Yeah, I'm aware of the black metal help thread but didn't really get much attention, so I'll just ask it here.

I'm looking for black metal that's energetic and riffy and makes you want to bang your head. Don't recommend me anything atmospheric or emotional cause I'm not looking for that. I'd like to avoid keyboards and I prefer no blastbeats. Production wise I'm looking for something clear and loud, but nothing raw. When it comes to tempo, I prefer something midpaced. Some faster moments here and there are fine though.

The best examples I can come are Immortal's ''Tyrants'' and Desaster's ''Tyranizzer''. Demonaz's debut isn't too far removed of what I'm looking for. I already heard I's ''Between Two Worlds''. Thanks in advance!

Mid-paced, riffs, no keyboards and a not too muddy production. I'm thinking Forteresse's album 'Métal Noir Québécois' :
http://youtu.be/lILbCE-3yCs (never mind the violin intro)
http://youtu.be/gbJp_c3XaE0 (also never mind the violin intro)
Quality of the youtube uploads are not as crisp as the real stuff, ofcourse...

edit: might be a bit too atmospheric though, sorry...

Have you heard Trimonium? They might be a little faster than what you're looking for, but have some excellent riffs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzZrS3XL ... re=related

I've always been able to thrash along with Cobalt and 1349. GREAT bands with some kick ass riffs and whatnot.

This might be a silly rec, but you'll be surprised to find out (unless you know already, which you probably do...) that Darkthrone have a LOT of headbangy, "heavy" even GROOVY riffs in their black metal stuff. Let me show you.

I guess I'll point out where the most striking riffs are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tETtFNRGUF4 1:46
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtT3AIX3_js 2:08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knjE4mtVDy0 1:40 (probably my favourite riff in black metal ever, if not one of my favourite metal riffs ever!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7jnwDyp ... re=related 2:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZOXpRs- ... re=related 0:55
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAajs4oMbpg (this entire song is just one big \m/ riff fest)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ek6lS4NHYU 0:44 (this whole album imo is exactly what you're looking for, maybe a bit too crusty for you, but if you like energetic music then I assume you like punk)

So, there you go. I too have constantly searched for energetic riffy black metal but it seems like Darkthrone is all there really is. Marduk have some great riffs too, but nothing as cool as Darkthrone. It seems most black metal artists are focused on either atmosphere and/or emotion or just doing total blasphemous blast fests. Both of which are awesome, but sometimes you just need to headbang to black metal! Well at least I do.

So I suppose your best bet is to just explore Darkthrone some more, or maybe you'd be into stuff like black 'n' roll. Newer Satyricon and Carpathian Forest for example, they've got lots of energetic riffs but personally I'm not huge into it (but some stuff is neat like Fuel for Hatred by Satyricon) since no artist except, yeah, you guessed it, Darkthrone have pulled off blackened punk/rock correctly.

edit: how could I forget! Emperor's first demo, although really low production quality, is full of sweet evil energetic riffs! It's a CLASSIC! Check this out (if you haven't already) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT1wRKfXCqM

I know my post is about as useless as recommending Slayer, Kreator and Sepultura to someone trying to find heavier thrash metal, but the point of my post is to just let you know there's still a lot of hidden gems in the bigger known bands!

I always found Countess to have a real energetic, driving sound. It's quite primitive and raw, but the riffs are there, and some catchy choruses to boot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay-Ep9dw0P8

Try these two overlooked gems:

Labyrinth of Abyss - The Cult of Turul Pride,

Ritual - Soldiers Under Satan's Command.

You need some Craft.

You should surely have a look at the new album by Ajattara.

Thou Art Lord totally deserves a mention! One of the few BM bands that make me headbang.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv5zQU704WU

Craft is the shizzzz

I second.

Also:

Mortuary Drape: a bit thrashy, as also occasionally shows some death and doom influences, real headbangable shit.
Old Wainds: Particularly Scaling Coldness, they are reminiscent of Immortal and a bit thrashy at times too, definitely killer riffs and headbangable stuff to be found.
Abigail: Black metal with some occasional thrash influences here on Intercourse and Lust. Very dynamic stuff.

OP, you basically described Enochian Crescent: extra-riffy, no-nonsense black metal from Finland. Go for their last album, Black Church, and their EP, NEF.VI.LIM.

Awesome stuff. They can get a lil'bit proggy/weird sometimes, but, aside from that, they fit your description like a glove, I think.

Here's a sample:

Thousand Shadows

First a classic one, Dissection's 1995 album Storm of the Light's Bane (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3L0bqU ... re=related) that's by far pretty much energetic and riffy

If you're too open minded you should definitely try with Liturgy, if youre open minded enought for them you'd end loving it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2iwAAaE ... re=related

And last but not least important there's this first EP by Amesoeurs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTCuKJh-Z70
for me its pretty riffy and energetic as well

it has a few keyboards but the song self mutilation by dark fortress has some of my favourite riffs ever.