Welcome back to the second edition of Metal Melancholy picks
of 2015! As explained in the previous post, we are breaking it down into
sub-genre’s to ensure that every good album gets a mention. After covering the
lands of doom, we are now grazing into the territory of pitch black metal! 2015
was really big for black metal, but it was the underground bands that really
caught our eye. Without further ado, here are our picks for Best Black Metal
Albums of 2015:
NOTE: Click on the album title to listen and/or click on the
band name to head to their Facebook page.
The US based sextet got a lot of attention following their debut full length album, which brings in a fresh approach to the genre mixing melody and elements of punk into their atmospheric black metal music.
Every time the Finnish black metal crusaders announce a new album, one knows what to expect. This album is no different. Its beautiful, yet totally crushing. Their is a raw intensity about the album, that just brings out extremities of the music! This is a must listen!
This album oozes out darkness through it grim atmosphere. It's musical tunes can bring the worst nightmares into the listeners mind. For anyone who thinks symphonic black metal is soft, this will change your opinion in a single listen!
This one is for those who love their metal to be raw and filthy! Some of the best blasphemous chants you will come across, as they hurl their burning spears towards the old gods and the new.
Although many will cry blasphemy, for including this record on the list, its hands down the perfect post-black metal (cringes for making up more sub-genre's) record of 2015. Its much darker and heavier than the outstanding Sunbather.
Lucifer's Child is a band out of Greece that was formed in 2013 by George Emmanuel of Rotting
Christ and Stathis Ridis of Nightfall. The Wiccan is their debut release, and one of the best melodic black metal release of 2015. It brings in the grandiose greek black metal atmosphere, with some spirituality and a dose of occultism. One of the best underground release of 2015!
One of the most controversial black metal album of 2015, one either loved it or totally hated it. Nevertheless, the album leaves its mark on the listener. Some of the best clean vocals intermingled with classical black metal riffs makes for a wonderful composition!
Heathen Beast have emerged out of nowhere and taken the world by a storm! Hailing from India, the band instead of following the footsteps of the masses leaves Satanism and Anti-Christianity behind, and delves into much more local topics, of riots, cultural rituals, etc. The music also has a local touch, with some beautiful use of traditional musical instruments. Did we mention its raw as hell!?
Umbras de Barbagia, is simply put a masterpiece. Its grand
atmosphere, builds up the perfect mood of melancholia. For the 60 minutes of the album, one is transported to another world where nothing but a state of gloom and sorrow exists. An engrossing journey into the landscapes of blackened folk metal! A must listen for one and all!
One more debut full length on the list, and what a debut it turned out to be! Outre from Poland play some of the finest black metal one can come across. The album has the rawness, as well as the atmospherics. But, what really strikes right from the first spin is
the originality that the band brings forth, in a genre that has started to
become a bit too stale. A must listen for one and all!
What were your favourite black metal releases of 2015? Let us know in the comments below!
