Oh ok. I'll check them anyway. Who know? Maybe they're very good!

Ambient Black Metal anyone?

Got summoning, agalloch, drudkh, forgotten land.

Any country, as long as it is as thick atmosphere as possible.

Thanks!

Lunar Aurora and Nocternity!

Ah, I should have stated I have both of these bands!


It is my fault, as I worded it wrong. Looking more for Ambient Black Metal. Or whatever the black metal like Forgotten Land is.

Thanks anyway & thanks for future help!

RevLTD: Get Toreva's demo then, I bet you don't have that one yet and it's definitely worth a shot.
Also check out Skogen and Svart, both from Sweden.

As for atmosphere I can recommend also (I listened to these today once again):

Evilfeast - All material
Gontyna Kry - Welowie
Forest - Like a Blaze above the Ashes
Fullmoon - United Aryan Evil
Kataxu - Hunger of Elements (and check out also 'Roots Thunder'

Thanks guys.

Exactly what I was looking for! Can't wait to try to find more bands like this.

The bands you mentioned are more atmospheric then ambient.

If you wanna try some really great AMBIENT black metal, check out Paysage D'Hiver, Darkspace, Astral Luminous and Epitemia.

For Atmospheric def check out Sear Bliss, especially the early material, and Forest Silence a side project of the band. Coldworld is a must for atmosphere and ambience. Horn play some of the best atmospheric black metal there is well worth a listen. Lustre from Sweden should also hit the nail on the head excellent ambient/atmospheric black metal, Russia's Walknut, bit more raw side but still an excellent band. Often overlooked but Fanisk's "Noontide" is also a great release and a great use of keyboards to create an ambient background, the only thing is they are ns. Not classed as atmospheric black but it has its moments and is a fine release check out Zuriaake's "Afterimage of Autumn".

Another great atmospheric BM band is Hinsidig. Only one demo, but very well produced and great atmosphere all around. Definitely worth trying.

I'm looking for bands in the vein of Profundi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8YWAPlOLmc). Basically, a 1349ish band that goes beyond the whole in-your-face-aggression concept. Decent production and vocals are a must.

Thanks in advance!

They sound mainly like Naglfar - Pariah. also some Marduk: Nightwing and Panzer Division Marduk would be a nice start. I bet Dark Funeral - Attera Totus Sanctus will be nice one too.

I suggest Blutvial. 'I Speak Of The Devil' seems to fit the criteria you mentioned.

I'm looking for "desperate" depressive/suicidal black metal, i.e. higher tempos, more "active" music, and despairing vocals. More akin to a panic attack than monotony and greyness, if that description does anything. The thing I place the most emphasis on is the vocals, so I'd like them as tortured as possible.

A few examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aloe_cTlIS4 (these vocals are a good example of what I'm after, and so is the music, to a lesser degree)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsofblEK3A

Thanks in advance.

I continue to recommend SVARTI LOGHIN fpr fans of that sound you mentioned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNidSM0lg4

It wasn't Hemlock by any chance was it? They were from New York, and from what I remember of this album it sounded crudely like Darkthrone. The only thing is that they had more than two members - and had Dan Lilker handling bass duties. If it's not these guys, hope I at least jogged your memory a little

Those guys are friends of mine. Great band(especially the coming album), but not what I'm looking for. More focus on sheer despair, and not so much on atmosphere. Normally I'd go look for myself and not bother other people with it, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway.

Haven't listened to them in a while but Malvery could be interesting for you. That album was basically the suicide note from their singer. He killed himself pretty soon after the recording.

Thanks guys, exactly what I was looking for.

I'm looking for some thrash oriantated black metal. Like thrash style rythems with black metal style riffs, blasts and vocals. The only band i've come across anywhere close is Skeletonwitch but I'd like something heavier.

This may be an odd request but as of late I've taken an interest in Stallagh (sp?) and Silencer due to the interesting back stories behind them. Are there any other bm bands out there with such out there back stories to there work or indeed the band themselves.

You might like Destroyer 666, Absu, Aura Noir, Nifelheim, Flagellator, Destruktor, and Melechesh. Hopefully those are some of the bands you're looking for.

Thanks for the input. I really like Malechesh and Absu out of those.

