About Black metal
Black metal is a music genre that emerged in Norway, England and Finland in the 1980s. It is usually classed as a form of extreme metal.
Artists closely associated with the genre include Varg Vikernes, Mayhem, Burzum, Venom, Bathory and Darkthrone.
Black metal has given rise to 11 subgenres on this site, such as Viking metal, National Socialist black metal, Unblack metal and Early Norwegian black metal scene.
From Wikipedia
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, a shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, raw (lo-fi) recording, unconventional song structures, and an emphasis on atmosphere. Artists often appear in corpse paint and adopt pseudonyms.
Genre family tree
Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Black metal.
Key artists
- Varg Vikernes
- Mayhem
- Burzum
- Venom
- Bathory
- Darkthrone
- Immortal
- Emperor
- Celtic Frost
- Gorgoroth
Related genres
Frequently asked questions
What is Black metal?
Black metal is a music genre that emerged in Norway, England and Finland in the 1980s. It is usually classed as a form of extreme metal.
Where and when did Black metal originate?
Black metal originated in Norway, England and Finland in the 1980s.
Who are famous Black metal artists?
Varg Vikernes, Mayhem, Burzum, Venom, Bathory and Darkthrone.