black metal
what it is
Black metal is a form of extreme metal featuring harsh shrieking vocals, fast guitars with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, and raw or lo-fi production. Lyrics include topics such as: satanism, evil, viking culture, paganism. Some forms of black metal put an emphasis on the nuances of ambience or atmosphere, while others focus more on melody or technicality.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make black metal a playlist
turn these 36 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is black metal?
Black metal is a form of extreme metal featuring harsh shrieking vocals, fast guitars with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, and raw or lo-fi production. Lyrics include topics such as: satanism, evil, viking culture, paganism. Some forms of black metal put an emphasis on the nuances of ambience or atmosphere, while others focus more on melody or technicality.
What are good black metal albums to start with?
Try De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem, Bathory by Bathory, The Age of Nero by Satyricon, and Under a Funeral Moon by Darkthrone.
Who are some women making black metal?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/black-metal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making black metal, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20