I was listening to the Moonblood/Evil split tape a while ago, and the Moonblood side of that tape is pure Bathory worship!

Yeah great people were asking for it and it cost me all friggin day putting this list together and my topic gets locked after 5 minutes. Anyway hope someone will enjoy listening to some of it.

List of all the major Old School BM releases without Ambient, Dark, Atmospherric, Viking or Suicide/depressive bands. Just a list I put together today, it's in no way complete!

Bathory - ST (1984) (SWE)
Bathory - The Return (1985) (SWE)
Sarcófago - INRI (1986) (BRA)
Vulcano - Bloody Vengeance (1986) (BRA)
Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark (1987) (SWE)
Holocausto - Campo De Extermino (1987) (BRA)
Mutilator - Immortal Force (1987) (BRA)
Genocidio - ST (1987) (BRA)
Mayhem - Deathcrush EP (1987) (NOR)
Nekromantie - Resurrección Maldita (Comp) (1987) (COL)
Bathory - Blood Fire Death (1988) (SWE)
Order from Chaos - Inhumanities demo (1988) (USA)
Reencarnacion - 888 Metal (1988) (COL)
MX - Simoniacal (1988) (BRA)
Tormentor - Anno Domini (1988) (HUN)
Psychic Possessor - Toxin Diffusion (1988) (BRA)
Toten - Macabre Demo (1988) (USA)
Death Yell - Morbid Rites EP (1989) (1992) (CHL)
Blasphemy - Blood Upon the Altar (1989) (CAN)
Blasphemy - Fallen Angel Of Doom (1990) (CAN)
Old Funeral - Abduction of Limbs demo (NOR)
Sextrash - Sexual Carnage (1990) (BRA)
Beherit - The Oath Of Black Blood (1990) (Demo Comp)(FIN)
Profanatica - Collection (1990 demo's) (USA)
Martire - Martire (1991) (USA)
Dismember - Like an Ever Flowing Stream (1991) (SWE) (Death Metal)
Samael - Worship Him (1991) (SWI)
Archgoat - Angelcunt (Tales of Desecration) EP (1992) (FIN)
Immortal - Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism (1992) (NOR)
Marduk - Dark Endless (1st Press) (1992) (SWE)
Samael - Blood Ritual (1992) (SWE)
Von - Satanic Blood Angel (1992) (USA)
Impaled Nazarene - Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz (1992) (FIN)
Blasphemy - Gods Of War (1993) (CAN)
Mystifier - Göetia (1993) (BRA)
Immortal - Pure Holocaust (1993) (NOR)
Varathron - His Majesty At The Swamp (1993) (GRE)
Mayhem - Live In Leipzig (1993) (NOR)
North - Wojna Trwa (Demo-Comp) (1993) (POL)
Graveland - In The Glare Of Burning Churches (1993) (POL)
Poison - Further Down Into The Abyss (1993) (GER)
Impurity - The Lamb's Fury (1993) (BRA)
Darkthrone - Under A Funeral Moon (1993) (NOR)
Impaled Nazarene - Ugra-Karma (1st Press) (1993) (FIN)
Havohej - Dethrone The Son Of God (1993) (USA)
Grimm - Nordisk Vinter (demo) (1993) (NOR)
Marduk - Those Of The Unlight (1993) (SWE)
Sigh - Scorn Defeat (1993) (JAP)
Satyricon - The Forest Is My Throne (Demo) (1993) (NOR)
Order From Chaos - Stillbirth Machine (1993) (USA)
Goatpenis - Trotz Verbot Nicht Tot (Demo Comp) (1993-1994) (BRA)
Bestial Warlust - Vengeance War 'till Death (1994) (AUS)
Ancient - Svartalheim (1994) (NOR)
Abyssic Hate - Cleansing of an Ancient Race (1994) (AUS)
Infernum - Taur-Ru-Fuin (1994) (POL)
Samael - Ceremony Of Opposites & Rebellion (1994) (SWI)
Impaled Nazarene - Suomi Finland Perkele (1994) (FIN)
Dimmu Borgir - For All Tid (1994) (NOR)
The Black - The Priest Of Satan (1994) (SWE)
Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger (1994) (NOR)
Marduk - Opus Nocturne (1994) (SWE)
Evil - Pagan Fury 1994-1996 (BRA)
Nifelheim - ST (1994) (SWE)
Gorgoroth - Pentagram (1994) (NOR)
Veles - Triumph Of Pagan Beliefs (Demo) (1994) (POL)
Satyricon - The Shadowthrone (1994) (NOR)
Tulus - 1994 - Samlerens Kammer (Demo) (NOR)
