This is a list of black metal (and blackened metal) albums based on their artwork (in reverse alphabetical order). It includes iconic cover art from classic albums as well as fascinating work from more recent releases.
There is a saying that "you should not judge a book by its cover", which is of course also true in the case of music albums. However, the artwork can complement the production and give a visual introduction to the musical theme and atmosphere. More than for any other kind of music, this may be true for metal.

(Updated 02.10.2023)

1.Zeal & Ardor - Zeal & Ardor

2.Yoth Iria - As The Flame Withers

3.Watain - Lawless Darkness

4.Vreid - Lifehunger

5.Venom - Black Metal

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All write-in votes from Metal Storm Awards 2020

1.

2.

3.Amaranthe - Manifest

4.Avatar - Hunter Gatherer

5.El Lobo En Tu Puerta - Santana Bendita

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First 18 in a order as I think its best. Yes in order so my best 18 albums what I can say were best. Really best from all!
Rest in order, just because I am selfish I wanna know what I have listen.

I dont know how to put suxer albums A-Z or Z-A what sucks more, I chose A-Z system so from 369 all was bad, biggest led down is 369 then what I thought was let down but not so bad as that band.

1.Katavasia - Magnus Venator

2.Marko Hietala - Pyre Of The Black Heart

3.Yoth Iria - Under His Sway

4.Trident - Nord

5.Ivanhoe - Blood And Gold

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Top 30 in alphabetical order plus some honourable mentions, the top 3 EPs and the best split. Here in the Black Lodge we had some other 20 album that could get in, but the gates in Twin Peaks woods slammed down in flickering flashlights...
The comments are from my delirious tulpa...

1.Above Aurora - The Shrine Of Deterioration

2.Acherontas - Psychic Death - The Shattering Of Perceptions

3.Akhlys - Melinoë

4.Ars Magna Umbrae - Apotheosis

5.Blaze Of Perdition - The Harrowing Of Hearts

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No particular order.

1.Dark Tranquillity - Moment

2.Draconian - Under A Godless Veil

3.Havukruunu - Uinuos Syömein Sota

4.Wolfheart - Wolves Of Karelia

5.Sylosis - Cycle Of Suffering

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Me: What a filthy year.
2021: Could be worse.
Me: How?
2021: Could be raining.

Non Metalstorm Bands

Myth Of I: https://mythofi.bandcamp.com/album/myth-of-i
Aesculeta: https://aesculeta.bandcamp.com

Best Covers Artwork

Eye of Nix - Ligeia https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2521976461_10.jpg
Xenobiotic - Mordrake https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2471456487_10.jpg

1.Exgenesis - Solve Et Coagula

2.Blaze Of Perdition - The Harrowing Of Hearts

3.Blaze Of Sorrow - Absentia

4.Myth Of I - Myth Of I

5.October Falls - A Fall Of An Epoch

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updated, but still more bands to consider

1.Spectral Lore - Wanderers: Astrology Of The Nine [Collaboration]

2.Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods

3.Abigor - Totschläger (A Saintslayer's Songbook)

4.Enslaved - Utgard

5.Mr. Bungle - The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo

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#1 - Eaten Back To Life

1.Mgła - Groza

2.Cannibal Corpse - Eaten Back To Life

3.Cannibal Corpse - The Wretched Spawn

4.Ulcerate - Of Fracture And Failure

5.In Mourning - Monolith

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No stars - Don't know yet
✮✮✮✮✮ - Incredible, possibly Album Of The Year
✮✮✮✮½ - Awesome
✮✮✮✮ - Solid release
✮✮✮½ - Good release
✮✮✮ - Not bad
✮✮½ - Shuffle material (probably boring as an album)
✮✮ - Disappointing

1.Earth Rot - Black Tides Of Obscurity

2.Anaal Nathrakh - Endarkenment

3.Benighted - Obscene Repressed

4.Thurisaz - Re-Incentive

5.Heaven Shall Burn - Of Truth & Sacrifice

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If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And I'm not broke yet.

Character limit maxed in mid-May (lockdown increased my music intake too much), so needed to cut down some entries.

I also gave up listing all the potential MSA candidates I ploughed through in late December

1.Psychonaut - Unfold The God Man

2.Elder - Omens

3.Regarde Les Hommes Tomber - Ascension

4.Pure Reason Revolution - Eupnea

5.Barishi - Old Smoke

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Seems like there's a limit on how many albums this site accepts on one list. Gonna have to cut out the last ones while adding new albums for the rest of the year.

1.Havukruunu - Uinuos Syömein Sota

2.Orbit Culture - Nija

3.Wolfheart - Wolves Of Karelia

4.Stormruler - Under The Burning Eclipse

5.Frozen Dreams - The Eclipse Of Eternity

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1.Yoth Iria - Under His Sway

2.Angellore - Rien Ne Devait Mourir

3.Ninkharsag - Discipline Through Black Sorcery

4.Huntsmen - Mandala Of Fear

5.Symbolik - Emergence

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