Best Norwegian Heavy Metal Bands

Since this list is about Norwegian bands, black metal is going to dominate the list. However, there are a few bands from Norway in other genres that have released great albums over the years. These lists of the best metal bands from a particular country draw a lot of interest, email and message board posts. Most of them are how much of a moron I am for picking this band or omitting that band, but it least it gets a good debate going. Nonetheless, it's a fun exercise to try to take bands from different genres and eras and rank them. Here my choices for the best Norwegian metal bands.

1. EmperorThere are several bands that could have been number one on this list, but I chose Emperor because of their outstanding body of work and their vast influence (both positively and negatively) on music and society in Norway and elsewhere. Even with, and maybe partly because of their numerous lineup changes, Emperor's music is always innovative and is sometimes raw and fierce, other times atmospheric and majestic. Their first couple of albums rank amongst the best ever in the black metal genre, and their entire catalog is outstanding.
Recommended Album: In The Nightside Eclipse (1994)


2. MayhemMayhem has been more prolific than Emperor over the years, even with the amount of tragedy and legal difficulties they have faced. Even though they are probably the most infamous Norwegian band, in my opinion their music and influence falls just an eyelash short of Emperor. Mayhem has had a few different vocalist, each with a unique style and sound. Their sound has ranged from raw black metal to more experimental electronica, and they are never afraid to try something different.
Recommended Album: De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994)

3. ImmortalImmortal was formed by Abbath and Demonaz in 1990, and there have been numerous lineup changes over the years. Their early sound was raw and primal, and over the years their musicianship and songwriting prowess really progressed. Whether it was old school black metal, lightning fast blast beat heavy extremity or blackened thrash, they always had a unique tone and memorable sound. In 1997 arm problems forced Demonaz to leave the band, although he remained the band's lyricist. After disbanding in 2003, four years later Immortal are back together playing live and planning a new album.
Recommended Album: Pure Holocaust (1993)

4. DarkthroneShortly before the release of their debut album Soulside Journey, Black Death became Darkthrone. Their first release was death metal, and very good death metal at that, but they decided to go in a new direction after that. They put on the corpsepaint and became a black metal band, one of the best and most enduring. Darkthrone's music and sound is very low-fi, gritty and dirty. Nocturno Culto's unholy screaming vocals are aggressive and hateful and will send a chill up your spine.
Recommended Album: A Blaze In The Northern Sky (1991)

5. BurzumOut of all the controvery and controversial figures in the Norwegian black metal scene, no more is more infamous than Varg Vikernes, also known as Count Grishnackh. He was convicted of the murder of his former Mayhem bandmate Euronymous in 1993. Burzum is his one-man project. The early Burzum material is more straightforward black metal, but it quickly became more experimental and electronic. The combination of really harsh and evil vocals with more midtempo and haunting music was very compelling. Even after his imprisonment he continued to periodically release new material, although it paled in comparison to his earlier work.
Recommended Album: Hvis Lyset Tar Oss (1994)

6. EnslavedAfter getting their start in 1991 as a traditional black metal band, Enslaved became more progressive as time went on. Their earlier albums have songs in Icelandic and Old Norse, but their more recent work is in English. Enslaved's lyrics focus a lot on Norse mythology, and they are usually classified as a progressive black/Viking metal band. They are one of the most innovative and creative groups in the genre with epic and atmospheric songs, and their music is always compelling and unique.
Recommended Album: Frost (1994)

7. BorknagarØystein Brun was in a death metal band and wanted to explore a different style of music. He wrote the music and lyrics for an album, and then recruited some big names in black metal from groups such as Gorgoroth, Enslaved, Ulver and Immortal and formed Borknagar. Their first album had Norwegian lyrics, but after that they switched to mainly English lyrics. Unlike the raw and simple early black metal, Borknagar's style is much more melodic, progressive and complex. Many bands peak early and spend the rest of their career trying to recapture past glory, but Borknagar have released consistently good albums throughout their existence.
Recommended Album: The Olden Domain (1997)

