[2026] Handle With Care! Recommended Depressive Black Metal Bands Overview

In recent years—partly due to the influence of the film “Lords of Chaos”—it feels like more music fans have at least heard the term “black metal.” But are you familiar with the genre commonly known as “depressive black metal”?

This article introduces some of the most notable bands in depressive black metal—often abbreviated as DSBM overseas—a subgenre derived from black metal that is intensely introspective and decidedly world-weary.

Even among black metal fans, many find DSBM difficult to enjoy.

It’s a highly selective genre, so please approach it with due caution!

Playlist

[2026] Handle With Care! Recommended Depressive Black Metal Bands Overview
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Poslední cestaTrist		Introduction to the Czech depressive black metal band Trist
2	IsolationHypothermia		The Swedish black metal band, Hypothermia
3	The beginningHappy Days		Despairing black metal music of Happy Days
4	Death – Pierce meSilencer		The sole work by Silencer became a legend of depressive black metal.
5	Misere NobisNyktalgia		Nyktalgia is an easy-to-listen-to melodic black metal band.
6	Nackskott (Neckshot)Lifelover		Lifelover is a depressive black metal band
7	Det Hviskes Blant Sorte VinderStrid		Strid is a legendary Norwegian black metal band.
8	InoriKanashimi		Kanashimi is a depressive black metal band from Shizuoka.
9	Chapter 4Make A Change… Kill Yourself		Danish depressive black metal band
10	Bloody MelancholyLife Is Pain		The polar despair of depressive black metal by two titans
11	Nocturnal PoisoningXasthur		Zastar: A Masterpiece of Despairing Black Metal
12	Reflecting in SolitudeShining		Shining’s influence on DSBM
13	I Will Die Tomorrow…No Point in Living		Introducing Yusuke Hasebe, a depressive black metal writer
14	The Funeral RainI Shalt Become		An important presence in the 90s US black metal scene
15	At the Door to the Tenth Sub Level of SuicideLeviathan		Leviathan is a radical black metal band from the US.
16	Woman of Dark DesiresBathory		Bathory is a metal band originating from Sweden.