Top 10 Best Black Metal Guitarists

Quorthon (Bathory)

Thomas Börje Forsberg, known by the stage name Quorthon (1966-2004), was a Swedish musician. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist of the band Bathory, which pioneered the black metal genre and is credited with creating the Viking metal style. A multi-instrumentalist, Quorthon wrote... read more

The greatest early black metal and Viking metal composer. He played multiple instruments and was a genius songwriter. An absolute legend who set the bar incredibly high.

Lead guitarist and founder of Bathory. The most influential black metal musician and the forerunner of the First Wave of Black Metal scene.

Ihsahn (Emperor)

Ihsahn is a Norwegian composer, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist. He is best known for his work with the Norwegian black metal band Emperor. In addition to his work with Emperor, he has pursued a successful solo career that incorporates progressive and avant-garde elements.

He is very likable and down-to-earth. Emperor is awesome, and he is incredibly creative in his songwriting, including his solo career.

I'll say he is the best. Not the greatest. Oh wait, that was Quorthon. So actually, Ihsahn is the greatest these days.

Lead guitarist and bassist of Emperor. Probably the most influential Second Wave of Black Metal guitarist.

Infernus (Gorgoroth)

Roger Tiegs (born June 18, 1972), better known by his stage name Infernus, is a Norwegian black metal musician and Satanist. He is the founding member and chief ideologist of the band Gorgoroth, which he started in 1992.

Infernus is primarily a guitarist but has also contributed bass, drums, and... read more

Guitarist and founder of Gorgoroth. In my opinion, the most talented Norwegian guitarist.

One of the best guitarists. Gorgoroth sucks, but he's talented.

Are you kidding me? Infernus is 5th? Infernus is the best black metal guitarist of all time, with an epic and terrifying personality. He is probably the hottest dude in black metal. Overall, he's the best guitarist in black metal. Listen to Incipit Satan. No one can play those riffs like him.

Euronymous (Mayhem)

Øystein Aarseth (1968-1993), who went by the pseudonym Euronymous, was a Norwegian guitarist and co-founder of the black metal band Mayhem. Euronymous was stabbed to death by bandmate Varg Vikernes in August 1993.

He was a controversial figure in black metal. Euronymous claimed to be a theistic... read more

A martyr for black metal who created some of the best riffs the genre has ever known. If it were not for his death, he would certainly be appreciated more and considered an even more prominent figure in metal.

Mayhem founder and lead guitarist.
Not a very talented guitarist, but he wrote some of the greatest Black Metal riffs, like Deathcrush.

He comes up with amazing and atmospheric riffs all the time and has more feeling than any other black metal guitarist.

Abbath Doom Occulta (Immortal)

Olve Eikemo, better known by his stage name Abbath Doom Occulta, is a Norwegian musician best known as the former frontman of the black metal band Immortal. He is currently the frontman of his self-titled band, Abbath. Known for his theatrical performances and distinctive style, Abbath remains a prominent... read more

Great soloist with almost doom metal riffs. Fantastic guitarist. Should be at least #3.

Multi-instrumentalist with great guitar work on At the Heart of Winter.

Founding member and lead guitarist/bassist of Immortal.

Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson (Marduk)

Not just a fantastic guitarist, but also a clever person. As a founder of Marduk, he makes it a professional band, not one of those bands that try to be the most brutal of them all.

Mastermind of one of the most prolific and consistent black metal bands. He creates an eerie, threatening guitar sound by himself.

Count Grishnackh (Burzum)

Louis Cachet (born Kristian Vikernes), more popularly known as Varg Vikernes, is a Norwegian musician, writer, and convicted murderer and arsonist. He is known as the sole member of the one-man band Burzum, named after a word in the Black Speech from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.... read more

Lord of atmospheric black metal. His music is beautiful and soulful. Just listen to the Hvis lyset tar oss album. He also plays excellent bass lines and melodies that are often underrated.

Not the best technician, but he was the most tasteful and fearless composer of the 2nd wave. His playing was based on serving the piece/music/song and on creating atmosphere. For black metal, those things, combined with adequate tremolo picking ability, are the keys.

Multi-instrumentalist founder of Burzum. Originally an ex-Mayhem and ex-Old Funeral bassist.

Jon Nödtveidt (Dissection)

Jon is seriously the best black metal guitarist ever. He wrote some of the best riffs, melodies, and solos in the genre. If you don't agree, go listen to "The Somberlain" and "Storm of the Light's Bane" track for track and see the light.

Jon is 9th? Oh, come on, that's just way too low. He was such a genius and talented songwriter. Dissection may not sound like the average black metal band, but that's what made them great. Besides, he inspired me to play guitar too.

Amazing riff writer, and his solos had so much feeling in them! Very underrated guitarist. His leads were so creative, some of the best in metal, in my opinion.

Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone)

Lead guitarist of Darkthrone. Played for Satyricon too.

Come on! Darkthrone is awesome!

Nergal (Behemoth)

Adam Nergal Darski, born Adam Michał Darski on June 10, 1977, in Gdynia, Poland, is a Polish musician and television personality. He is best known as the frontman of the blackened death metal band Behemoth.

Raised Catholic, Darski began playing guitar at the age of eight. He adopted the stage... read more

"Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel," "Lucifer," "Slaves Shall Serve" ... Check them out and you'll know.

Plays lead guitar for blackened death metal band Behemoth.

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Gelal Necrosodomy (Grand Belial's Key, Absurd)

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Richard Shaw (Cradle of Filth)

Malefic (Xasthur)

He is the one-man band Xasthur, one of the influential musicians of DSBM (Depressive Suicidal Black Metal). He is a mastermind of atmospheric and ambient music.

Samoth (Emperor)

Haavard (Ulver)

Archaon (1349)

Lead guitarist of 1349.

Galder (Dimmu Borgir)

Plays for Dimmu Borgir and Old Man's Child.

Blasphemer (Mayhem)

Rune Eriksen is a Norwegian Spellemann Award-winning musician and composer. He is best known as the former guitarist and songwriter of the black metal band Mayhem, where he performed under the stage name Blasphemer, inspired by a song by the German thrash metal band Sodom. Eriksen has also played in... read more

Satyr (Satyricon)

Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven is the vocalist, lead and rhythm guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Norwegian black metal band Satyricon. He is also the primary songwriter for the band and has played a key role in shaping its evolving sound. Satyr has collaborated with numerous other artists and is... read more

Fenriz (Darkthrone)

Gylve Fenris Nagell, better known as Fenriz, is a Norwegian musician who is best known as one half of the influential metal duo Darkthrone. In addition to his role in Darkthrone, Fenriz has been involved in several other metal projects and is known for his encyclopedic knowledge of underground metal... read more

Lord Ahriman (Dark Funeral)

Tormentor (Gorgoroth)

Harald Nævdal (Immortal)

Demonaz Doom Occulta. The guy literally tremolo-picked himself into tendinitis. What a badass.