8. GorgorothGorgoroth took their name from Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings, where it is a place of evil and darkness. They are the typical Norwegian black metal band, from the corpsepaint to the pseudonyms, including one of the best names in the genre, Goat Pervertor, who was the band's original drummer. Gorgoroth's sound was originally old school black metal, but it evolved into a more experimental industrial and ambient sound in the late '90s before returning to a more traditional style.
Recommended Album: Under The Sign Of Hell (1997)

9. SatyriconSatyricon's core has always been the duo of Satyr and Frost, although they've had many guest musicians play with them over the years. Their debut album Dark Medieval Times combined the darkness of black metal with the light of folk metal. Their more recent CDs have more rock influences and their sound has become more accessible. Satyricon's songwriting and musicianship remain strong, even as they draw criticism for becoming too "mainstream."
Recommended Album: Nemesis Divina (1996)

10. Dimmu BorgirDimmu Borgir is another controversial band, but not because of the same reasons as some of the others on this list. Dimmu's commercial success and evolution into a more accessible band has drawn a lot of criticism. Even so, their influence and body of work still rates them a spot on this list. After forming in 1993, the band's 1996 debut Stormblast was melodic black metal sung in Norwegian. Their sound gradually evolved into a more grand and symphonic style using some melodic vocals in addition to Shagrath's growls. Even though they have moved more toward the mainstream and have sold a lot of albums, Dimmu Borgir's music is what secures their place here.
Recommended Album: Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)


11. UlverUlver mastermind Garm is a gifted and unusual artist. He has been in two other bands on this list (Arcturus and Borknagar), and you never know what you're going to get with an Ulver album. After a traditional raw, old school black metal debut with some acoustic passages, their second was a mostly acoustic folk influenced album, followed by a return to a rawer sound. Since then, Ulver has drifted away from black metal and heavy metal in general toward more of an electronic, ambient, avant-garde and experimental sound. Even though calling them metal today may be a stretch, Ulver still deserves a place on this list.
Recommended Album: Bergtatt (1994)

12. Limbonic ArtAfter starting as a more traditional quartet, by the time they recorded their debut Limbonic Art was a duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Daemon and keyboardist/guitarist Morpheus. Their style of symphonic black metal had complex arrangements and a lot of depth and texture. After disbanding in 2003, Limbonic Art reunited on June 6, 2006 (6/6/06) and began recording new material.
Recommended Album: Moon In The Scorpio (1996)

13. ArcturusOriginally called Mortem, in 1990 they changed their name to Arcturus. They are another band who have had an all star lineup of musicians over the years including vocalists Garm (Borknagar, Ulver) and ICS Vortex (Dimmu Borgir), guitarist Samoth (Emperor) and drummer Hellhammer (Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir). Arcturus started as a symphonic black metal band, but their music has became much more avant garde over time, incorporating elements of electronica, pop, trip-hop and metal. They announced the band was breaking up in early 2007.
Recommended Album: La Masquerade Infernale (1997)

14. RagnarokRagnarok are a stereotypical Norwegian black metal band with the corpsepaint and evil lyrics, but their music is anything but standard. It's raw and feral with grim guitars and shrill keyboards, but you'll also hear some Viking influences, especially in their early work. And even though the genre is more about atmosphere than playing ability, Ragnarok's musicianship is surprisingly good.
Recommended Album: Arising Realm (1997)

15. Green CarnationGreen Carnation originally formed back in 1990, but disbanded after recording a demo because Tchort joined Emperor. Other members formed In The Woods. The band reformed in 1998 and released their debut in 2000. Green Carnation's musical style is hard to pigeonhole. They incorporate elements of doom, black metal, psychedelic and goth into a diverse and sometimes experimental style.
Recommended Album: Light Of Day, Dark Of Darkness (2001)

16. DodheimsgardDodheimsgard, also known as DHG, were formed in 1994 and have only released four full-length CDs so far. After starting out as a fairly standard black metal band, their sound evolved into a more avant-garde and experimental style incorporating more electronica. The band broke up in the late '90s, but recently reformed with only one original member, Vicotnik.
Recommended Album: Kronet Til Konge (1995)

17. Old Man's ChildOld Man's Child was started in 1989 by Thomas Rune Andersen, also known as Galder. The band mixes black metal with death and thrash. Even though Galder joined Dimmu Borgir as their guitarist in 2001, he continues Old Man's Child as a secondary project.
Recommended Album: Born Of The Flickering (1995)

