These are killer recommendations, I definitely have a similar taste. Anything thing else you can suggest along those melodic/atmospheric lines?

Behexen - 6.6.6. is one such thing, but I don't think there are many bands that specifically play that type of thing.

Does anyone know of any black metal bands that utilize a sort of bass drop like in these songs


Preferably something similar to Marduk but I'm not going to be too picky about it

Armagedda has a prominent bass and, while my speakers here suck and I don't hear the bass all that well, I could swear this has a bass drop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3AUTThiWE

Also, don't really have the time to sift through the album, but I think there's some on Shining's V- Halmstad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE4_BvbT0Ag

Anyone know what's going on with Katharsis from Germany? Fourth Reich was a real pleasant surprise and seeing how Watain were getting super big at the time I thought they'd get some of the same momentum.

Anything like these tracks - with all of their rhythm changes/momentum shifts that turn out catchy and grabbing rather than distracting along with great riffing - would be cool. That breaking at around 3mins in Thy Horror is something I can never get enough of.

Speaking of awesome breakdowns, this is a bit different, but one of my favorites. Right at 3 minutes of this song, I wish it was longer. This whole album is quite a beast:

Ok - a kind of general request - can someone point to me black metal that is clearly thrash and heavy metal influenced? I mean stuff like Bathory, Zemial, Agatus, Kawir etc. I also like the older Greek scene a lot with Varathron, Necromantia, early Rotting Christ etc. Faustcoven is another band I really enjoy.

As a sidenote any black metal similar to early Samael is also great. I love Anael for example.

Mortuary Drape

Mortuary Drape

Mortuary Drape

Mortuary Drape

Mortuary Drape

Have you checked Mortuary Drape?

Have you heard Abominatrix's band Demontage? Also, Megiddo.

Sorry, this is by far my favorite type of black metal so I get a little excited. Mortuary Drape have an incredible influence, pretty much 3/4 Mercyful Fate 1/4 Venom. If you're looking for trad-influenced bm you really can't go wrong with them (well...avoid Buried in Time). All The Witches Dance is their most occult/esoteric sounding album. Secret Sudaria is the thrashiest. Tolling 13 Knell is a near-perfect combination of those two styles. Technical and involved musically, but always working towards a palpable occult atmosphere.

Demontage is another excellent suggestion. The first album is more live/raw sounding, and a bit more "fun" sounding as well. The Principal Extinction is a lot denser musically and thematically. They have a heavy influence from Grand Belial's Key in the riffing department. Think GBK mixed with epic heavy metal. The drummer understands that blast beats have their time and place, and is far more oriented towards beats that swing and romp. The bassist is a fucking madman.

Speaking of Grand Belial's Key...them. Start with Judeobeast Assassination, it's a bit more concise than the debut with a lot better production. Truthfully though all three of their albums are masterful and my favorite is usually just whichever one I played last. The riffs sound heavily inspired by the Greek bm scene as well as all sorts of traditional heavy metal (the good shit). I'd be surprised if you haven't heard these guys already honestly.

Negative Plane are a must. A newer band that have pretty much taken this style of black metal on their shoulders and launched to the forefront. I'd start with the first album, Et in Saecula Saeculorum. The songs are long as hell and winding, there are rarely obvious choruses but the riffs are ASTOUNDINGLY great. Huge influence again from Mercyful Fate, Venom, and all the great trad-influence black metal that came before them. Stained Glass Revelations is a killer album as well, and has plenty of savage and arresting riffs but it's obviously and purposefully slanted more towards a ghostly and occult atmosphere.

If you haven't dipped into the Czech scene yet then you're missing out in a big way. Master's Hammer would be the highest priority in my opinion, with Ritual possibly being one of the greatest black metal releases of all time. Also worth your attention is Amon Goeth and Root.

I'm currently looking for grind-influenced black metal along the lines of Impaled Nazarene (first two albums in particular), Osculum Obscenum, and Naked Whipper.

Looking for melodic black metal similar to Sad Legend (South Korea).

Try Mordant. Not as intricate as Mortuary Drape, but quite straightforward and certainly more evil. Also check out Horna's album Sotahuuto, it's Bathory worship made so filthy that it makes Quorthon's band sound friendly by comparison.


Mythos - Pain Amplifier is very close to the old Impaled Nazarene sound, although it isn't quite as depraved and insane.

Try Vinterland (sort of but not as folky).


And while you're at it try Belial as well, which is the guitarist's first band. The EPs only, the album is a freakin' curveball.

Quite right, even the keyboard interludes of Wisdom of Darkness sound like the interludes from Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz. Never Again is an album, though, and while it's not as good as Wisdom of Darkness, it's worth hearing.

Horned Almighty is quite thrasy I think:

Precisely. That EP is wickedly eerie! I really like Never Again, but as I said before it's a major curveball and has only a part of the aggression present in the EPs. It's still great though, but it deviates a bit from the initial request.

