![[Evil Beauty of Melody] A roundup of recommended symphonic black metal bands](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/fhJ-rgGBElA/maxresdefault.webp)
[Evil Beauty of Melody] A roundup of recommended symphonic black metal bands
Among the subgenres of heavy metal, black metal is an underground style that tends to be for a select audience.
We’ll skip its origins and bloodstained history here, but in recent years many people may have learned about it through films like 2018’s Lords of Chaos.
Even within black metal there are further subgenres, and the style that incorporates orchestration and strings with a classical influence is called symphonic black metal.
In this article, we introduce symphonic black metal bands ranging from the well-known to the obscure.
If you’ve recently become interested in this genre, please take a look!
[Evil Beautiful Melodies] Recommended Symphonic Black Metal Bands (1–10)
The Twisted Nails of FaithCradle Of Filth
Hailing from the UK, Cradle of Filth achieved global success by honing a unique brand of extreme music, armed with a theatrical worldview and a distinctly European aesthetic.
Formed in 1991 around frontman Dani Filth—renowned for his piercing high-pitched death growls—the band is not driven by the radical ideology often associated with Norwegian black metal groups; rather, it’s better to view black metal as just one component of their musical palette.
Their third album, the 1998 classic Cruelty and the Beast, which became a hit particularly in Europe despite its extreme blend of elements from death metal, black metal, and more, is a concept work themed around Countess Báthory Erzsébet, the so-called “Blood Countess.” It is widely celebrated as a definitive statement of the band’s strengths and a masterpiece indispensable to the symphonic black metal canon.
Its overwhelmingly dramatic sound—so excessive it feels like watching a full-length film or stage production—is simply breathtaking.
Since then, the band has undergone numerous lineup changes while consistently releasing new works and frequently touring Japan, where they’ve maintained strong popularity.
To reiterate, they are not a pure black metal band; it’s best to listen with the understanding that they incorporate black metal elements in the course of pursuing an extreme musical vision.
I Am The Black WizardsEmperor
Emperor is one of the most iconic Norwegian black metal bands and is known as an originator of symphonic black metal, which incorporates elements of classical music.
Formed in 1991 after multi-instrumentalist and charismatic vocalist Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) met guitarist Samoth (Tomas Haugen) when Ihsahn was 13 and the two played in several bands together, the group quickly rose to prominence.
In the early ’90s, the black metal scene was gripped by bloody incidents centered around the so-called “Inner Circle,” and, incredibly, three members of Emperor were arrested, leaving only Ihsahn free.
Their 1994 debut album, In the Nightside Eclipse, released thereafter, was acclaimed for showcasing the band’s high level of musicianship, but the aforementioned circumstances forced them into a hiatus for a time.
Uninvolved in the extreme ideologies and incidents, Ihsahn focused solely on composing, and together with his comrade Samoth—after his release—and new members, he created the 1997 sophomore album Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, a monumental masterpiece that stands as a pinnacle of symphonic black metal.
Hearing the sound—an elevated fusion of black metal’s frenzied darkness with majestic, resplendent symphonies—will likely astonish most people experiencing this kind of music for the first time.
Beginners might start with the best-of collection Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Emperial Wrath, but if the music of these emperors of darkness intrigues you, be sure to check out all four of their original albums!
Sorgens Kammer Del IIDIMMU BORGIR
When you hear “Norwegian black metal,” anyone with even a bit of knowledge probably imagines an underground sound.
Dimmu Borgir, however, while being a flagship band of symphonic black metal, has also achieved commercial success and global recognition.
Formed in 1993 by two current original members—frontman Shagrath and guitarist Silenoz—when they were teenagers, the band’s early days saw them delivering raw, underground black metal while incorporating mournful synth tones.
The turning point in their musical career came with their third album, Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, released in 1997 after signing with the prestigious label Nuclear Blast.
Known in Japan by the title “Ankoku no Teiō” (“Emperor of Darkness”), this record is celebrated as a masterpiece that became the catalyst for their rise, boldly weaving flowing classical elements into a foundation of ominous early black metal.
With each release their sound grew more refined, and their sixth album, Death Cult Armageddon (2003), sold over 100,000 copies in the United States despite belonging to the inherently noncommercial genre of symphonic black metal.
Even as they incorporated clean vocals, the brutality inherited from black metal didn’t wane; they struck a superb balance between ferocity and accessibility.
As an entry point into symphonic black metal, they’re unquestionably a band I can recommend.