18. GehennaGehenna started as a melodic black metal band, and then evolved into a more aggressive black metal band before morphing into more of a death metal band. Then in 2005 they started returning more toward their black metal roots with WW. It was a welcome return to form.
Recommended Album: Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (1995)

19. MortiisMortiis was the original bassist for Emperor and appeared with them only on a single, split and demo before departing for a solo career in 1993. He's released some eclectic albums over the years, and went away from black metal towards ambient and industrial music. Even though his music is mostly electronica, there is still a dark vibe and traces of his black metal past.
Recommended Album: Ĺnden Som Gjorde Opprřr (1994)

20. TristaniaTristania are a gothic metal band who got their start in 1997. Their music is grand and symphonic with a lot of orchestral elements, but still retains its metal core. The band's three vocal attack adds even more diversity with harsh male vocals, clean male vocals and melodic female vocals.
Recommended Album: Beyond The Veil (1999)

The Best Heavy Metal Albums Of The 1980s

Numbers 1 - 10
The eighties were a fantastic decade for heavy metal. Some of the best metal albums ever were released in that decade. The 1980s saw the explosion of metal into the mainstream, with tons of bands getting radio and MTV airplay. It also saw the birth and rise of more extreme genres of metal. Throughout the past several months I published lists of the best metal albums of each year of the 1980s. This collection of the best albums of the decade is taken from those lists.

1) Metallica - Master Of Puppets (1986)Metallica's third album is their best. It doesn't have the radio singles and MTV videos as some of their later releases, but is a musical tour de force. From the trademark thrash of "Battery" to the instrumental stylings of "Orion," it's a sound of a band on top of their game. The songs are diverse and the musicianship is simply incredible

2) Slayer - Reign In Blood (1986)This is one of the top 3 thrash metal albums and one of the top 10 metal albums ever. Many publications have named it the best metal album ever. This is speed metal at its finest, with compact songs jam packed with riffs and head banging intensity. The lyrics are also filled with dark and disturbing images. Slayer released several fantastic albums, and this is their masterpiece.

3) Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast (1982)After losing their lead singer, Maiden found Bruce Dickinson and rebounded with their best album and one that is a true heavy metal classic. "Run To The Hills" and the title track are among the best singles you'll ever hear, and there is not a bit of filler on this album. It features spectacular and diverse songwriting, great vocals from Dickinson and is one of the best metal albums ever.

4) Metallica - Ride The Lightning (1984)Metallica's first album was groundbreaking, and Ride The Lightning, their second release, was another big step forward. Their songwriting improved dramatically, and they also expanded their musical horizons and the result was a much more diverse effort. Some of the classics on this album include "Creeping Death," "Fade To Black" and "For Whom The Bell Tolls."

5) Guns 'N Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)Axl Rose and company exploded upon the scene with a heavy and diverse album. It had radio friendly ballads like "Sweet Child 'O Mine," hit singles like "Welcome The Jungle" and "Paradise City" along with harder edged songs like "Night Train." Slash and Izzy Stradlin's bluesy guitar work was outstanding, and the entire album had an air of danger and edginess that metal really needed at the time. Guns 'N Roses eventually imploded, but for a brief time they were at the top of the heap.

6) Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime (1988)With their third album Queensryche brought together a great concept and great songs. Operation Mindcrime tells a story filled with political intrigue and romance. The songs are complex, yet catchy, and Geoff Tate's vocals never sounded better. Highlights include "Eyes Of A Stranger" and "I Don't Believe In Love." As a political statement of what was happening at the end of the Reagan era it is very effective. As a musical statement it's even more effective.

7) Dio - Holy Diver (1983)After fronting Rainbow and Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio formed his own group. He did a great job selecting his bandmates. Vivian Campbell is an outstanding guitarist and Vinny Appice a rock solid drummer. Their debut is a heavy metal classic. Dio has one of the best voices in metal, and some put him at the top. All 9 songs on the album are excellent, including the hits "Rainbow In The Dark" and the title track. "Stand Up And Shout" is also a very memorable song.

8) ]AC/DC - Back In Black (1980)After the huge success of 1979's Highway To Hell, things looked really promising for AC/DC. Then in February 1980 the band's lead singer Bon Scott died. They immediately hired Brian Johnson and released this album just a few months later. From the opening notes of "Hells Bells" through the end of "Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution," this album is a classic. Every song is memorable, and "You Shook Me All Night Long" and the title track are among the best metal songs ever.

9) Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying (1986)Megadeth really hit their stride on this, their second album. It's a speed metal classic with great songs like "Wake Up Dead," "Devil's Island" and "Peace Sells." The band's songwriting improved quite a bit from their debut album and 20 years later it still holds up extremely well.

10) Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness (1989)If this had been written back in 1989 this album probably wouldn't have been number one for that year. But with the passing of time it became obvious just how important Morbid Angel and this release were. It was a brutal slab of death metal with ferocious vocals from David Vincent. Trey Azagthoth and Richard Brunelle's riffs and solos are just sick, and Pete Sandoval is one of the best drummers in metal. Altars Of Madness is a groundbreaking album that all death metal fans should own.

11) Metallica - Kill 'Em All (1983)Metallica didn't invent thrash, but they certainly brought it to the masses, and this album is the one that started it all. Their debut album was groundbreaking, packed with raw power and blazing fast riffs that they would polish and perfect over the years. Dave Mustaine co-wrote several songs on this album, although he was no longer a member of the band by this time. Highlights include "Whiplash," "No Remorse" and "Seek and Destroy."

12) Metallica - And Justice For All (1988)Metallica's fourth studio album is the one that launched them into the mainstream.The video for the song "One" received extensive airplay on MTV. One of my all time favorite Metallica songs, "Blackened," is also on this album. And Justice For All was one of their most musically complex albums, utilizing unusual time signatures, orchestration and epic compositions.

13) Exodus - Bonded By Blood (1985)Exodus' debut album was their commercial and critical pinnacle. Even though they've had a long and successful career, they never matched the success of thrash counterparts like Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. This album, though, is spectacular. It's a thrash classic with music played at breakneck speed with a barrage of killer riffs and solos. And even though it's a whirlwind of intensity, the songs are still very catchy and memorable.

14) Judas Priest - British Steel (1980)After releasing several good albums in the 1970's, this is the one that sent Judas Priest to the stratosphere. It is widely considered to be their best album. By this time Priest had refined and perfected their sound and focused on writing catchy arena rock anthems, and they hit home runs with "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight."

15) Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)After leaving Black Sabbath to embark on a solo career, Ozzy hooked up with guitarist Randy Rhoads, and the result was a fantastic album. It was more technical and modern than Sabbath, thanks to Rhoads and his guitar virtuosity. There are some great songs on this album, including "Crazy Train" and the controversial "Suicide Solution."

16) Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love (1981)Even though it's probably not good enough to have made it to number one in any other year of the '80s, the Crue's sleazy debut album was very influential. The songs are raw, and there are some classics like "Live Wire" and the title track. They would become more polished and evolve more toward the hair band genre as time went on, but this album had more of an edge, both in attitude and production value.

17) Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance (1982)After having my number 2 album of 1980, Priest claims the same spot for 1982. The best known song from this album is "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," but there are several other great songs including the title track, "Electric Eye" and "Bloodstone." Halford sounds great as usual, and this is their second best album of the 1980s.

18) Slayer - Hell Awaits (1985)Their masterpiece would come one year later, but this is also a fantastic album. It was their second full-length, and showed an exponential growth in their songwriting ability. The songs on this album are complex, the guitar work is flawless, and Dave Lombardo's drumming is simply insane. In 1985 this was as extreme as it got, both musically and lyrically.

19) Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)Powerslave was a great album that was the complete package. It had the catchy radio and MTV friendly singles like "Aces High" and "2 Minutes To Midnight," but also had an instrumental and long, complex songs. "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" clocked in at an astonishing 13 minutes long. Great songwriting and musicianship make this album one of their best.

