blackmetal

Black metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in Europe in the early 1980s and was popularized by Venom's 1982 album Black Metal. Early acts such as Bathory and Celtic Frost helped establish its basic sound: fast tempos, tremolo-picked guitars, shrieked or rasped vocals, and often deliberately lo-fi or raw production. Lyrical themes commonly address anti-religion, nature, folklore, paganism, and personal despair.

A defining development occurred in Norway in the early 1990s, where a second wave produced bands such as Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Immortal, and Emperor. This scene emphasized atmosphere, minimalistic production, and distinct visuals such as corpse paint. The period also saw violent incidents linked to some individuals and groups, including arson attacks on churches and a murder; these events affected public perception though the music itself spans a wide range of approaches and ideologies.

Musically, black metal differs from death metal in vocal style (high-pitched shrieks vs growls), guitar technique (tremolo picking), and an emphasis on mood and atmosphere over technical virtuosity. Production often favors cold, raw acoustics, though many bands later pursued clearer or more orchestral textures.

Subgenres and offshoots include symphonic black metal (Dimmu Borgir, Emperor), melodic black metal (Dissection), depressive/forest black metal, and blackgaze (Alcest). Today black metal is a global movement with bands across continents, continuing to evolve while retaining core elements of aggression, atmosphere, and a challenging, non-mainstream stance.