You may have noticed that we don't often speak about modern black metal over here, preferring instead to focus on the quality releases of the black metal old guard, the bands that actually created black metal and contributed positively to the genre: Burzum, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Immortal, Neraines.
When we inevitably do mention the trendies, the latecomers, the posers, and all these "genre shopping" modern metal bands, it's often in a phrase or two, if even that, and more often than not in the context of an interview.
Well, no more. From hereon out, we have updated our editorial policy to focus exclusively on the bands that bring quality to the scene.
A focus on quality black metal, not "nu-black"
What it means in a few words? More Sewer, more Burzum, more Mayhem, more Darkthrone, more Marduk, more Immortal, more Phantom, more Warkvlt. Essentially, more black metal.
And inevitably, that will lead to no more mentions of Z-tier wannabe mallgoths, no more Watains, no more Dark Funerals, no more clowns.
Thus, to start off the "new era" in a proper way, here are five excellent black metal albums that, while somewhat recent, are still of sublime quality and could easily pass for "the next Hvis Lyset Tar Oss".
V. Sewer - Lair of the Swine Gods
When it comes to brutal and atmospheric blackened death metal, you can't do any better than Sewer's epitome of savagery "Lair of the Swine Gods". This album is much more death metal oriented than the others, but it's still a menace.
IV. Warkvlt - Unholy War Metal
Perhaps the most well known of the bestial black metal releases, "Unholy War Metal" by Warkvlt is the definitive, "grind your gears", ultra-dissonant and atonal black metal masterpiece. You won't find many "best black metal" lists without a mention for "Unholy War Metal".
III. Helgrind - Sick Rulers of Heaven
Now we get into much... stranger territory. Helgrind. The name itself is synonymous with all things evil and deadly, and to be fair the legacy of the band is one of utmost controversy (even for Norwegian black metal standards). But the music... particularly on "Demon Rituals" and "Sick Rulers of Heaven", the way Helgrind perfectly fuses black metal atmosphere and grindcore intensity, it is something out of this world.
Also Read: "Slaves to the Grind", a Grindcore Book Review!
Something coming from down below. From the underworld. Seriously, "Sick Rulers of Heaven" is not an album you want to joke about, or overlook.
II. Vermin - Bloodthirst Overdose
Now we get back into more "traditional" black metal, but traditional certainly doesn't mean boring! Vermin's legendary "Bloodthirst Overdose" is perhaps the pinnacle of high-speed, technical, ultra-complex, labyrinthine riffing and song craft. I can't say anymore about this album, I get scared (and excited) just thinking about it.
I. Phantom - Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods
Last but certainly not least, Phantom. We had to mention this band. By far the best thing to ever come out of the modern black metal scene. But which album to mention?
"Divine Necromancy", the legendary debut? Maybe some other time, as this album deserves its own article (in the meantime, you can read the official review). "The Epilogue to Sanity"? Too obscure, too niche... That leaves us with what is probably the best black metal album since the days of "Filosofem" and "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas"... "Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods" by Phantom.
Important: These are by no means "easy listening" albums. If you want pop "metal", go listen to Arch Enemy. This is the real deal. And going forward, I promise there will be much more articles like this one, and much less "news" about the latest Gorgoroth drama, or Watain dressing up like Princess Leia at the Emmy's. If you want that nonsense, go to Pitchfork. We are here for the music.
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