20) Anthrax - Among The Living (1987)Anthrax is a group I've come to appreciate more and more as the years go by, and Among The Living was their best album. The songs had a message and were catchy yet still very intense and aggressive. "Caught In A Mosh" is the highlight of this album, along with other great songs such as "Indians," "I Am The Law" and the title track. Anthrax have always been a band with a sense of humor that is also willing to address serious subjects, which is a great combination.

Here's my year by year rankings of the best heavy metal albums of the 1980's:
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1980
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1981
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1982
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1983
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1984
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1985
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1986
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1987
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1988
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1989

September 2007 Best Heavy Metal CDs

After a mediocre August, September was one of the best months of 2007 for metal. There were some outstanding new releases, and after zero 4.5 out of 5 ratings in August, there were four in September. Here are my choices for the best metal CDs released in September, 2007.
1. Arch Enemy - Rise Of The Tyrant (Century Media)
View Full-Size
Century Media RecordsChris Amott has now rejoined Arch Enemy, and they haven't missed a step. Their latest is Rise Of The Tyrant, a fierce yet extremely catchy dose of melodic death metal. The band brought back Fredrik Nordstrom, who produced their first several albums.
The songs on this album are really melodic, with great guitar work from Chris and Mike Amott. Their chemistry is evident, and even though the songs have great grooves and riffs, there is still plenty of heaviness and brutality. It's a dark and dynamic CD with plenty of diversity in both music and vocals. Angela Gossow gets better with each release, and her angry vocals are powerful and emotional.
Read Review


2. Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon (SPV)

View Full-Size
SPV RecordsClocking in at nearly 70 minutes, Framing Armageddon is an epic, both in length and musical vision. The songs are dense and complex, and unfold with greater clarity and detail with every listen. There's a diverse mix of upbeat power metal anthems, progressive mid-tempo songs and soaring ballads.
Jon Schaffer has pulled out all the stops in his songwriting. He's always been able to craft songs that are powerful, melodic and memorable, but has added in some other influences here. From middle eastern vibes to interludes to a strong musical and lyrical arc, this is a very compelling album. Owens is one of the best singers in the business, and this time around the vocals are right in his wheelhouse, and he knocks it out of the park.
Read Review
3. High On Fire - Death Is This Communion (Relapse)

View Full-Size
Nuclear Blast RecordsHigh On Fire has delivered another outstanding album. The songs are thundering sludge/stoner metal with thick riffs and slicing guitar solos. Everything is heavy, but they speed up the tempo on several tracks and really get the groove going. They also are able to ease up on the throttle and crank up the intensity with crushing doom metal.
Death Is The Communion also showcases Middle Eastern sounds on a couple of songs and you'll hear acoustic guitar along with the traditional downtuned electrics. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Pike is the star of the show with his excellent guitar work and raspy vocals, which have really improved over the course of High On Fire's career.
Read Review
4. Amorphis - Silent Waters (Nuclear Blast)
View Full-Size
Nuclear Blast RecordsJust a year after releasing Eclipse, their first album with new vocalist Tomi Joutsen, Amorphis returns with a new release.
The Finnish band seemed re-energized with Joutsen, and that energy continues with Silent Waters. The songwriting is even better on this album, combining the intensity of death metal, the complexity of progressive metal and the darkness of gothic metal. The songs are really catchy and memorable with great melodies and musicianship. It's also an album with a lot of variety. There are songs that are very mainstream and accessible, and others that are more extreme and intense.
Read Review
5. Between The Buried And Me - Colors (Victory)

View Full-Size
Victory RecordsColors is their fifth album, and the most diverse and mature of Between The Buried And Me's career. It is complex and textured with both bludgeoning metal and intricate, subdued soundscapes. Several songs are really long, clocking in at over 10 minutes. They insert a lot of progressive elements into the songs, along with jazzy, acoustic, psychedelic and mainstream rock that adds a lot of depth and variety.
Tommy Rogers turns in his finest performance to date. His harsh vocals lend a cutting edge to the music, and his melodic vocals are surprisingly good. He sings with a higher pitched laid back style reminiscent of '90s British alternative singers.
Read Review

Top 20 Heavy Metal CDs Of 2006

Numbers 1 - 10)
2006 was a strong one for heavy metal. Some veterans proved they still have it, some lesser known bands became stars and a lot of talented newcomers burst upon the scene. In 2006 I reviewed nearly 400 CDs for this site, and used that information to compile this list. After multiple listens and the passing of time there are a few CDs that I now think are better than when I first reviewed them, and vice versa, and that's reflected in the list as well. Here are my choices for the top heavy metal CDs of 2006.

