce you to that school of thought than with Two Hunters, an album that defies what Black Metal can be—not so much in technical terms, but in atmospheric ones. An album that can be gorgeous and godless at the same time. The band has had other interesting albums, but nothing compares to the depth and innovation in this one.
Blut Aus Nord – Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers of the Icy Age: It couldn’t be one of my Black Metal lists without the French. Blut Aus Nord has had a long and chameleonic career. The real protagonist here is the mystery itself. It’s hard to tell what Memoria Vetusta is about. The lyrics are an enigma, and the aesthetic is psychedelic but also ancient at the same time. The album was a compact display of what the band would show in depth later on. This is probably as creative as raw Black Metal can get. This is peak potato production and songwriting.
Batushka – Litourgiya: Before you say this isn’t old enough to be here, let me remind you that it’s been more than a decade since it came out. I had the honor to see these guys live before they split and tried to kill each other. If you want to understand Black Metal with not only high quality in terms of musicianship and production, but also with a great sense of aesthetics and theatrics, then Litourgiya is a must for you. How many bands out there have made a whole album in Old Slavonic mocking an Orthodox mass? It’s truly unique. Good luck trying to get a copy of this thing though.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 