Top 5 Best Contemporary Black Metal Bands

SilkCrimsonMoon

Would definitely add RoB and Elysian Blaze to my list.

belowthelights

AlexandeR wrote
Thrashtildeth wrote
AlexandeR wrote
Thrashtildeth wrote
Ok, that's it!I said once before I was going to get myself into BM, but I didn't put my heart into it. This time I'm really gonna do it. Gonna start with trapt's bands because I liked his recommendations when I tried them briefly before.This is it. Gonna do it.
Stay away from Krallice and Panopticon!Work you way from the roots, start with some good ole Emperor, Ulver and Darkthrone.
When I started exploring it very briefly a couple of months ago, I think I already figured out the old, super raw stuff isn't for me. I think that's the kind of stuff that has actually kept me away from it for so long. When I tried out a couple of trapt's more experimental suggestions, I found them much more interesting.But who knows. I'll be much more thorough this time, and we'll see what happens.
I don't find Emperor and Ulver "super raw stuff", especially Ulver. If you are into more melodic and epic stuff I can suggest some bands. What are you looking for in BM?

Emperor and Ulver are both indeed great starting points for BM (that is literally how I got into anyways). Emperor is more majestic and epic than just plain old raw black metal, and then Ulver is incredibly melodic. There is nothing surprising at all about the musical direction he has headed in over the years. This is NOT to suggest that these are somehow watered down newbie black metal bands or something, both are legends for good reasons of course.

Also, Nokturnal Mortum - The Voice Of Steel is a must. So gooood

traptunderice

belowthelights wrote
AlexandeR wrote
Thrashtildeth wrote
AlexandeR wrote
Thrashtildeth wrote
Ok, that's it!I said once before I was going to get myself into BM, but I didn't put my heart into it. This time I'm really gonna do it. Gonna start with trapt's bands because I liked his recommendations when I tried them briefly before.This is it. Gonna do it.
Stay away from Krallice and Panopticon!Work you way from the roots, start with some good ole Emperor, Ulver and Darkthrone.
When I started exploring it very briefly a couple of months ago, I think I already figured out the old, super raw stuff isn't for me. I think that's the kind of stuff that has actually kept me away from it for so long. When I tried out a couple of trapt's more experimental suggestions, I found them much more interesting.But who knows. I'll be much more thorough this time, and we'll see what happens.
I don't find Emperor and Ulver "super raw stuff", especially Ulver. If you are into more melodic and epic stuff I can suggest some bands. What are you looking for in BM?
Emperor and Ulver are both indeed great starting points for BM (that is literally how I got into anyways). Emperor is more majestic and epic than just plain old raw black metal, and then Ulver is incredibly melodic. There is nothing surprising at all about the musical direction he has headed in over the years. This is NOT to suggest that these are somehow watered down newbie black metal bands or something, both are legends for good reasons of course.

Ulver is great, but that production is so off-putting. Emperor is a great band to start with; it's what I did, but I was also much less aware of what I liked so was much more willing to stick with things in order to form tastes. Them and 1349 honestly. Oh, and Limbonic Art. I would just play bmr until I found things I liked.

Krallice and Panopticon would be fine gateway bands. If you like tech-y stuff, Krallice is tech-y stuff playing black metal. I sent him a link, but was hesitant about it. And if he likes Panopticon, he'll love Darkthrone, because honestly Panopticon's black metal moments are weak attempts at Darkthrone's sound albeit with much better production via Colin Marston. Plus the folk bits make it easier to digest and imo better aesthetically despite its weaknesses.

Thrashtildeth

Well, I guess an update is in order then.

I listened to the entirety of Nachtmystium's Black Meddle I: Assassins, recommended by trapt, and I bloody loved it. Not just like, but love. Funnily, it wasn't really very much along the lines of what I perceived as Black Metal, it was kind of closer to Prog (which as most of you know I am more than a little partial to) with Black Metal elements, but regardless, I loved it and it will be a purchase for me.

Now I believe I will sample the rest of Nachtmystium's discography, followed by the rest of the suggestions that trapt PM'd me, and I have to say I'm rather giddy about the whole prospect. I think I'm onto a good thing here.

Tehom

Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.

SilkCrimsonMoon

Tehom wrote
Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.

Yeah, I know. It's quite obvious but I just had to second it.

RelentlessOblivion

nice to here, unfortunately I can't pm you a link to this thread on the other forum as it's temporarily down for updates, but I can suggest a couple of bands

you may like Arcturus, check out their Aspera Hiems Symfornia album as the best place to start

I've seen several people suggest Ulver, Bergtatt is the place to start

Celtic Frost's To Mega Therion is also a good album to look into

there are all pretty well known bands I admit but probably a good starting point for someone just getting into black metal

traptunderice

Thrashtildeth wrote
Well, I guess an update is in order then.I listened to the entirety of Nachtmystium's Black Meddle I: Assassins, recommended by trapt, and I bloody loved it. Not just like, but love. Funnily, it wasn't really very much along the lines of what I perceived as Black Metal, it was kind of closer to Prog (which as most of you know I am more than a little partial to) with Black Metal elements, but regardless, I loved it and it will be a purchase for me.Now I believe I will sample the rest of Nachtmystium's discography, followed by the rest of the suggestions that trapt PM'd me, and I have to say I'm rather giddy about the whole prospect. I think I'm onto a good thing here.

