Abysmal
Gates (New Jersey)
Symphonic Black Metal, very keys driven. Has a deep and somber atmosphere
even though it is more of a mid-tempo than dirge. Guitars are well done,
drumming is very aggressive, and vocals are harsh and forced. Musicianship
is excellent, production varies from good to low. My fave pick is “Devoid
Of Light”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/233/abysmal_gates.html
Akhkharu
(Pennsylvania)
Deeply haunting Symphonic Black Metal with blasts of extreme aggression
that contrast perfectly against the sweeping melodies and mournfully
distant atmosphere (which is created by deeply reverbed instruments,
slower overall tempos, and light keys that fit perfectly). Guitar work
is sharp and clear, drumming is solid, vocals vary from grim and sinister
male to clean and operatic female. Musicianship is very good, production
is decent. My fave pick is “Thy Haunting Spectre”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/211/akhkharu.html
Alastis
(California)
Slow but hard Black Metal, very heavy sound that is difficult to explain.
It is unlike anything else I listen to, but I like it a lot. Very infectious
atmospheres coupled with grim but easily understood “sing-along”
vocals, harsh guitars and excellent drumming. Very different than many
other bands I have heard. Check it out. Musicianship is excellent, production
is high. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/7/alastis.html
Anno
Daemonicus (Maine)
Melodic Black Metal with an underlying brutality. Musically, the sound
comes across as light and accessible at first, but drops into a very
dark and sinister feeling. Lots of keys throughout, guitars are heavy
with assorted effects, drumming is straightforward and aggressive, vocals
are grim and bitter with deep growls in parts. Musicianship is very
good, production is decent. My fave pick is “Obscurity In The
Ancient Oaks”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/72/anno_daemonicus.html
Antarktyk
(Ohio)
Blasting and brutal Black Metal with some Death Metal influence. Drums
absolutely blaze, guitars are a high pitched grind, and vocals change
up from shrill screams to some of the deepest and most guttural growls
you could ever want. Musicianship is good, production is good. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/197/antarktyk.html
Arsis
(Virginia)
Black Metal with a heavy Melodic Thrash Metal influence. Various tempo
changes throughout, but the overall impression is fast and faster. The
guitar work is absolutely amazing, the drumming is explosively powerful,
and the vocals are angrily shouted screams. Musicianship is incredible
in all aspects, production is very good. Highly recommended to anyone
seeking a new guitar god to hail. My fave pick is “Worship Depraved”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/353/arsis.html
Averse
Sefira (Texas)
One of the most well known Black Metal band from the US. Chaotic Black
Metal, lots of speed and choppy breaks in the rhythms. Drumming is deep
and full, guitars have an interesting tone, and the vocals are absolutely
frozen. Musicianship is very good, production is decent. My fave pick
is “Homecoming’s March”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/124/averse_sefira.html
Azrael
(South Carolina)
Black Metal with a thick dose of Swedish Death Metal. Guitars are very
well done with asynchronous harmonization, drumming is hard and aggressive,
and the vocals are harsh and bitter. Musicianship is excellent, production
is good. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/344/a_z_r_a_e_l.html
Benighted
(North Carolina)
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/151/benighted.html
Black
Trinity (Ohio)
Raw and brutal Black Metal done the old way. No frills, no fluff, no
anything but bitterness and anger delivered through a 100% drums and
guitar driven sound. Varied tempos keep each song fresh and original,
guitars create the atmosphere, the drumming provides a solid platform,
and the vocal are absolutely frozen and hateful. This is Black Metal
the way it used to be. Musicianship is good enough; production is perfect
for this sound. My fave picks (out of 12 available songs) are “Black
Trinity”, “The Black Knight”, and “Frozen North”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/417/black_trinity.html
Blood
Stained Dusk (Alabama)
Brutally vicious Black Metal, extremely aggressive. Has melodic keys,
but they are nearly pounded into the dirt by the shredding guitars,
blasting drums, and icily bitter vocals. Intense. Musicianship is very
good, production is high. My fave pick is “The Infernal Praise”.
(Note- both songs are sample length)
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/272/blood_stained_dusk.html
Bloodthrone
(New Jersey)
Intense and thrashing Black Metal. Purely grim and straightforward attacks.
