Best Black Metal bands

Okay, Varg did murder Euronymous, essentially the genre's founder. But that's no need to overlook this outstanding, essentially solo contribution that proceeded that action, because it really is quite good stuff.

There's a reason this list is essentially a Norwegian monopoly. That country has released some truly great stuff, and Enslaved deserve to be counted among the best. They truly are far too overlooked.

My personal favorite in this category, this band expanded the formula laid down by Mayhem, and added a more melodic element, while still being incredibly freaking brutal. Any list of the best black metal band will pretty much inevitably include Emperor in the top three, frequently holding the top spot. And with good reason.

Based in Finland, their incredibly epic compositions, commonly greater than 10 minutes long, some even reaching the half hour point, their music manages to perfectly blend the black and folk metal styles. Their lyrics commonly deal with Finnish mythology and legends, and are entirely in their native language.

Absolutely brilliant folk black metal, and probably the most European sounding American band I've ever heard. This music sounds like winter. Fantastic atmosphere.

This is the band behind Under a Funeral Moon and A blaze in the Northern Sky. Need more be said?

Well, here come the Swedes. Sweden, primarily the home of death metal, did manage to produce this bm jewel. Listen to Under the Sign of the Black Mark if you don't want to take my word for it.

This band is to black metal what early Sabbath was to doom - the essential founders of a genre. They are legends, but their best music would unfortunately die with Euronymous.

Barbaric Is The Beast... nuff said.

Sure, some may say they may have sold out in recent years, but I defy anyone to say Enthrone Darkness Triumphant isn't a genre staple. And Death Cult Armageddon is a phenomenal addition to black metalers' catalogues, even with the beginnings of their move towards a more symphonic musicality.

This band might not add a whole lot of new stuff to the genre, and their guitar lines aren't as typically brutal as many of their contemporaries, but man do they know how to give their songs a great atmosphere!

They aren't so great recently, but they were pretty damn good up to Midian.