Black metal is my favorite metal subgenre, and in my opinion, has probably given us more genuinely good albums than any other genre of metal, or maybe even extreme music in general. That said, black metal, like most other genres, has seen an unfortunate decline in quality over the years that only seems to get worse over time. The consistent release of excellent albums that one could listen for several years is becoming, to be blunt, less consistent and more disappointing.
With this decline in quality in mind, black metal still manages to give us several entertaining and high quality albums every year (with a couple exceptions) and still remains one of the top competitors in the game, as far as genres go. It seems that over time, the genre has taken many newer elements and styles into it’s fold, which can either be really good, or really bad, depending on how this is executed. Overall though, it seems as though black metal is relying on new faces to bring it back to quality, as many of the old school heroes have started to lose their touch. I’ve selected ten releases of various types from 2017 that I feel are easily the best in terms in quality, and quite honestly put most of the other output this year to shame. Every release on this list is one I thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope some of you will be able to pick up a release or two that you like, as well.
10. Highland- Loyal to the Nightsky
Highland are a relatively new black metal band hailing from Los Angeles, California, who I feel play an interesting and refreshing style of black metal that borders somewhere between a more modern and a more old school sound, and pulls this off quite nicely. While I’m generally not a fan of most black metal from the West Coast (most of it is boring, fuzzy atmospheric stuff without much creativity involved), Highland not only kept my attention for an entire album, they actually made me enjoy it.
Their 2017 LP, Loyal to the Nightsky is definitely one of this year’s underdogs. It hasn’t gotten as much praise in the typical black metal circles as it deserves, and hopefully, that will change soon enough. The riffing on this album is probably the most interesting part, as the guitars are somehow simultaneously melodic and visceral, with small amounts of atonality thrown in. Every riff is like ear candy, and that alone could put this album in the running to be one of the best from this year. Aside from the excellent riffing, the rhythm section handles itself well, with ear catching bass and speedy, full drums that build the backbone of their sound quite well. I definitely recommend this.
9. Sinmara- Within the Weaves of Infinity (EP)
Sinmara are one of the best up-and-coming black metal bands from the small nation of Iceland, and along with a good deal of their countrymen, play an atonal, dissonant style of black metal that reminds one of Deathspell Omega, but with elements of atmospheric black metal added to the mix to make it a slightly less visceral and slightly more immersive experience.
The 2017 EP from Sinmara, Within the Weaves of Infinity, is an excellent offering from a band I’ve been watching for a good bit now. The atonal riffing and lower register vocal style are signature features for the band, and these features are very evident from the very beginning of this EP. The entire thing carries an immense atmosphere catches the listener and holds their attention from start to finish. This is one of the best EP releases of 2017.
8. Celestial Grave- Pvtrefactio
Celestial Grave are one of the freshest faces in black metal, and considering they only recorded their first demo last year in 2016, it’s quite impressive that they’d release material that is good enough to make this list just a year later.
2017’s EP, Pvtrefactio, shows that the Finnish newcomers not only have the potential to release some solid material, but that they already have and probably will continue to do so. The drums are probably the most impressive thing about this EP, as the mix on them is perfect, and the drummer manages to fill every moment he’s in with amazing work that actually rivals some of the best in the genre. The vocals and guitars aren’t to be ignored however, as they hold the attention of the listener quite well, and are placed in extremely opportune ways. This is some of the best songwriting I’ve heard from a band so new, and for a band playing a somewhat traditional style, Celestial Grave manage to do something new and fresh.
7. Ultra Silvam- Ultra Silvam (Demo)
Ultra Silvam are a Swedish black metal band that just released their first demo this year, and while I ordinarily may not have caught this release, I happened to stumble across the cover art, which is great, and then wanted to check it out. The band plays an extremely aggressive form of black metal that is reminiscent of the second wave, but with a highly unique guitar style. The guitarist on this demo manages to make me wonder how he played certain things, just because of how unorthodox it is. All in all, this is probably the strongest debut demo I’ve heard in a long time.
6. Ritual Day- Devila Grantha
Ritual Day are one of the first black metal bands from China that I ever discovered, as well as one of the best, and their 2017 output, Devila Grantha, is no exception. The band plays an incredibly high quality form of melodic black metal that actually retains the aggression of traditional black metal, while adding more melodic textures and styles into the riffs.