Kristallnacht - Blooddrenched Memorial 1994 - 2002 (FRA)
Graveland - Carpathian Wolves (1994) (POL)
Isvind - Herskerinnen (Demo) (1994) (NOR)
Arckanum - Trulen (1994) (SWE)
Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times (1994) (NOR)
Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) (NOR)
Bestial Warlust - Blood & Valour (1995) (AUS)
Absu - The Sun Of Tiphareth (1995) (USA)
Immortal - Battles In The North (1995) (NOR)
Arckanum - Fran Marder (1995) (SWE)
Det Hedenske Folk - True Northern (1995) (NOR)
Marduk - Glorification EP (1995) (SWE)
Marduk - Fuck Me Jesus EP (1995) (SWE)
Zyklon-B - Blood Must Be Shed (1995) (NOR)
Vlad Tepes - March To The Black Holocaust (An Ode To Our Ruin) (1995) (FRA)
Throne Of Ahaz - Nifelheim (1995) (SWE)
Darkthrone - Panzerfaust (1995) (NOR)
Mayhem - Dawn Of The Black Hearts Live (1995) (NOR)
Barathrum - Hailstorm (1995a) (FIN)
Barathrum - Eerie (1995b) (FIN)
Anal Vomit - Welcome To The Slow Putrefaction (Demo) (1995) (PER)
Naked Whipper - Pain Streaks (1995) (GER)
Kampfar - ST EP (1995) (NOR)
Carpathian Forest - Through Chasm, Caves and Titan Woods EP (1995) (NOR)
Conqueror - Anti-Christ Superiority (Demo) (1996) (CAN)
Aura Noir - Black Thrash Attack (1996) (NOR)
Tulus - 1996 - Pure Black Energy (NOR)
Throne Of Ahaz - On Twilight Enthroned (1996) (SWE)
Samael - Passage (1996) (SWI)
Rundagor - Stronghold of Ruin (1996) (RUS)
Old Wainds - Withers Of The Wainds (Demo re) (1996) (RUS)
Dark Funeral - The Secrets Of The Black Arts (1996) (SWE)
Marduk - Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered (1996) (SWE)
Judas Iscariot - Thy Dying Light (1996) (USA)
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina (1996) (NOR)
Lunar Aurora - Weltengänger (1996) (GER)
Maleficarum - The Unholy Falldown Of Christianism (1996) (COL)
Judas Iscariot - The Cold Earth Slept Below (1996) (USA)
As Sahar - Casus Luciferi (1997) (SGP)
Mayhem - Wolf's Lair Abyss EP (1997) (NOR)
Horna - Hiidentorni + Kohti Yhdeksän Nousua (1997) (FIN)
Marduk - Live In Germania Live (1997) (SWE)
Marduk - Here's No Peace EP (1997) (SWE)
Immortal - Blizzard Beasts (1997) (NOR)
Urgehal - Arma Christi (1997) (NOR)
Grand Belial's Key - Mocking The Philanthropist (1997) (USA)
Arckanum - Kostogher (1997) (SWE)
Besatt - In Nomine Satanas (1997) (POL)
Kampfar - Mellom Skogkledde Naser (1997) (NOR)
Old Wainds - Zdes Nikogda Ne Skhodyat Snega (Demo) (1997) (RUS)
Hades - Dawn Of The Dying Sun (1997) (NOR)
Ragnarok - Arising Realm (1997) (NOR)
Nav' - Iz Navi V Jav' (Demo) (1997) (RUS)
Thor's Hammer - Fidelity Shall Triumph (1997) (POL)
Keep Of Kalessin - Through Times Of War (1997) (NOR)
Forest - Like A Blaze Above The Ashes (1997) (RUS)
Angel Corpse - Exterminate (1998) (USA)
Bathomet - Bathomet Demo (1998) (GRE)
Dark Funeral - Vobiscum Satanas (1998) (SWE)
Urgehal - Massive Terrestrial Strike (1998) (NOR)
Maniac Butcher - Cerna Kreb (1998) (CZE)
Marduk - Nightwing (1998) (SWE)
Judas Iscariot - Distant In Solitary Night (1998) (USA)
Inquisition - Into The Infernal Regions Of The Ancient Cult (1998) (COL)
Anal Vomit - Sudamerica Brutal (Demo) (1998) (PER)
Lunar Aurora - Seelenfeuer (1998) (GER)
Nhaavah - Kings Of Czech Black Metal & Detremination (1998) (CZE)
Aske - Krigere (Demo) (1998) (GER)
Sadogoat - Panzer Goat Sessions (1998-2001) (DEN)
Old Man's Child - Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion (1998) (NOR)
Conqueror - War Cult Supremacy (1999) (CAN)
Mayhemic Truth - In Memoriam (1999) (GER)
