A Winter Within (Norway)
Epic influenced Black Metal, uses a slower tempo overall but has aggressive moments throughout. Production is low, but the intent of the music is clear. Very thick and rich atmospheres with good use of acoustical pieces, and nice changeups. My fave pick is “Gathering Of Lost Souls”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/62/a_winter_within.html

Abyssos (Norway)
Dark and atmospheric Symphonic Black Metal punctuated with energetic and blasting assaults. Guitars are perfectly toned and very well executed in both single runs and charging rhythm, drumming is a solid platform and full of interesting fills and backbeats. Vocals are slicing, grim, and cold. Rich harmonies weave throughout every song. Musicianship is perfect, production is excellent. My fave pick is “I’ve Watched The Moon Grow Old”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/281/abyssos.html

Allfader (Norway)
Aggressive and intense Black Metal that can range from thrashing speed to pounding heaviness. Thick guitars set the tone; keys compliment the overall atmosphere in parts, drumming is powerful and very driven no matter the tempo of the music. Vocals range from clean and clear to grim and brutal. Musicianship is excellent, production is very good. My fave pick is “From The Darkest Star”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/258/allfader.html

Ancestral Legacy (Norway)
Deep and frozen Black Metal, ranges from slow and heavy to fast and intense. Guitars are fuzzed out, drumming is powerful, and vocals are distorted. Some keys. Musicianship is decent, production is low. My fave pick is “Ringer Of Death”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/176/ancestral_legacy.html

Anfauglir (Norway)
Slow and heavy Black Metal. Very dark atmosphere created by deeply reverbed and echoed vocals and guitar. Drums provide base for the rest of the music. Musicianship is decent, production is totally raw, but this is an enjoyable listen. My fave pick is “In Kampf Gegen Christus”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/252/anfauglir.html

Antaios (Norway)
Crushing and intense with no frills at all. No keys, no female vocals, just hateful and aggressive Black Metal. The drumming is an endless cacophony, the guitars grind and thrash to create an impenetrable wall of sound, and the vocals are chewed up and growled out. Production is low, but who cares? My fave pick is “The Corpse Of Christ”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/87/antaios.html

Antarctica666 (Norway)
Aggressive Black Metal with Death Metal influences, many tempo changeups. Guitars grind straight through; drums vary from heavy back rhythms to all out blasting assaults, and the vocals are deeply growled shouts. Musicianship is very good, production is decent.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/443/antarctica666.html

Borknagar (Norway)
Possibly the best-known band hailing from Norway today, Borknagar has made a name for themselves as being the pinnacle of achievement in Epic Black Metal. A deep discography supports this claim to the throne, even though a very noticeable direction shift has occurred from beginning to current. Nonetheless, they are still an amazing band.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/325/official_borknagar.html

Celebratum (Norway)
Aggressive, yet highly melodic with howling vocals that are deep but very frozen and remain firmly in the true Black Metal style. The drumming is incredible, and the guitars wind themselves around the rhythm. Production is nearly perfect, and the musicianship displayed is top of the line. My fave pick is “The Fall Of The Christian Empire”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/204/celebratum.html

Diabolical Breed (Norway)
Highly polished melodic Black Metal, very key driven. Absolute cold and frozen sound created by thickly echoed grim vocals and reverbed guitar for that distant feel. Musicianship is very good, production is below average for this sub-genre of Black Metal. My fave pick is “Descendants Of Satan”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/462/diabolical_breed_norway.html

Endsum (Norway)
Raw and hard hitting with good melody. Guitars create the direction, drums are solid, and the vocals are very bitter and grim. Musicianship is good; production is low but not bad. My fave pick is “Damned”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/192/endsum.html

Forlorn (Norway)
Intense and heavy Black Metal with a mid-tempo approach. Wretched grim vocals set the atmosphere, which is supported through eerie keys. Guitars are slashing and pitched, drumming is an intense barrage that uses multiple fills to cover the slower overall tempo. Musicianship is excellent, production is raw (demo versions) but having heard other efforts by this band, I can say this is not the best representation of what they offer. My fave pick is “Agony Defiled”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/285/forlorn.html

Isvind (Norway)
Thrashing and very aggressive, a sonic barrage of constant sound is created with only basic instruments. This is hateful Black Metal done the old fashioned way, with no frills attached at all (unless you consider a brief acoustic interlude to be a frill). The production value is low on one song, but the rest are of a decent quality. Very well executed musicianship. My fave pick is “Lysningen I Skogen”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/423/isvind.html

Lunaris (Norway)
Highly polished and very well produced, uses thick keys to create mystical introductions that are followed by blasting assaults. This band draws heavily from the later Emperor efforts. The musicianship is flawless and very high-end. Vocals are grim throughout with a short exception where clean vocals are used. Both are done well. My fave pick is “Soulcrush”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/132/lunaris1.html

Subliritum (Norway)
Very heavy and darkly atmospheric Black Metal. Rich in sorrowful emotion and bitter anger translated into sound by moaning guitars, deep toned keys, hard driven drums, and a mix of grimly shouted and melodic clean vocals. Production is very good, musicianship is excellent. My fave pick is “As My Dreams Wander”
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/216/subliritum.html

Taakeferd (Norway)
Hard driving and intense Black Metal, very forceful and aggressive. Rhythms range from mid-tempo to absolute blasting. Guitars set the atmosphere, drumming is solid. Vocals are excellent, delivered in grim shouts that translate energy into sound. Musicianship is decent, production is low. My fave pick is “Fallen One”.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/388/taakeferd.html