1) Mastodon - Blood Mountain (Reprise)On their latest album Mastodon has made the jump to a major label. Did that also make them jump the shark, or do they continue their streak of excellent albums? The latter is definitely the case. Mastodon hasn't lost any of their quirkiness or innovativeness on Blood Mountain.Read the complete Mastodon review

2) Amon Amarth - With Oden On Our Side (Metal Blade)Amon Amarth's approach on this album was very different than in the past. First they decided to use a producer for the first time instead of just having an engineer. They were also able to quit their day jobs and put in intense songwriting sessions for this album. The result is their most focused and polished release to date. Read the complete Amon Amarth review

3) Iron Maiden - A Matter Of Life And Death (Sanctuary)Whenever a legendary band like Iron Maiden releases a new CD there's a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. They've had so many great albums over the years and you hope that this one can at least come close to some of those classics, but know that a band that's been around so long could be on the down side of their career and is just hanging on. In Iron Maiden's case there is no need to put them out to pasture just yet. Read the complete Iron Maiden review

4) Cannibal Corpse - Kill (Metal Blade)Cannibal Corpse delivers under pressure, and their latest release ranks right up there with their best. They don't break out a whole lot of new tricks on this album, they just bludgeon you with what they do best. Devastating riffs, blistering solos and maniacal drums are played with technical precision.Read the complete Cannibal Corpse review.

5) Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse (Inside Out)Evergrey hasn't completely changed their stripes. The songs still have some keyboards and an element of darkness. They've just amped up the melody and the hooks. And as always, Tom Englund's vocals are outstanding. His powerful voice is one of the best in metal.Read the complete Evergrey review.

6) Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies (Roadrunner)With As Daylight Dies Killswitch Engage is ready to take things to the next level. They continue to bludgeon the listener with monstrous and aggressive riffs, but also incorporate even more melody than they have in the past. They've managed to write songs that are catchy as hell, but still brutal enough that metal fans will be able to mosh to their heart's content. Read the complete Killswitch Engage review.

7) Lamb Of God - Sacrament (Epic)This is a CD that starts with a bang and doesn't let up until the end. The dual guitar attack of Mark Morton and Will Adler shreds and solos their way around the rock solid and very underrated drumming of Chris Adler. There are some very memorable and catchy songs, including "Redneck," which seems destined to be a crowd favorite at Lamb Of God concerts.Read the complete Lamb Of God review.

8) Mercenary - The Hours That Remain (Century Media)This carries forward the style Mercenary evolved into on the last album while breaking new ground. The songs are lengthy, with only one clocking in at under five minutes. They combine the complexity of progressive metal and the soaring melody of power metal with the speed and aggression of thrash.Read the complete Mercenary review.

9) Celtic Frost - Monotheist (Century Media)The 2006 edition of Celtic Frost is closer to the 1983 edition of Hellhammer. The songs are dark, plodding and heavy with droning doom metal guitars. Fischer's voice has aged nicely. His baritone is strong and unique, and he throws in some black metal style vocals as well. You'll also hear some female goth style vocals. The songs are flawlessly and painstakingly constructed with layer after layer of music that you appreciate more with each listen.Read the complete Celtic Frost review.

10) Voivod - Katorz (The End)This album has a nice combination of Voivod's trademark chaotic and unusual riffs and more traditional and simpler thrash metal compositions. Michel "Away" Langevin is a superior drummer who is able to add a lot of texture and bombast with his unique style. Piggy's guitar work is as distinctive and skilled as ever, but it's Snake who really shines. His vocals are some of the best he's done, and delivered with range and emotion.Read the complete Voivod review.

11) Deicide - The Stench Of Redemption (Earache)It's as angry and brutal as ever, and the new guitarists breathe new life into Deicide's approach. You might not even notice because of all the blast beats and breakneck riffing, but there are some actual melodies here. They have added a subtle layer of complexity to the band's brutal arsenal, which makes the songs that much more powerful. Read the complete Deicide review.