Keep Of Kalessin - Agnen A Journey Through The Dark (1999) (NOR)
Darkthrone - Ravishing Grimness (1999) (NOR)
Horna - Perimä Vihassa Ja Verikostossa + Ordo Regnum Sathanas (1999) (FIN)
Hate Forest - Scythia (Ferly015) (1999) (UKR)
Craft - Total Eclipse (Demo) (1999) (SWE)
Behemoth - Satanica (1999) (POL)
Satyricon - Rebel Extravaganza (1999) (NOR)
Marduk - Panzer Division Marduk (1999) (SWE)
Kampfar - Fra Underverdenen (1999) (NOR)
Clandestine Blaze - On The Mission EP (1999) (FIN)
Old Wainds - Skvoz' Khaos K Vechnoj Zime (Demo) (1999) (RUS)
Bloodhammer - Ancient Kings (1999) (FIN)
Dimmu Borgir - Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999) (NOR)
Clandestine Blaze - Fire Burns In Our Hearts (1999) (FIN)
Barathrum - Saatana (1999) (FIN)
Immortal - At The Heart Of Winter (1999) (NOR)
Azaghal - Mustamaa (1999) (FIN)
Morbosidad - Morbosidad (2000) (USA)
Necrofrost - In A Misty Soar And On It's Swampy Floor (2000) (GER)
Mastema - Inhuman Satanik And Evil (Demo) (2000) (FRA)
Marduk - Infernal Eternal Live (2000) (SWE)
Cult Of Daath - Under The Cover Of The Triumphant Holocaust (Demo Coll) (2000-2001) (USA)
Craft - Total Soul Rape (2000) (SWE)
Gaahlskagg - Erotic Funeral (2000) (NOR)
Akerbeltz - A Wave Of Darkness (2000) (SPA)
Beelzebul - The Powerful Essence of Lucifthian in Times of Obscurantism (2000) (COL)
Barathrum - Okkult (2000) (FIN)
Black Torment (Mex) - By Honor, Blood and Black Faith (MEX)
Arallu - The War On The Wailing Wall (2000) (ISR)
Immortal - Damned In Black (2000) (NOR)
Vargleide - When Only Ashes And Scorched Earth Are Left Behind (2000) (RUS)
Thornspawn - Blood Of The Holy Taint Thy Steel (2000) (USA)
Old Man's Child - Revelation666 (2000) (NOR)
Nifelheim - Servants Of Darkness (2000) (SWE)
Dark Funeral - Teach Children To Worship Satan EP (2000) (SWE)
Megiddo - The Devil and the Whore (2000) (CAN)
Ajattara - Itse (2001) (FIN)
Absu - Tara (2001) (USA)
Thorns - ST (2001) (NOR)
Lunar Aurora - Ars Moriendi (2001) (GER)
Thunderbolt - The Sons Of The Darkness (2001) (POL)
Old Wainds - Religion Of Spiritual Violence (2001) (RUS)
Black Witchery - Desecration Of The Holy Kingdom (2001) (USA)
Urgehal - Atomkinder (2001) (NOR)
Azaghal -Black Terror Metal (Demo) (2001) (FIN)
Necrofrost - Bloodstorms Voktes over Hytrunghas Dunkle Necrotroner (2001) (GER)
Melechesh - Djinn (2001) (ISR)
Zyklon - World ov Worms (2001) (NOR)
Apokalyptic Raids - Only Death Is Real (2001) (BRA)
Satanic Warmaster - Strength & Honour NH016 (2001) (FIN)
Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) (NOR)
Goat semen - Goat Semen (Demo) (2002) (PER)
Craft - Terror Propaganda (2002) (SWE)
Clandestine Blaze - Blood and Cum (Demo) (2002) (FIN)
Bilskirnir - In Flames Of Purification (2002) (GER)
Endstille - Operation Wintersturm (2002) (GER)
Inquisition - Invoking The Majestic Throne Of Satan (2002) (COL)
Ad Hominem - Planet Zog - The End (2002) (FRA)
Satyricon - Volcano (2002) (NOR)
Goatvomit - Chapel of the Winds of Belial EP (2002) (GRE)
Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness (2002) (NOR)
Witchtrap (2002) (COL)
Impiety - Kaos Kommand 696 (2002) (Sgp)
The Stone - Slovenska Krv (2002) (SER)
Manticore - Bowels Of The Unholy Anoint Us In Evil (2003) (USA)
Blasphemophagher - Atomic Infested Carnage (2003) (ITA)
Onheil- the threat (2003) (NL)
Hate Forest - Purity (2003) (UKR)
Blodulv - Kristkrossare (Demo) (2003) (FIN)
Urgehal - Through Thick Fog Till Death (2003) (NOR)
Naglfar - Sheol (2003) (SWE)
Bloodrain - Bloodrain II - Ultimatum (2003) (RUS)
Fluisterwoud - Langs Galg En Rad (2003) (NL)
Koldbrann - Nekrotisk Inkvisition (2003) (NOR)
Old Man's Child - In Defiance Of Existance (2003) (NOR)
Keep Of Kalessin - Reclaim EP (2003) (NOR)
Blodulv - ST (2003) (SWE)
1349 - Liberation (2003) (NOR)
Ad Hominem - ...For A New World (2003) (FRA)
Vorkreist - Sabbathical Flesh Possession (2003) (FRA)
Proclamation - Imperious Jaws of Ire (Demo) (2003) (SPA)
Artes Negra - Let There Be Death (2004) (ARG)
Inquisition - Magnificent Glorification Of Lucifer (2004) (COL)
Lunar Aurora - Zyklus (2004) (GER)
Funeral Winds - Koude Haat (2004) (NL)
Torrent - Between The Stones EP (2004) (GER)
Apokrypha - To the Seven (2004) (GER)
Pest - Daudafaerd EP (2004) (SWE)
Negator - Old Black (2004) (GER)
Verloren - Demo (2004) (BEL)
Nav' - Halls of Death (2004) (RUS)
Endstille - Dominanz (2004) (GER)
Capricornus - Alone Against All (2004) (POL)
Darkthule - Beyond the Endless Horizons + demos (2004) (GRE)
Dark Fury - Vae Victis! (2004) (POL)
Throne of Katarsis - Unholy Holocaustwinds (Demo) (2004) (NOR)
Nitberg - Nitsanger EP (2005) (RUS)
Beastcraft - Dawn Of The Serpent (DEMO COLL 04-05) (2006) (NOR)
Bahimiron - Hunting Down The Weak EP (2004) (USA)
Detonator666 - At The Dawn Of Sadistic Infernal Holocaust (2004) (CZE)
Bazzah - Kingdom Of The Dead (2004) (MAL)
Ajattara - Tyhjyys (2004) (FIN)
1349 - Beyond The Apocalypse (2004) (NOR)
Adorior - Author of Incest (2005) (GBR)
Satanizer - War Cult Domain (2005) (COL)
Negator - Die Eisernen Verse (2005) (GER)
Lunar Aurora - Mond (2005) (GER)
Nuklear Annihilation - Destruktive Warmachine (2005) (BUL)
Galgeras - Booswichterij (2005) (NL)
Old Man's Child - Vermin (2005) (NOR)
Weapon - Violated Hejab EP (2005) (CAN)
Naglfar - Pariah (2005) (SWE)
Dark Funeral - Attera Totus Sanctus (2005) (SWE)
Craft - Fuck The Universe (2005) (SWE)
Ad Hominem - Climax Of Hatred (2005) (FRA)
Tundra - Ansia (2005) (ITA)
Ride For Revenge - Path Of Dominion (2005) (FIN)
1349 - Hellfire (2005) (NOR)
Slechtvalk - At The Dawn Of War (2005) (NL)
Miserycore - Civilization Torture (Demo) (2005) (CHI)
Aquer - Athanatos (2005) (CHI)
Archgoat - Whore Of Bethlehem (2006) (FIN)
Koldbrann - Moribund (2006) (NOR)
Satyricon - Now Diabolical (2006) (NOR)
Keep Of Kalessin - Armada (2006) (NOR)
Urgehal - Goatcraft Torment (2006) (NOR)
Kampfar - Kvass (2006) (NOR)
Melechesh - Emissaries (2006) (ISR)
Haatstrijd - Cacodaemony (2006) (NL)
Dark Storm - Hell Satan Blasphemy (2006) (CZE)
Carpathian Forest - Fuck You All !!!! (2006) (NOR)
Bahimiron - Pure Negativism In Allegiance With Self Wreckage (2006) (USA)
Ajattara - Äpäre (2006) (FIN)
Senderos Del Mal - Pacto, Blasfemia y Guerra EP (2006) (CHI)
Deiphago - Satanik Eon (2006) (PHI)
Sadomator - Sadomatic Goat Cult (2006) (DEN)
Proclamation - Advent Of The Black Omen (2006) (SPA)
Mantak - Sabahell's Blasphemer (2007) (MAL)
Bestial Atrocity - Odes To Satan (Demo) (2007) (BRA)
Baalberith (Bra) - A Escalada Triunfante (2007)
Slavia - Strength and Vision (2007) (NOR)
Ride For Revenge - The King Of Snakes (2007) (FIN)
Watain - Sworn to the Dark (2007) (SWE)
Thornspawn - Sanctified By Satan's Blood (2007) (USA)
Inquisition - Nefarious Dismal Orations (2007) (COL)
Occidens - Glorification of the Antichrist (2007) (CHI)
Patecabra - El Horror (2007) (CHI)
Bestial Raids - Reversed Black Trinity (2007) (POL)
Evil Angel - Unholy Fight For Metal (2007) (FIN)
Diocletian - Decimator EP (2007) (NZ)
Exterminate - Pact EP (2008) (CHI)
Proclamation - Messiah Of Darkness And Impurity (2008) (SPA)
Grave Desecrator - Sign of Doom (2008) (BRA)