Would anyone be able to recommend some bands or may be just releases that are very similar to the debut EP, "By the Hands of the Consuming Fire", of Axis of Light? The combination of characteristics I'm after is:

- Heavily distorted vocals (think Anaal Nathrakh, for example)
- Guitars with massive, full and fuzzy distortion without being extremely high or low end
- Riffs that are despite the guitar sound very easy to make out, ranging from raw thrash/black to more melancholy segments
- Simple but effective drums that are quite buried underneath the guitar blanket
- For extra clarification: here's the first track of said EP @ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcIf881ribQ

I know this is very specific, perhaps too specific; feel free to recommend something even when you're in doubt, bands with most or some of these characteristics could still be worth the shot.

Thanks in advance.

Goddamnit, I don't know. But the track you linked sounds awesome, fellow Dutchie.

Zeker, heeft m'n post toch alvast nut . Anyone else have a suggestion?

Not exactly what you described, but the best I can come up with. Fucking amazing EP.

Ah, yeah, great EP; I already know them I'm afraid! Actually played with them and Æsahættr once. Nonetheless, thank you!

Seeing that you know Axis of Light, I'm sure you know Nuklearenpest and Xothist since they're both on the Svn Okklt comp. But just in case you don't.

Nuklearenpest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7pvQFfR2XU

Xothist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKIdzKuEghY

Warwulf NSBM from the usa. too bad they're ns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6RFrKno54I

I may be a bit late on this, but do you know ofermod's mysterion tes anomias? I've never seen anything getting closer to DMDS. and I'm speaking of the vibe or the aura, not just some copycat emulation of attila's vocals. I agree with you on that frost album.

their 1998 single was rereleased with two more songs by NED, here you have the first two songs on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK0A4amQ8rw

Interesting, thanks for backtracking and coming up with this. I immediately get what you're saying about this and DMDS. The quality's a bit staticy and washy- is that youtube or the actual demo? Digging this, I'll have to pursue some of their stuff.

I actually didn't know any of these, so I'm really glad you decided to mention them! Haven't got the time to listen to al three songs in full right now, but my first impressions are very positive. Thanks!

Duisterling:

Check out the album Natur by Kaevum. The sounds are quite crude and distorted, but the music has some rather beautiful, melancholy passages. Similar to that, if less abrasive, Nattfog - Mustan Auringon Riitti. It's somewhat inferior, but if you like one, you'll most likely enjoy both. Tortorum is more abrasive, again, but the vocals aren't quite as distorted as Kaevum.

this is just youtube. the actual sound on the ep is much much better. it was originally a two-song 7" on some (I think) swedish label, but was re-released as a 12" and cd by norma evangelium diaboli. at least the cd version should still be around in some distros.

track in better quality here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HMYZGkWi7g

the sad thing is that ofermod's follow-ups don't come even close to this monument. look no further than mysterion tes anomias.

Unfamiliar with all of those; thanks. Sounds pretty good, I'll check out all three. Noticed that Nattfog is Finnish, which is always a big plus, as is their label (Hammer of Hate). Also, nice to see that Tortorum has a Galar live member in their lineup. Thanks again.

also got a request: I'm looking for music in the vein of diabolicum's 2001 album the dark blood rising (hatecrowned retaliation), i.e. I want MASSIVE programmed multilayered synthetic mechanized drums ("industrial" ) with aggressive riffing that has a touch of OSDM and weird spaced-out synths. guttural growls are a plus, but not obligatory.

to give you examples in case you don't know that brilliant album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6wNry-VrZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6iLi0rcvno

I know this is pretty specific as that album is so unique, but I'm grateful for anything remotely similar.

Nattfog are pretty good but I actually prefer the demo by that pre-Nattfog band, Norns.

You may enjoy Ezgaroth. They're one of my favourite bands that blend heavy, industrial drum programming with traditional, cold sounding BM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfyaxaDdtoY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzgNnO-LKfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpixisoB7d4

Good call. That's some very powerfully atmospheric and melancholy stuff, like a better Min Kniv.

Thanks guys. I'm really into that Min Kniv demo, so Norns should be a winner.

I just recently discovered the 90s project Diabolical Masquerade and I can't get enough of it. Loving the not-too-serious take on black metal with interesting prog elements and tons of catchy melodies. Anything similar? Hail Spirit Noir is also a good comparison.

Maybe try Cloak of Altering. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO0wegjQ3a0

And as a general suggestion for anybody who's into Thantifaxath, check out Cult of Fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byn3IsVY8FE

The new Cult of Fire is pretty damn good, got a promo this week. There's some cool ethnic overtones similar to Melechesh or their countrymen Lykathea Aflame. And the cover art is awesoooooooooooome. It's like Behemoth's The Apostasy on acid.

Fuckin awesome Tony, the first album was an excellent release, really looking forward to this one.

Holy fuck I'm completely blown away by this!
Helheim's 1995 deput, so damn fast! those vocals!

Anything else like this? viciously fast black/folk with 'unique' vocals?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFFmDsxEhPM