As is the case with my other lists, this is for my own organizational purposes and is designed purely to help me keep track of all the many black metal bands and albums that I enjoy, since I can't keep all of this information in my head. It has no other benefit whatsoever and will likely result in tantrums should anyone else see it. I'm aware that I haven't listened to every black metal album that I should have. I only went down to the 6s on this list, so it's possible that I have listened to your favorite black metal album that you desperately need to suggest and I thought it was terrible. There are a lot of heinously incompetent black metal bands out there.

On the off-chance that you've found this and actually care about what I think (you shouldn't), be advised that my favorites come first. Some are favorites in the general sense; some are favorites within black metal. The first few of those are in some order and not so much after that.

Because this is for my own purposes and not intended to be a definitive list of pure black metal, there are some black metal-adjacent bands, or albums by black metal bands that may not themselves be black metal. That's why you'll find so much Sigh clogging up the top of the list. I prefer to keep whole discographies together on one list. I used to include Primordial, Forefather, and other such bands, but a while back I created a list for folk and I decided that those artists would fit better there.

I update these lists very infrequently. This was last updated December 7, 2022.

1.Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape

2.Sigh - Graveward

3.Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane

4.Sigh - Heir To Despair

5.The Meads Of Asphodel - The Murder Of Jesus The Jew

      View entire list ››

For those interested in suggestions of albums by genre

Removed:
- Trolls
- Limp bizkit outside of Alternative category
- albums already nominated. After the results, I will add the nominated albums that don't receive enough votes to be displayed in the results, as "staff write-ins".
- albums with a release date not in 2021

1.

2.Heleven - Into The Oceans

3.Imminence - Heaven In Hiding

4.Lantlôs - Wildhund

5.Leprous - Aphelion

      View entire list ››

This time around I'm only including albums rating 78.2% or higher to ensure only quality albums by my standards. This year is the first time I'm including a small description for each album rated around 83.0% or higher. Some below get an exemption because well, I had something to say about it. It's also the first time I'm including release date, record company, type (full-length, if blank), and volume. My volume by default is at 46 so + and - indicate how low or high it deviates from that.

1.Sol Kia - Zos Ethos

2.Victory Over The Sun - Nowherer

3.Peste Noire - Le Retour Des Pastoureaux

4.Chaos Echœs - Ecstasy With The Nonexistents

5.Dipygus - Bushmeat

      View entire list ››

Another year, another list. Huh time flies. First 10 in order I think was best of the best. Last 10 worst of the worst. Rest is in a order as I think they fits (based on todays perspective) , maybe december albums are higher as januari ones and also some middle albums might be 2-3 places higher, lover.
PS If there are duplications, let me know.

1.Thyrathen - ThanatOpsis

2.Black Soul Horde - Horrors From The Void

3.Cult Of Eibon - Black Flame Dominion

4.KK's Priest - Sermons Of The Sinner

5.Icon Of Sin - Icon Of Sin

      View entire list ››

The List of Albums releasing in 2021 that I listened/will listen to.
The Ratings are my personal opinion!

1.Svrm - Розпад

2.K.F.R - Shayṭān 2.0

3.Frozen Soul - Crypt Of Ice

4.Grima - Rotten Garden

5.Asphyx - Necroceros

      View entire list ››

1.Aborted - ManiaCult

2.Asphyx - Necroceros

3.At The Gates - The Nightmare Of Being

4.Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined

5.Carcass - Torn Arteries

      View entire list ››

www.fullblackreviews.com
fullblackreviews /instagram

1.Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined

2.Kauan - Ice Fleet

3.Osiris - Meanders A Soul . . .

4.Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst

5.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

      View entire list ››

You already know what to expect from these kinds of lists, so let's get straight to the point.

The statistics for this year's list:

- 268 albums
- Total points given: 2007,4
- Average Score: 7,49/10

- Albums with a score of 7 or above: 62,80%
- Albums with a score of 8 or above: 30,60%
- Albums with a score of 9 or above: 1,12%

1.Raphael Weinroth-Browne - Worlds Within Live

2.Decimals - Symmetry

3.Hwaino - We Lost Another Moon

4.In Mourning - The Bleeding Veil

5.First Nation - Baraka

      View entire list ››

So earlier in 2021, I actually finished a nine year old list, and I thought starting this in July and backfilling with previous listens would be a good idea. Turns out not jotting down some thoughts about albums as you listen to them the first time is mistake, so almost every album on here has been heard at least twice - often more.

I'm going to leave it in release date order for now - maybe I'll put them in rating order, but that seems like a lot of work.

And even looking at my own list, I'm convinced there are albums I've heard that aren't on here, so that's great!

Anyway, enjoy reading and hopefully this might point you in the direction of something from 2021 you haven't bothered with yet.

Cheers!

1.Horndal - Lake Drinker

2.Unto Others - Strength

3.Obscura - A Valediction

4.Gatecreeper - An Unexpected Reality

5.Asphyx - Necroceros

      View entire list ››

1.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

2.Thy Catafalque - Vadak

3.Ethereal Shroud - Trisagion

4.Yoth Iria - As The Flame Withers

5.Cradle Of Filth - Existence Is Futile

      View entire list ››

1.1914 - Where Fear And Weapons Meet

2.Stormkeep - Tales Of Othertime

3.Mare Cognitum - Solar Paroxysm

4.Every Time I Die - Radical

5.Archspire - Bleed The Future

      View entire list ››

1.Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky

2.Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger

3.Darkthrone - Old Star

4.Darkthrone - Ravishing Grimness

5.Darkthrone - Panzerfaust

      View entire list ››

1.Suffering Hour - The Cyclic Reckoning

2.Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined

3.Archgoat - Worship The Eternal Darkness

4.Diabolizer - Khalkedonian Death

5.Enforced - Kill Grid

      View entire list ››

In no particular order:

2021 Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/64dcGhNKM5p9TF9ALQBVHN?si=jaureWTyTHiTqMpvY3Q-5A&utm_source=copy-link

1.Ethereal Shroud - Trisagion

2.First Fragment - Gloire Éternelle

3.Bewitcher - Cursed Be Thy Kingdom

4.SpiritWorld - Pagan Rhythms

5.Unto Others - Strength

      View entire list ››

Good morrow
This is Prnzo
this list is probably for...
idk, the more adventurous...
jack-of-all-trades listener
lots of apples/oranges here
hopefully this top list helps
at least one MS'er
and if not...
there's always next yr
...unless there's not

update: this list still reflected just releases from earlier in the year - I keep updating my list offline... but I'm never happy with some of the configuration/arrangement (due mostly to indecision or losing track of even a very good release here n there)

1.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

2.Dordeduh - Har

3.Adjy - The Idyll Opus (I-VI)

4.The World Is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die - Illusory Walls

5.Converge and Chelsea Wolfe - Bloodmoon: I

      View entire list ››