Top 10 Best Symphonic Black Metal Bands

The Top Ten

  1. Emperor

    Emperor was a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. They're regarded as highly influential within the black metal genre, both by critics and emerging bands. Their early albums, including In the Nightside Eclipse (1994), helped shape the symphonic black metal subgenre.

    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 is good, but Emperor is on another level altogether. Just listen to their first two albums. Absolute black metal classics!

    Known as the creators of symphonic black metal, listen to their first album. It's got all their best work on it.

  2. Dimmu Borgir

    Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese, and Old Norse. The band is known for incorporating... read more

    My favorite metal act ever. The composition is excellent, and the music is incredible, seamlessly blending symphony with metal. I first heard their song Raabjørn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde, and when the scream at the end played, I was like, Whoa, what IS this stuff? I became a black metal fan for life. 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, even though 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 because they have good production and are symphonic. That's just stupid, in my opinion.

  3. Carach Angren

    Carach Angren is a symphonic black metal band from the Netherlands that was formed by members of the defunct bands Inger Indolia and Vaultage. They combine orchestral arrangements with horror-themed storytelling in their music.

    Carach Angren is one of the best black metal bands, and one of the best metal bands I've ever heard. They are simply amazing! The epic symphonies, the killer guitars, and the haunting vocals make Carach Angren incredible. Seregor's vocals are among the most unique in black metal. 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.

  4. Cradle of Filth

    Cradle of Filth are a British extreme metal band that formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style initially stemmed from black metal but later evolved into a more polished blend of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal subgenres. Over the years, they've become one of the... read more

    The reason they are so good in the symphonic black metal scene is because they use the idea of slow-burning, long songs. Plus, they have a very original sound, which mostly derives from Dani Filth's voice in combination with the rest of the band. The way they use short songs to lead into longer ones makes their music even more epic. Truly brilliant!

    They are the best! With the amazing voice of frontman Dani Filth, they can reach everywhere! One of the best bands I have ever heard. Their music is different, and there's a lot of craziness in their songs! They are the best!

  5. Graveworm

    Graveworm is an Italian black metal band from Brunico, South Tyrol, formed in 1992. The band combines elements of gothic and symphonic metal in their music. They released their debut EP Eternal Winds in 1997, followed by the album When Daylight's Gone.

    So many roads, so many places,

    A million towns, a myriad faces.

    It's called: world population,

    But the appropriate name is world domination.

  6. Old Man's Child

    Old Man's Child is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo. The band was founded by Galder, who remains its only permanent member. The group is known for combining symphonic and melodic elements with traditional black metal.

    Probably the most similar to Dimmu Borgir and very underrated.

  7. Eyes of Noctum

    One album, but the best symphonic black metal album in the history of metal. Truly creative.

  8. Vesania

    Vesania is symphonic blackened death metal from Poland. Very good band!

  9. Obtained Enslavement

    As per other comments, two absolutely brilliant efforts put this band in the top 3, at least.

  10. Tvangeste

    Too bad they haven't released anything since 2003. Awesome and highly underrated band.

    Way too underrated. Their sound is truly majestic.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Daidalos

  12. ?

    The Kovenant

    13. The Contenders

  13. Anorexia Nervosa

    Great band. One of my favorites.

  14. Dark Fortress

  15. Summoning

    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 the time to be a black or death metal band, like most people believe.

    All you really need is scary yet awesome music and beautifully sung lyrics about death, doomsday, or your woes.

    What is a symphonic black metal list without Summoning? I can't believe nobody brought them up until now.

  16. Agathodaimon

    Wonderful mixture of gothic metal and symphonic black metal. The melancholy atmosphere, along with the intensity, is very atmospheric.

  17. Stormlord

  18. Windir

    Windir was a black metal band from Sogndal, Norway. The band combined black metal with folk music and Norse mythology. It was founded by Valfar (Terje Bakken) in 1994 and disbanded after his death in 2004.

    The best folk/viking black metal band out there! With songs like 1184, Todeswalzer, Journey to the End, and many more, they are unbeatable!

  19. Limbonic Art

    Absolute masters of ambient/symphonic black metal. They deserve so much more recognition. Their first two albums alone should be in a separate category of greatness, frustratingly underrated!

    The throne of black symphonic metal belongs to them.

    Good stuff. Truly black metal.

  20. Opera IX

    I think they were one of the first true symphonic black metal bands, alongside Arcturus. Their second demo, "Demo '92," featured symphonic keyboards and was released in 1992, even before the release of "In the Nightside Eclipse."

  21. Dissection

    Dissection was a Swedish extreme metal band formed in 1989 by Jon Nödtveidt. The band disbanded in 2006 following Nödtveidt's suicide. Their music is typically described as "melodic blackened death metal," blending elements of black metal and melodic death metal.

  22. 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, and Dark Tranquillity.

    Underrated. This band is the other creator of symphonic black metal.

  23. Demonic Resurrection

    One of the best bands in India is Demonic Resurrection. The Demon King is just killer, and The Unrelenting Surge of Vengeance - no words for this song. The frontman of this band is just incredible. Watch them - they are too good!

  24. God Dethroned

    God Dethroned is a Dutch extreme metal band from Beilen that was originally formed in 1991. They are known for combining elements of death metal and black metal in their music. The band has released several albums, including The Lair of the White Worm and Passiondale, and remains active in the European... read more

  25. Shade Empire

    Should be much higher. Omega Arcane is a masterpiece!

    Completely underrated! They are almost the best!

    This band is just too awesome. My top choice.

  26. Septicflesh

    Septicflesh is a Greek symphonic death metal band from Athens, founded in 1990. They released their first full-length album, Mystic Places of Dawn, in April 1994. Known for combining orchestral arrangements with death metal, the band has gained international recognition for albums such as Communion... read more

  27. Morgul

    Underrated to say the least. They create an aura that entrances. Check out "The Horror Grandeur."

    Check out the debut, "Lost in Shadows Grey."

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