No. You're not. Black Meddle I is an oddity. For II: Addicts, they added some electronic elements and the songwriting just wasn't there. The progginess was just not there in the way it was on Assassins. Sorry. Give it a listen but a hesitant purchase. Their newest Silencing Machine is decent, but I don't know if you'll like it. Demise and Instinct: Decay are great black metal albums, but never have the ambition of Assassins. Don't let me stop you, but I wouldn't want you bouncing down the yellow brick road if there was no wizard at the end.

North_From_Here

Tehom wrote
Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.

Among many other bands listed here. They are more black than doom, anyway, so whatever.

Thrashtildeth

traptunderice wrote
Thrashtildeth wrote
Well, I guess an update is in order then.I listened to the entirety of Nachtmystium's Black Meddle I: Assassins, recommended by trapt, and I bloody loved it. Not just like, but love. Funnily, it wasn't really very much along the lines of what I perceived as Black Metal, it was kind of closer to Prog (which as most of you know I am more than a little partial to) with Black Metal elements, but regardless, I loved it and it will be a purchase for me.Now I believe I will sample the rest of Nachtmystium's discography, followed by the rest of the suggestions that trapt PM'd me, and I have to say I'm rather giddy about the whole prospect. I think I'm onto a good thing here.
No. You're not. Black Meddle I is an oddity. For II: Addicts, they added some electronic elements and the songwriting just wasn't there. The progginess was just not there in the way it was on Assassins. Sorry. Give it a listen but a hesitant purchase. Their newest Silencing Machine is decent, but I don't know if you'll like it. Demise and Instinct: Decay are great black metal albums, but never have the ambition of Assassins. Don't let me stop you, but I wouldn't want you bouncing down the yellow brick road if there was no wizard at the end.

S'all good man. I've only committed to one purchase so far. Anyway, if I end up buying something I don't like, I'm not going to hold you responsible. You've just given me some good suggestions to start with, I can be responsible for my own decision from here.

cry_of_the_banshee

emperorblackdoom wrote
Tehom wrote
Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.
Among many other bands listed here. .

Like Teen Chutulhu?

Tehom

:lol:

Is that a serious band name, what the fuck!?! Haha

cry_of_the_banshee

Anyway, anybody that is into real old school Teutonic thrash should be into the rawer true black metal; I've always felt that the black metal in the vein of Darkthrone is nothing more than a carrying of the torch, a continuation of where Sodom, Celtic Frost and Destruction in their salad days left off. By all logic, if you are into early Sodom, Destruction, and Venom's debut, you should like the rawer side of black metal.

cry_of_the_banshee

Tehom wrote
:lol:Is that a serious band name, what the fuck!?! Haha

It is indeed.

North_From_Here

cry of the banshee wrote
emperorblackdoom wrote
Tehom wrote
Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.
Among many other bands listed here. .
Like Teen Chutulhu?

Great, you made me listen to this now. Damn it noodles! For those curious:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4</a>

cry_of_the_banshee

emperorblackdoom wrote
cry of the banshee wrote
emperorblackdoom wrote
Tehom wrote
Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.
Among many other bands listed here. .
Like Teen Chutulhu?
Great, you made me listen to this now. Damn it noodles! For those curious:<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4</a>

:lol:

RelentlessOblivion

by raw do you mean like early Bathory, Darkthrone etc or is there something I'm missing?

dunno if they've been mentioned and I didn't enjoy them but Burzum could (or could npt) be worth a look for you thrash

cry_of_the_banshee

RelentlessOblivion wrote
by raw do you mean like early Bathory, Darkthrone etc or is there something I'm missing?dunno if they've been mentioned and I didn't enjoy them but Burzum could (or could npt) be worth a look for you thrash

Well, yeah, but there a ton of good bands that utilize the minimalistic, "raw" approach. There really are too many to just rattle off.

Burzum and those bands that stemmed from that root actually are fairly difffernt than bands such as Darkthrone, etc.... though Burzum is fairly "raw" and minimialist, as well. Yeah, I know. :lol:

There are like four distinct roots from which most black metal stem from:

Darkthrone, Burzum, Mayhem and Emperor. And those bands have roots (sub-roots) from which they have grown out of, bands such as Bathory, early Sodom, etc.

This may look fuzzy, I haven't finished my first cup of coffee yet, but I'll try and elaborate later in the day when my brain is more alert.

AlexandeR

cry of the banshee wrote
emperorblackdoom wrote
cry of the banshee wrote
emperorblackdoom wrote
Tehom wrote
Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.
Among many other bands listed here. .
Like Teen Chutulhu?
Great, you made me listen to this now. Damn it noodles! For those curious:<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4</a>
:lol:

I feel sick... :sad:

I know musical tastes are subjective, but fuck noodles, do you really like this band? I find it disgusting.

traptunderice

AlexandeR wrote
cry of the banshee wrote
emperorblackdoom wrote
cry of the banshee wrote
emperorblackdoom wrote
Tehom wrote
Elysian Blaze aren't pure bm.
Among many other bands listed here. .
Like Teen Chutulhu?
Great, you made me listen to this now. Damn it noodles! For those curious:<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipFJGbgPc4</a>
:lol:
I feel sick... :sad:I know musical tastes are subjective, but fuck noodles, do you really like this band? I find it disgusting.

It's so good.

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