About the Genre
Melodic black metal is a subgenre of black metal that emphasizes the use of melodic elements, such as catchy guitar riffs and memorable lead guitar lines, to create a more accessible and memorable sound. This subgenre is characterized by its fast tempos, complex song structures, and its incorporation of elements from traditional heavy metal, power metal, and symphonic metal.
It originated in the early 1990s, with the emergence of bands such as Dissection, Emperor, and Dimmu Borgir, who helped to establish the subgenre by incorporating melodic elements into their sound. These bands, and others like them, began to push the boundaries of the genre and helped to establish melodic black metal as a distinct subgenre within the black metal scene.
These black metal bands often use clean vocals and symphonic elements, such as the use of orchestrations and choirs, to create a more epic and grandiose sound. The lyrics regularly focus on themes such as mythology, fantasy, and the occult.
Lately, a significant rise in popularity and influence, with bands such as Mgla, Gaahls Wyrd, and Nachtblut receiving critical acclaim and a wider audience. This subgenre has also been able to attract fans from other genres such as traditional heavy metal, power metal, and symphonic metal.
Videos
Skaldr – Saṃsṛ (Full Album Premiere)
Country: United States | Year: 2025 | Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Pre-order CD, LP & Digital Alb…
Sabhankra – Nocturnal Elegies (Full Album Premiere)
Country: Turkey | Year: 2025 | Genre: Melodic Black Metal
CD & Digital Album available here:
h…
Hjaal – Echoes of Betrayal (Track Premiere)
Country: Argentina / United Kingdom | Year: 2023 | Genre: Melodic Pagan Black Metal
Track from …
Bethorian – At the Dusk of Ages (Full EP)
Country: Finland | Year: 2024 | Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Digital Album available here:
https…
Geistlicht – Unburied Remnants of the Ancients (Full Album)
Country: Germany | Year: 2025 | Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Digital Album available here:
https…
Prognan – Sve Će To Narod Pozlatiti (Full Album)
Country: Croatia | Year: 2025 | Genre: Melodic Black/Death/Thrash/Folk Metal
Digital Album avai…
Frost – In the Chambers of Your Dreams (Official Music Video)
Country: Hungary | Year: 2025 | Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Track from the upcoming album, set t…
Asenheim – Wolkenbrecher (Full Album Premiere)
Country: Germany | Year: 2024 | Genre: Melodic Black Metal
CD, LP & Shirt available here:
http…
Northern Breeze – Shade of Oblivion (Full Album Premiere)
Country: Greece | Year: 2024 | Genre: Melodic Black Metal
CD & Digital Album available here:
h…
Black Pyre – Blessed Brân, Son of the Sea (Full Album Premiere)
Country: United Kingdom | Year: 2024 | Genre: Atmospheric/Melodic Black Metal
CD, MC & Digital …
Links
YouTube: Melodic Black Metal – YouTube