Hey, this is pretty cool. Never really enjoyed any Moonblood apart from Blut und Krieg (even though Taste Our German Steel was alright) but this sounds fun. THanks.

Trist (Germany). Check out the album 'Hin-Fort'. Classic.

Trist (Germany). Check out the album 'Hin-Fort'. Absolute class!

I'm afraid there's no other bands like Peste Noir. Never came across before.

Nocte Obducta. Agrypnie is a project of the vocalist from Nocte Obducta.

BLUT AUS NORD!! Hands down, best French BM band.

Altar of Plagues. Classic album they released, the new one.

I'll say it again. BLUT AUS NORD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vXzKKh-aKo

Autarcie is supposed to be heavily influenced by them.

What's the next Judas Iscariot album I should get? I have Thy Dying Light, and To Embrace the Corpses Bleeding.

I think most people will say Heaven in Flames, but I haven't ever listened to the band enough to make a rec.

Judas Iscariot - The Cold Earth Slept Below...
Judas Iscariot - Thy Dying Light
Judas Iscariot - Distant in Solitary Night

After you have these I would really suggest to move on to another band... What about:

Darkthrone - Under A Funeral Moon
Ancient - Svartalheim
The Black - The Priest Of Satan
Maleficarum - The Unholy Falldown Of Christianism
Urgehal - Arma Christi
Bilskirnir - In Flames Of Purification

For example...

I'm sorry if this has been mentioned earlier, but can someone tell me the difference between your ordinary Black Metal and Melodic Black Metal?

Is Melodic Black Metal similar to what Melodic Death Metal is to Death Metal?

I'm pretty much new to the Black Metal/Melodic Black Metal genre, so any help would be appreciated.

Also, who are the better bands out there that practice Melodic Black Metal, if there is such a thing?

I only know I listened to Apokrypha - To the Seven for awhile and it's quite a decent album. Pick it up

Try Slechtvalk - At The Dawn Of War as well! Maybe Melechesh.