Varg, Attila and Wrest.

I have to go with the obvious, recurring musicians like Quorthon, Varg, Valfar. I'd also like to add Mikael of Tearstained, Night Conquers Day, Into the Sunless Meridian etc. He's a great songwriter and amazing vocalist.

Quorthon, of course.

Hah, scratch Attila he's just a vocalist.

czral, varg, wrest, vindsval, quorthon, hasjari...

This thread doesn't make enough sense. What makes someone talented, the fact that they play a lot of instruments, or their skills as a composer?

If it's the latter, prolific characters like NHV, Varg, Fenriz (early), Paul Ledney, Euronymous, and Quorthon reign supreme.

I think technical skill and the amount of instruments played is completely irrelevant if quality songwriting isn't there, and for this reason Varg, Quorthorn, and to an extent the Deathspell Omega guys, have to reign supreme here.

I think that Proscriptor deserves at least a mention for his work with Absu.
Absolutely fantastic drumming, plus he does vocals simultaneously

Varg, Wrest, and Quorthorn

More than just their ability to play multiple instruments (though, doing so well, is talented me thinks), they write/wrote great albums, essentially by their lonesome.

Famine- He writes all the music in Peste Noire as well as does vocals, guitar and bass. He writes great songs consistently and is a talented musician.
Wrest - For the same reasons as Famine, and not being limited to a single project while still maintaining high quality outputs.

...and not one single mention of Snorre Ruch.

I think the guy from Unhuman Disease is one of the most talented black metal musicians that I know. Not only does he write and record the vocal lines, lyrics, guitar, bass and drum parts himself, but he also masters and produces his own albums, and releases them too. (Ignore the bass player listed on this page. He just joined the band, and hasn't recorded or performed with this band at all yet). If you like black metal, give it a listen...

Unhuman Disease myspace page

I second Wrest and Snorre. Seriously, I believe those are quite possibly the most *known* talented black metal musician.

Great songwriting and musicianship, the composition of their songs are nothing short of amazing, and the quality music they put out, which is simply fucking amazing.
But my vote also geos to Quorthon, Varg, DsO guys, the mastermind behind Drudkh, the guys in the band Dysthymia, and the only member of pagan black metal band Horn. Listen to any of the music, and it's obvious.

Ishahn and Qourthon


Not on this list - Aldrahn

I'd say Frost from 1349/Satyricon.
Satyricon went to shit but he doesn't seem to care as long as he can keep on blasting.
He's a fucking good drummer, 1349 more than anything shows.

I'd say Terrance Hobbs shreds pretty hard.

The genre black metal, not metal musicians that are black.

I understand. My point, however, is that picking the best black metal musician is like picking the best AA baseball team.

Wow, black metal fans really are racist!

Orlok from Countess, you twats.

Seconding Michael from Tearstained, Night Conquers Day, etc.

Varg, Quorthon, Abbath, Peter K
thats about it.

Valfar was also a genius but I wouldnt say WINDIR is really black metal. it sure has some black metal shit but I would consider it more like viking/pagan, than black.

To pick out two from the list: Quorthon & Satyr.

Someone mentioned Alexander von Meilenwald - I agree with that, he's indeed a very good musician.