Best Symphonic Black Metal Bands

In the Nightside Eclipse is more than just a masterpiece. It is a landmark of human accomplishment, it's the musical equivalent of the construction of the pyramids, the Great Wall, the moon landing etc.
Dimmu Borgir are good but Emperor are on another level all together. Just listen to their 1st 2 albums. Absolute black metal classics!
Known as the creators of symphonic black metal, listed to their first album, it's got all their best stuff on it.
Talk about Symphonic Black Metal? Or you Search some Progressive Black Metal? , Emperor is the solution and the best answer

My favorite metal act ever. Such good composition and the music is incredible and seamlessly blends symphony with metal. First heard their song raabjorn spieler draugenheimens skodde and the scream at the end played and I was like woa what IS this stuff? Became a black metal fan for life, love it. It's paradoxical that some of the most profound, deep, moving and beautiful music I've ever heard has been from dimmu borgir and other metal bands, when they try so hard to be inaccessible. Life is full of paradoxes.
I'd say 2-3 is a good spot for them. Elitists hate them with every fiber in them because they are too popular. I think they are great, and popularity should be a good thing.
Black metal is all about "no rules," but if a band doesn't follow a bunch of strict rules! They are considered posers. Dimmu Borgir is just hated cause they have good production and are symphonic. That's just stupid ino
I don't care about what's considered too commercial. I appreciate quality production that talent warrants. I listen to all types of music and dimmu borgir is easily in my top ten of all genres not just black metal or metal in general for that matter.
All albums are incredible, the only one I didn't like very much was Abrahadabra, beyond the first two songs. That's just a personal feeling, though. Enthrone Darkness Triumphant is one of their best albums.

Carach Angren is one of the best black metal, and one of the best metal bands I have ever heard. They are simply amazing! The epic symphonies, the killer guitars, and the haunting vocals just make Carach Angren amazing. Seregor's vocals is one of the most unique black metal vocals ever, he sounds like he's possessed (by black metal). All of their albums are amazing stories. I honestly cannot wait for their new album "Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten" to come out!
This band has everything. Extremely talented vocals, perfect instruments, well written lyrics, and the perfect level of symphony.
They're easily the best band in this list. Plus, just listen to those lyrics, every song is a gripping story.
Before I preferred the "Trve" Black metal. But I discovered Carach Angren now I prefer Symphonic Black.

The reason they are so good in the symphonic black metal scene is because they use the idea of slow burning long songs, and plus they have a very original sound, which mostly derives from Dani Filth's voice in combination with the rest of the band and the way they use short songs to lead into longer one which makes even more epic, truly brilliant!
They are the best! With the amazing voice of the frontman dani filth they can reach everywhere! One of the best bands I have ever heard their music is different and there is a lot of crazy in their songs! They are the best!
I think earlier cradle was priceless...I don't think they care much about whether it is black metal or anything gothic.. It's just a change of direction... Yet so beautiful...
I've got the other 5 and I got total darkness the day it came out 20 years also ago and I'm saying their new stuff is just as good In my opinion and dani filths to.

So many roads, so many places
A million towns, a milliard faces
It's called: world population
But the appropriate name, world domination
This band is great...
1 album, The best symphonic black metal album in the history of metal. Truly creative.

Probably the most similar to Dimmu Borgir and very underrated
Vesania is syphonic blackened death metal from Poland. Very good band!
As per other comments. 2 absolutely brilliant efforts put this band in the top 3 at least
Too bad they haven't released anything since 2003. awesome and highly underrated band
Way too underrated. Their sound is truly majestic.

Great band. One of my favorites.
Wicked stuff but not symphonic at all.
This black metal band is pure EPICNESS. the music and choirs are just amazing! You don't have to growl, scream and sing about Satan, demons, and hell all of the time to be a black or death metal band like most people believe.
All you really need to do is have scary yet awesome music and sing (beautifully of course) awesome lyrics about death or doomsday or your woes.
... What is a symphonic black metal list without Summoning? I can't believe nobody brought them here till yet
Wonderful mixture of gothic metal and symphonic black metal. The melancholy atmosphere along with the intensity is very atmospheric.
Too bad they have ended...
The best on here
Absolute masters of ambiental/symphonic black metal, they deserve so much more. Their first 2 albums alone should be a separate category of greatness, frustratingly underrated!
Should be #1 or #2!
Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth are not black metal!
The throne of black symphonic metal belongs to them..
Good stuff. Really black metal.
I think they were one of the first true symphonic black metal bands instead Emperor, alongside Arcturus (their second demo "Demo '92" made the appearance of symphonic keyboards) and they released it in 1992, even before the release of "In the Nightside Eclipse".

What the hell!
They are just symphonic metal not symphonic black metal!
Whoever put them in this list must stop listening metal and start listening rap!
Nightwish is NOT black metal. They do not sing about death, hatred, religions, and crime!
The best symphonic black metal band in existence!
Not black metal at all.

This list is wrong along with many others. The Best symphonic black metal band of all time is Bal-Sagoth!
I agree bal-sagoth is very underrated and very unique in their sound my list would be bal-sagoth,dimmu borgir, cradle of filth, dark tranquility.
Underrated, and this band is the other creator of symphonic black metal.

The best folk/viking black metal band out there! With songs like 1184, Todeswalzer, Journey to the End, and a lot more makes them unbeatable!
One of the best band in India is demonic resurrection.. The demon king is just a killer and the unrelenting surge of vengeance no words for this song... Front man of this band he just incredible... Watch them they ate to good
Full of surprizes

Should be much higher. Omega Arcane is a masterpiece!
Completely underrated! They are almost the best!
This band is just too awesome. My top 1
Omega Arcane is incredible!
