358: BURZUM

From perhaps the most famous band of the black metal movement, to undoubtedly it’s most infamous. One of the best examples of needing to separate the art from the artist, Varg Vikernes’ work as Burzum stands as some of the most undeniably influential black metal in history. Vikernes efforts to create raw, yet minimalist black …

357: MAYHEM

They are the archetype and basis for essentially all modern black metal, and have a history more outlandish than any author could’ve come up with. They are one of the most revered extreme metal bands of all time and continue to command global relevance. They are pure fucking armageddon. They are, of course, Mayhem. Most …

356: IMMORTAL

As one of the original giants of the second wave of black metal, Immortal always set themselves apart from their peers by eschewing the stereotypes and avoiding satanic themes. Instead, their lyrics dealt with dark fantasy, specifically Blashyrkh, a fictional realm of demons and permanent winter. While the band has seen a considerable turnover of …

355: ENSLAVED

Coming up in the same scene as many other black metal legends, Enslaved’s early sound was one of proficient black metal, drawing heavily from Norse history. But in their thirty year career, Enslaved have followed their own path. That path is one that has seen them not only push, but destroy, the boundaries and preconceptions …

354: GORGOROTH

During the Second Wave of Black Metal in Norway in the 90s, if there was every a band that best represented the sacrilegious themes the scene was known for, it was Gorgoroth. Backed by a revolving roster that has featured a who’s who of black metal icons, founding member Roger Tiegs - better known as …

353: CELTIC FROST

When Hellhammer broke up in the mid eighties, it gave frontman Tom G. Warrior and bassist Martin Eric Ain the opportunity to form a new band. One that would go on to be pioneers of multiple extreme metal genres as well as avant-garde metal. That band was, of course, the mighty Celtic Frost. In 1985 …