Ok... let me explain.

Quite often melodic black metal is keyboard ridden... this is not what I'm looking for.

I'm more looking for black metal in the vein of Blut Aus Nord (memoria vetusta 1) and Immortal (At the heart of winter) where melody isn't cheesy but blends perfectly with the rest.

I don't know how to explain... but I'm looking for melody which isn't too "obvious" nor hidden by a wall of indistinguishable wall of white noise... but it still has to be the most important element (those majestic melodic riffs in Memoria vetusta are goosebumps inducing)

-_- I'll never be able to explain it properly. Well, have a look at the bands I mentioned (I'm looking probably for stuff more like blut aus nord).

thank you!

Spite Extreme Wing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e8X_lAil_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QejP-e0MEv0
Vltra is an incredible album, lots of non cheesey fucking awe inspiring melodic tremolo riffs unlike anything ive heard in black metal before.

Steingarb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlqAnTu5KyI
This song gives me a little BAN vibe. A little...


You've probably heard of Kroda, Kampfar and Taake before. I think they are fuckin awesome. If you havent heard of them then fix that...

I dont know if Cor Scorpii is what your after but they are worth a try as well.

Second most of the stuff black_blunt recommended, some great bands there.

I would say to check out Forest of Fog. Melodic, guitar-driven black metal that can be both very beautiful and very aggressive. His first demo, Rabenflug, is instrumental and has some of the best melodies you'll find in bm and is also my favourite release of his. But their other material is all pretty much of an equally high standard. Listen to the tracks 'Schwertes Blut' and 'Das Licht Erlosch' to get a good idea of their sound.

I made a thread similar to this in the past, the best one I got out of it was Isvind. I recommend the living shit out of them.

Thanks everyone!

The only band I know about is Spite Extreme Wing... Vltra is fantastic, even more so if you speak Italian (which I do)... I got the digipack (beautiful stuff).

I'll listen to everything else you guys suggested

keep 'em coming

(and I'll look into lord_ghengis' thread, if I can find it)

you might wanna try these two bands

- Hirilorn
and
- Deathspell Omega

hope it helps ..hirilorn is my fav black metal band

What about Watain - Sworn to the Dark?

Marduk - Opus Nocturne?

Ajattara - Itse or Aparare

etc

Ulver - Nattens Madrigal. This is all you need...

Ever.

A comment about the last recommendations:

Hirilorn: hell yeah! This is what I'm looking for (at least, the video on youtube sounded like it!)

Marduk: I wrongfully dismissed this band for a trite Blasty McBlasts fest... I like that album

Ajattara... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4xjGBehCL4... I'm all for experimental music 'n' stuff. BUT COME ON! More seriously, even their metal stuff is meh... their riffs sound too much like nu metal garbage. But thanks anyway!

Watain... good! thanks

Ulver. I already have kveldssanger, bergtatt, svidd neger, Blood inside, etc. I like all their stuff, but I never listened to Nattens madrigal! Good stuff! The production is REALLY bad though (I know I know, it's a known issue).

I read this thread title and thought of Code - Nouveau Gloaming immediately. Then I read your post and want to recommend it even more.

I highly recommend Melechesh, particularly their albums "Sphinx" and "Emissaries".

Yeah, I suppose. But trust me, you'll learn to love the production eventually. And good headphones help too.

Taake's first album

Melodic Unmelodic Black Metal ?

=> Ved Buens Ende

Seconding this recommendation! SEW was the first thing to come to mind.

There aren't many bands who do what Immortal does with those riffs/melodies. Still, I'd recommend you my latest favorite BM act: Imperium Dekadenz. If you like the feel of "At the Heart of Winter", I'm sure you'll love these guys. Don't dismiss their latest because of the lower current rating. It's perhaps closer to your taste, even.

http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=36355

I've also been checking out the band "Sorhin" just recently. Listen to some of their samples, they may be what you are looking for as well.

http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=3240

The perfect match for what you're looking for is Dark Inversion's "Into the Pagan Depths". Absolutely unmatched melodic black.

Astriaal's album "Renascent Misanthropy" is something I'd suggest you listen to, quickly.

Try Lord Belial