An ode from a haunted woodsHecate Enthroned
Hecate Enthroned, named after the goddess Hecate from Greek mythology, is a symphonic black metal to melodic black metal band with a long-running career in the UK, alongside Cradle of Filth.
The track introduced in this article, “An Ode from a Haunted Woods,” is one of their early songs released in 1995.
With its low-budget music video and sound production, and its raw blast of chilling, malevolent true black metal, it might make the uninitiated recoil.
While they debuted with a clearly primitive “black metal” approach, their first album, The Slaughter of Innocence, a Requiem for the Mighty, released in 1997, shows clear growth both technically and in band ensemble.
It fully delivers the essential appeal of true, ferocious symphonic black metal: symphonic keyboards, piercing high-pitched shrieks, slashing guitar riffs, and relentless blast beats.
Once you find yourself appreciating even the rough sound quality as part of the charm, you might well call yourself a bona fide symphonic black metal fan.
From the 2000s onward, they shifted toward a more melodic, death-metal-leaning sound with some black metal elements, which drew mixed reactions, but despite a sparse release schedule, they’ve continued to put out quality albums.
To Thou Who Dwellest In The NightArcturus
Formed in Oslo, Norway in 1990, Arcturus is another group that holds an important place in the history of symphonic black metal.
It’s notable for involving many musicians from Norway’s black metal and extreme metal scenes, essentially functioning as an all-star project.
Their 1996 debut album, Aspera Hiems Symfonia, is a landmark that truly epitomizes symphonic black metal—a fundamental template for the genre and a must-hear record.
On their second album, La Masquerade Infernale (1997), whose cover art already exudes a dangerous aura, they unveiled a sound like an extreme, avant-garde opera.
This shift in style, which could greatly perplex listeners who loved the debut, showcased the band’s singularity.
They disbanded in 2007, then reunited in 2011 and released new material; to grasp the full scope of who they are, you really need to hear all of their albums.
In fact, listening to everything might only make them more inscrutable—but as originators of symphonic black metal, the best approach may be to start with the aforementioned debut and then branch out to the other records.
To Dethrone the Witch-Queen of Mytos K’unn (The Legend of the Battle of Blackhelm Vale)Bal-Sagoth
Although the band is often discussed within the realm of symphonic black metal, like their fellow Britons Cradle of Filth they encompass a variety of genres, and Bal-Sagoth is a group popular for its distinctive, original sound.
The frontman known by the moniker “Lord Byron,” Byron Roberts, is highly acclaimed as an exceptional storyteller and poet; the band’s core lies in a musical identity built around the worldviews he creates in his lyrics.
On the sonic side, the Morley brothers—drummer/keyboardist Chris Maudling and guitarist Jonny Maudling—take the initiative, fusing symphonic black metal extremity with epic elements; over that, a vocal style that could be described as a mix of death growls and narration rides atop.
Bal-Sagoth’s music bursts with intentionally “cheesy” melodic phrases in places, yet remains dramatic and lyrical, while the vocals themselves function more as one component within the overall sound.
By reading Byron’s stories—shaped by influences ranging from ancient mythology to science fiction novels and film—you can grasp the band’s essential appeal for the first time.
To begin, pick an album that has a domestic Japanese edition and experience their music with the bilingual lyrics and liner notes at hand.
Imperial Army (Takao)Chthonic
Symphonic black metal is a genre centered around European bands, but of course there are important bands and groups from other countries as well.
The band featured here, Chthonic, is a Taiwanese group and arguably the most globally renowned Asian black metal band.
Formed in 1995 around vocalist and erhu player Freddy Lim—who is also known as a politician—they have released conceptual works with a worldview and messaging unique to an Asian band, and they have built high name recognition in Japan through frequent tours.
While firmly grounded in the fundamentals of symphonic black metal—combining the brutality inherited from black metal with symphonic elements—the mournful timbre of the traditional instrument erhu enhances the uniqueness of their sound.
It might be a bit of a curveball as a first pick for symphonic black metal, but they also deliver plenty of classic heavy metal-style, dramatic melodies.
As mentioned, their use of Asian traditional and folk instruments infuses the music with an oriental flavor throughout, making it—interestingly—quite approachable for Japanese listeners, which is a noteworthy point.
As an aside, Doris Yeh, the highly skilled female bassist who serves as an icon of the scene, is the band’s leader and also Freddy’s wife.