Drumming is all over the kit and with amazing speed that is sustained
for long periods of time. Guitars are razor sharp and shredding. Vocals
are hoarse and shouted with bitter spite. Musicianship is very good,
production is good. My fave pick is “Betrayed By Blood”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/151/bloodthrone.html
Catholicon
(Louisiana)
Very heavy and raw Black Metal with Death Metal aspects. The drumming
is absolutely crushing, the guitars have a chaotic rhythm and a slower
chord arrangement, the vocals are mixed between piercing, ear-splitting
screams and rumbling growls. Musicianship is decent, production is low.
My fave pick is “Trudenhaus”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/83/catholicon.html
Ceremonial
Castings (Washington)
Melodic yet heavily brutal Black Metal with a lot of speed. Excellent
use of ambient sound effects and clean vocal narration. Light keys stay
in the background for the most part, the overall sound is mostly driven
by guitars and drums. Guitars are high-toned and piercing, drumming
is intense and aggressive. Vocals are either ripping screams, growling
roars, or deep clean narration. Musicianship is excellent, production
is very good. My fave pick is “Midnight Deathcult Phenomena”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/120/ceremonial_castings1.html
Cernunnos!
(Georgia)
Symphonic Black Metal with intense speed in parts, very heavy on keys.
Guitar work is decent (although a bit overdone in the leads) drumming
is solid and aggressive, vocals are harsh and grim, ranging from soft
growls to pitched and forced screams, clean vocals are excellent (same
vocalist as Benighted and Dreamscapes Of The Perverse). Musicianship
is very good, production is decent. My fave pick is “Battle Hymn
Of The Motherland”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/274/cernunnos.html
Dark
Grave (Wisconsin)
Dark and grim Black Metal, very powerful sound. Production is very low,
so distinction is lost a lot, but the sound that comes through is tight
and aggressive. Drumming is intense, guitars shred, and vocals are bitter
and extreme. Musicianship is decent; I’d like to hear this band
with better production. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/141/dark_grave.html
Demoncy
(Georgia)
Hard driving Black Metal with a touch of Death Metal influences. Drumming
is relentless blasts and rolling hammer attacks, vocals are grim, low
and growling. Guitar work is a constant wall of thickly reverbed grinding
aggression. Light keys. Musicianship is very good, production is below
average but decent enough. My fave pick is “The Obsidian Age Of
Ice”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/486/demoncy.html
Demonic
Christ (South Carolina)
Raging Black Metal with some Thrash and Death Metal influence. Excellent
drumming with varied runs and tempos, plus an amazing amount of fills
that all work, nothing seems out of place. High-toned guitars drive
the sound, and in parts they totally shred. The vocals are varied, and
switch from shrieking grim to deeply brutal. Musicianship is excellent,
production is very good. My fave pick is “Blut Und Ehre”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/259/demonic_christ.html
Destiss
(Wisconsin)
Melodic and heavy Black Metal. Sharp guitars and hammering drums define
the sound for this band. Vocals are shrill and distorted. Musicianship
is good, production is decent. My fave pick is “Admittance Of…”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/471/destiss.html
Envenom
Thy Winds (North Carolina)
Blasting and driven Black Metal with thick melodies in parts. Overall
sound is very straightforward and aggressive. Guitars are razor sharp,
drumming is intensely fast, vocals change from shrill and piercing screams
to deep and shaking growls. Musicianship is very good, production is
decent. My fave pick is “Hymnfrost”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/121/envenom_thy_winds_.html
Forest Of Impaled (Illinois)
Absolutely blasting bitter and grim Black Metal with slight Death Metal
influence here and there. Very aggressive delivery in all aspects. Even
when the music is melodic, it is still harsh and blasting. Guitars are
deep and sharp, drumming is a thunderous barrage, vocals are frozen
and truly grim. Musicianship is excellent, production is very good.
My fave pick is “Dark Shades Of The Astral World”. (Note-
there is a recording error in that song from 2:36 to 2:42)
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/175/forest_of_impaled.html
Forever
Mourning (Pennsylvania)
Melodic Black Metal with a very nice display of classical arrangements
for acoustic guitar. Excellent tone for the keys, guitars are very well
done with a deep distortion that comes across as being crisp, drums
sound programmed but are programmed well. Vocals are grim and deep.
Musicianship is excellent, production is very good. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/362/forever_mourning.html
Goatwhore
(Louisiana)
One of the most well known Black Metal band from the US. Blazingly intense
Black Thrash with Grindcore influences in parts, which creates a very
chaotic sound. However, the sound does not lose its direction in that
chaos. They create a very heavy sound when the tempo slows down a bit.
