I'm not talking early Sodom or Poison, but thinking about the Second Wave. It seems this is one area that I've neglected for years. Outside of Moonblood, Paragon Belial and a couple others, I don't think I'm too familiar with many decent German bands from roughly 90-96. Any good, solid recommendations?

UNGOD

(Although it's more akin to early Bathory, Poison and Sodom)

Not a problem at all. Sounds right up my alley. Thanks!

Good, start with "Circle Of The Seven Infernal Pacts" then.

Bethlehem is worth checking out

Indeed. I didn't mention them as they're not exactly pure Black Metal. But Dark Metal, Dictius Te Necare and even S.U.I.Z.I.D. are great albums.

Eminenz, band's first material was released in 1990.
Also check out Belmez.

Absurd if you dont mind punky black metal

Wolfsmond. Don't know much of their later stuff, but their material from the period you're after is great. 'Die Graue Saat' is a brilliant demo with an absolutely vile aggression and atmosphere to it. Read my (not so great) review of it if you want a better idea of how it sounds.

Desaster is pretty obvious

Martyrium were a very interesting a-typical Black Metal band. Early Secrets Of The Moon can be seen as continuation of this trip. Very good bands.

Tha-Norr were also a very interesting band. Their CD got re-released on vinyl on Amor Fati Rec. not long ago.




Avoid basically 100% of all Black Attack/Last Epitaph/Last Episode bands (Mystic Circle, Dunkelgrafen, Andras and the likes).

Thanks. I'm only familiar with Thuringian Pagan Madness, which I rarely listen to. It's not terrible but, if I need punk, I'll go for GBH or something. As for their other stuff, I heard a couple earlier demos that made the LLN stuff sound overproduced.

Anything else?

Moonblood, especially the LP Blut und Krieg. There's literally thousands of bands from Germany and Moonblood tops all of them by far.

Baxaxaxa

They formed in '92 and released a demo called 'Hellfire' in the same year. The demo is great, although it consists of only four tracks, and the whole thing is just over 20 minutes in length.

The same tracks from Hellfire, apparently with the exception of the 'Intro' were released on a split album with the aforementioned Ungod in 2002. It includes the bonus track 'Hellfire' instead of the 'Intro', which was included with later versions of their 1992 demo.

I still think it's worth checking out...

Check out the Nagelfar debut:

http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=12368

COUNTESS [a must!]
UNGOD
MARTYRIUM
DESASTER [if one considers them to be black metal]

these are the ones that are essential and immediately come to mind

Countess is a Dutch band (not that it makes the music any worse).

yeah as soon as I typed it I realized it. You beat me to editing it, but Countess rules anyway!

IMO the albums released from 1996 to 2002 are BM enough. The newer stuff is more Swedeath-inspired (sometimes heavily resembling Merciless).


Yeah, I especially like the live recordings from mid-90-ies.

Not really old but more "old school" is Negator.

there are DOZENS of great early/mid-90's BM bands from germany

moonblood - check out the albums plus dusk woerot and some splits. most demo/rehearsals aren't worth it.

early secrets of the moon tapes are FANTASTIC. especially unearthed arcana.

ancient wargod

one of my all-time faves: the seventh gate - fabulae; awesome warrior black metal. then I also have to mention impending doom and their messias abaddon demo, has a gothic/death edge to it though.

then of course UNGOD. check out the debut album. the new stuff isn't bad either.

nagelfar and the whole wod van crew: desecration (ger), graupel, verdunkeln)

early lunar aurora

about desaster: I actually only like their 2nd demo. I'm not too much into their thrashier stuff. lost in the ages is excellent though.

and of course the mighty ARMAGEDDON (ger): their grievous demo is probably the best black metal demo ever recorded.

also, how could I forget the mighty GRAUSAMKEIT??? check them out if you're into really weird stuff. you might also like entwertung and corneus.

as peter ott stated: avoid all the last epitaph bands. ALL of them.

No worries, I've got every demo, rehearsal, L.P. It has easily been worth the small fortune it's cost. Actually, my favourite is The Winter Falls Over the Land, but maybe that's because it was one of the first ones I heard.