Devila Grantha is an excellent journey from start to finish, as Ritual Day really show off their melodic capabilities here, and the vocal style keeps hold of that aggression that so many bands seem to have lost. The drums are some of the best in modern black metal, and overall the album is composed masterfully. I’m not sure who the songwriter for this band is, but he should be given a medal.
5. Dodecahedron- Kwintessens
Dodecahedron are one of the finest bands to pick up on the dissonant black metal meets avant-garde style that bands like Ved Vuens Ende and Deathspell Omega helped pioneer, but while those bands created the style, that doesn’t mean Dodecahedron doesn’t offer something new to the game. Dodecahedron took the black metal scene by storm in 2012 with their self-titled debut album that proved that the style they played wasn’t dead and still offered fresh, exciting bands to find and listen to.
The 2017 LP from Dodecahedron, Kwintessens, is easily one of the strongest albums from this year, and was an easy pick for my top five this time around. The intricate and thick guitar riffs and atmospheric elements shine here, while the dissonant guitars do their work behind well done vocals and an air of strange atmosphere. One of the best from this year.
4. White Death- White Death
White Death are a Finnish black metal band that formed in 2013 with the intention of bringing black metal back to it’s cold, dark roots, and to be quite honest, they did just that. The raw, cold aggression of this band us unbridled, and they only have on thing in mind with their music: complete and total savagery. According to the band, they’ve derived their name from this idea:
, “The name White Death represents winter, death, suffering and desolation. Forget about your trivial war story fantasies, they will be forgotten just like in every fallen civilization.”
Which I think fits their music perfectly. Their 2017 debut LP shows that they are a forced to be reckoned with, and that they are a name to watch. I may not agree with the alleged politics of Werewolf Records (I’m not sure how true said allegations are), but I have to admit they found a gem with this.
3. Skáphe- Untitled EP
Skáphe are one of my favorite rising forces in the Icelandic black metal underground, and anyone who knows me personally knows very well that I vehemently praised their previous two albums released in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The dissonant, overwhelming and claustrophobic style that the band boasts is beyond impressive, and they have established themselves as one of the best bands to ever come from the beautiful nation of Iceland.
The band’s Untitled 2017 EP is absolutely outstanding, and sticks out as one of the best things extreme music has offered this year. The atmosphere on this album is almost like drowning or having the air crushed from your lungs, giving off an incredibly desperate and choking vibe from start to finish. This is one of the best EP releases from the Icelandic black metal scene, if not the best. If this was an LP, it might be higher on the list. An essential from 2017 for sure.
2. Evil- 邪悪を讃えよ (Rites of Evil)
Evil are a black/speed metal band from Tokyo, Japan, formed in 2011, who play an exceptional style that mirrors their strong first wave influences. The influence from bands like Sabbat, Sarcófago, Bathory, Hellhammer, and early Sodom is apparent, as is the influence from legendary Japanese hardcore bands like G.I.S.M., making Evil one of the most interesting bands in black metal right now, despite their highly generic and nonsensical name.
The band’s 2017 debut, 邪悪を讃えよ (Rites of Evil), is one of the greatest modern versions of the first wave black metal style that I’ve heard, and pays homage to the legends that built the genre excellently. The riffy, speed metal influenced style of hardcore tinged black metal that the band plays is as good as it is unorthodox in this day and age, and the aesthetic that the band commands is just as old school as their sound. Everything about this record screams retro black metal, and that isn’t a bad thing in this case.
1. Förgjord- Uhripuu
Förgjord are one of the best black metal bands still releasing albums, and while their origins are in the second wave (1995 to be exact), the band has managed to continue releasing great black metal material well into the 2010s. The most impressive thing about the three piece Finnish black metal outfit is that they have managed to remain aggressive and visceral, even after over 20 years of activity.
Förgjord’s 2017 album, Uhripuu, is easily my pick for black metal album of the year, as the filth and grit on this record force any fan of old school black metal to give this a big nod of approval. The hate filled vocals and downright hellish guitar riffs stand out here, and the drums make their presence heard with a punk influenced, pulsating and pounding sound. Every track on this album had me on the edge of my seat, and that ladies and gentlemen, is how it’s done.
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