Guitars are crunching and crushing, drumming is insane when thrashing,
vocals range from high screeches to deep and heavy groans (and mercifully
short use of clean vocals…). Musicianship is excellent, production
is very good. My fave pick is “Blood Guilt Eucharist”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/522/goatwhorerotten_records.html
Ibex
Throne (Utah)
Raw and absolutely brutal minimalist Black Metal. I have included this
not so much for what they are right now, but for what they could become.
Currently they have a raw and a badly produced offering, but get past
the recording, and listen to the music...the heart and desire in the
music is totally there.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/284/ibex_throne.html
In
Memoriam (Washington)
Fast paced and melodic Black Metal. Interesting rhythms throughout are
supported with unique drumming, deeply toned keys, and wailing guitar.
Vocals are grim and bitter, dropping occasionally to a deep growl. Musicianship
is very good, production is decent. My fave pick is “An Ancient
Word”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/48/in_memorium.html
Inquinok
(Washington)
Symphonic Black Metal, with aggressive and energetic attacks throughout.
Very good guitar sound that drives the rhythm, blasting drum work, and
sweeping keys that set a very dark atmosphere. Vocals range from high
shrieks to low and distorted growls. Musicianship is very good, production
is great. My fave pick is” Excidium” (original version).
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/422/inquinok.html
Krohm
(Connecticut)
Slow and heavy Black Metal, incredibly dark and atmospheric. Primarily
guitar and drums driven sound with some keys, but they not the primary
instrument as one might expect from a band that plays this kind of music.
Vocals are disturbingly shrill and bitter. Production is very low but
the intent of the sound comes through clear. Listen and despair, this
is purely dark. Musicianship is decent; production is really bad with
exception to one song. My fave pick is “Venere’s Call”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/154/krohm.html
Kult
ov Azazel (Florida)
Hammering and absolutely aggressive Black Metal with some Thrash and
Death aspects. Guitars are a ripping assault of sound, drums are an
impressive hyperspeed barrage of endless thunder, and vocals are screaming
bitter hatred. Musicianship is excellent, production is very good. My
fave pick is “My Misanthropy”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/135/kult_ov_azazel.html
Ludicra
(California)
Raw Black Metal, with a slight Death Metal influence and some Progressive
Rock moments (that I overlooked, since the rest of what this band does
is excellent). Guitars are grinding and thickly distorted, drumming
is aggressive and full of well-executed fills, and the share between
grim male and female, with the most impressive male / female vocal duet
I have heard probably ever. Listen to the beginning of “Usurpant”
to see what I mean. Musicianship is excellent, production is decent.
My fave pick is (big surprise here…) “Usurpant”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/305/ludicra.html
Midnight
Mass (Illinois)
Intense and blazing Symphonic Black Metal with interesting changeups
that catch you off guard. Guitars are a bit subdued in the mix, but
come through clean when the near-endless wall of sound drops a bit.
Keys have a good presence and are well done. Drumming is shattering,
very heavy and very fast. Vocals are screamed shouts with an odd cadence
that totally works. Haven’t heard this kind of vocals before that
I can remember, but I like them a lot. Musicianship is excellent; production
is a bit off but not bad. My fave pick is “Shadows Walk Beside
Me”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/469/midnight_mass.html
Mork
Skog (California)
Frozen and distant Black Metal with a very old style sound to it. Arrangements
are simplistic but incredible in their offering. Light key use to provide
for atmospheric tones. Guitars are deeply reverbed, as are the frostbitten
vocals. Drumming sounds programmed, but it does not detract from the
sound. Musicianship is decent; production is lower but not bad. My fave
pick is “Black Magic Sky”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/406/mork_skog.html
Myth
(Ohio)
Powerful and very heavy Black Metal with thick Viking Metal influences
and a small touch of Death Metal thrown in for good measure. I found
this link a very long time ago, but it has only recently come online
with music. Guitars wail through rousing and very upbeat tempos, drumming
is full of well-executed fills. Flute arrangements add an incredible
layer to the overall sound. Vocals are hoarse and forceful when grim,
very deep when clean. Musicianship is excellent, production is very
good. My fave pick is “Through The Mist Of Time”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/304/vikingmetal-myth.html
Nachtmystium
(Illinois)
Grim, necro, and absolutely brutal Black Metal. Nothing pretty or nice
here at all, this is pure fury and aggression. Drumming is a relentless
attack, guitars are a high-toned assault, and vocals are icily shrill
screams. Musicianship is good, production is as good as it needs to
be. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/392/nachtmystium.html
Negative
Plane (Florida)
Grim and chaotic Black Metal, creating a total wall of sound. Guitars
and drums are broken into choppy and disjointed rhythms, tempo varies
from slow and crawling to hyperblast intensity. Vocals are hoarse and
growling with pitched shouts and screams. Musicianship is decent, production
is good. My fave pick is “Surreality”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/154/krohm.html
Noctuary
(CA)
Aggressive Melodic Black Metal that is thick with harmony and well-executed
changeups. Guitars are crisp and sharp, drumming is powerful and very
heavy even in the slower parts, and the vocals are a changing duet of
shrill screams and deep guttural growls. Musicianship is excellent,
production is very good. My fave pick is “Reflections”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/2/noctuary.html
Orodruin
(Oregon)
Bitter and grim Black Metal done the old way. No fluff or frills whatsoever,
this is pure aggressive energy. Good melody from the guitars, drumming
is programmed well, and the vocals are absolutely frozen and grim. Musicianship
is decent, production is very raw. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/482/orodruin_pagan_nsbm.html
Ritual
(California)
Black Metal with varied tempos and influence. When the tempo is turned
down, the feel is very heavy and symphonic. When it thrashes, it is
a very raw and minimal sound. Guitar and drums driven sound for the
most part, with some keys. Vocals are grim and screaming, very well
done. Musicianship is good, production is a bit low but is not bad.
My fave pick is “Alone”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/191/ritualblackmetal.html
Somnus
(Ohio)
Deeply sorrowful Black Metal with thick Gothic influence. An overall
dark and somber sound, even though the tempo is mostly mid-paced. Keys
are present but not overpowering, guitars are well done with some impressive
leads, drumming is heavy and very solid. Grim male vocals contrast with
beautiful female vocals. Musicianship is excellent, production is great.
My fave pick is “Warlocks Feast”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/226/somnusohio.html
The
Aphelion (New York)
Symphonic Black Metal with a thick keys sound. Rich melody throughout,
with nice harmonization of guitars. Drumming is solid and driven, keys
are ever present but trade back and forth in presence. Vocals are harsh,
bitter, and grim. Musicianship is very good, production is ok. My fave
pick is “Erebus”. http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/333/the_aphelion.html
Throcult
(Colorado)
Aggressive and melodic Black Metal with a heavy Death Metal influence
that comes out in different forms through different songs. Guitars are
grinding but sharp, drumming is deep and very well done. Vocals are
pitched screams, very harsh. Musicianship is excellent, production is
outstanding. My fave pick is “Kill Or Be Killed”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/271/throcult.html
Thy
Infernal (Oregon)
Fast-paced Black Metal. Very grim sound, with heavy emphasis on guitar
work and blastbeats. Guitars wail in each song, and the drumming is
non-stop hyper aggression. Even the slow parts are full of explosives
fills. The vocals are bitter and totally frozen, and the sustain on
the screams is impressive. Musicianship is very good; production is
low but not bad. My fave pick is “For The Glory Of Satan”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/433/thy_infernal.html
Vrolok
(Pennsylvania)
Grim and necro Black Metal, totally minimal sound with a crawling tempo.
Guitars are heavily distorted, as are the harshly screamed vocals. Drumming
is heavy and solid. Musicianship is ok, production is low. My fave pick
is “Through The Gates…”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/388/-sick-.html
Winter
Darkness (Pennsylvania)
Raw and necro Black Metal, slower tempo on guitars while drums change
from crawling to blasting. Good tone on the keys, and the vocals are
purely hateful and grim. Musicianship is loose in parts and production
is low, but this is a great example of a band working with what it has
to create the music it believes in. My fave pick is “Empty Dawn
Of Dying Screams”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/81/winter_darkness.html
Withering
Soul (Illinois)
Deep and dark Black Metal, with slower rhythms punctuated by occasional
aggression. Overall, this is a very dark and somber atmosphere. Keys
are for background mostly, very sweeping and well toned. Guitars carry
most of the sound, as do the frozen vocals. The drumming is either very
heavy or non-existent, depending on the course of the song. Musicianship
is very good, production is decent. My fave pick is “The Frozen
Oblivion”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/143/withering_soul.html
Zaum
(California)
Explosive and extremely aggressive Black Metal. Production is very bad;
much of the individual sound is lost. However, the drumming comes through
as a relentless hammering assault, the guitars are energetic and well
done, and the vocals are bitter and frozen grim. I hope to hear more
for this band. One song.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/477/-zaum-.html