12) Gorgoroth - Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam (Candlelight)Gorgoroth plays black metal with a lot of death metal influences and even some doom metal sounds. It has great grooves and riffs, but also an overriding atmosphere of darkness. Frost (1349/Satyricon) is the drummer on this album, and he simply crushes. Gaahl's vocals are an evil rasp, and the lyrics deliver Gorgoroth's satanic message. This is an album that will leave you musically satisfied, and as with all really good black metal albums will also leave you feeling a bit unsettled.Read the complete Gorgoroth review.

13) In Flames - Come Clarity (Ferret)On their latest album, In Flames has done a great job in keeping with their classic sound while also doing some experimenting and being relevant with today's metal scene. This album is the complete package that's both brutal and melodic. It's diverse in both style and vocals and has everything you want and expect from an In Flames album plus a few surprises.Read the complete In Flames review.

14) Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra (Inside Out)This album is just like Devin Townsend: a little strange but filled with moments of musical genius. Unlike his Strapping Young Lad project, this has a lot more softer parts. Synchestra is so diverse that it is almost experimental. If it had to be categorized, progressive metal would be the closest genre, but it is so much more than that. There are soft acoustic songs, long prog metal influenced tracks, heavy thrash influenced songs and even a polka.Read the complete Devin Townsend review.

15) Napalm Death - Smear Campaign (Century Media)Napalm Death invented grindcore, and of course that is still their bread and butter. But they are also able to dial back the tempo and get into a crushing groove. It's a good balance of lightning fast blast beats and breakneck riffs along with more ominous death metal style playing.Read the complete Napalm Death review

16) All That Remains - The Fall Of Ideals (Prosthetic)All That Remains have broadened their style and on this album you'll hear everything from thrash to death metal to traditional metal to metalcore. The songs have tons of melody and memorable riffs, but also gallop along at maximum intensity. The dual guitars shine with crunchy leads, intricate interplay and creative solos.Read the complete All That Remains review.

17) Vader - Impressions In Blood (Candlelight)On this CD Vader tempers their brutality with some very catchy moments. There are plenty of devastating blast beats and powerful riffs, but also some really groovy riffs and searing solos. They combine breakneck technical death songs with slower, more traditional death metal compositions. Vader also inserts some black metal style intros and interludes that give the whole CD a more epic sound.Read the complete Vader review

18) Strapping Young Lad - The New Black (Century Media)Only a year after the very well received Alien, Strapping Young Lad has managed to equal and in many ways top that CD. The key word to describe The New Black is balance. As strange as that word may seem in describing this band, there really is a great balance between serious and tongue in cheek songs along with a balance of melodic and screaming vocals.Read the complete Strapping Young Lad review.

19) Intronaut - Void (Goodfellow)Intronaut's unique sound blends the brutal and the experimental. At times the songs are doomy death metal with harsh vocals. Then all of a sudden there will be an instrumental break that's progressive and almost jazzy sounding. Then the brutality begins again. Read the complete Intronaut review.

20) Isis - In The Absence Of Truth (Ipecac)Groups like Isis aren't tied down by conventional song structures, which makes them complex and interesting. On the downside, the lack of traditional hooks and choruses makes it harder for songs to be memorable. But with a few more listens you begin to appreciate the depth and complexity of what's going on, and discover that there actually are some very memorable things about this CD.Read the complete Isis review

Heavy Metal 101

Information and description of the many genres and subgenres of heavy metal.

What Is Heavy Metal?Description and history of heavy metal music and its genres and subgenres.
Heavy Metal TimelineTimeline of heavy metal history and significant events.
What Is Black Metal?A history and description of black metal, including musical and vocal styles, pioneers of the genre, and recommended black metal artists.
What Is Death Metal?Description and explanation of the heavy metal genre known as death metal, including pioneers and recommended bands.
What Is New Wave Of British Heavy Metal?Description and explanation of the heavy metal genre known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and the artists that popularized it including Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Saxon, Diamond Head, Girlschool and more.

Top 10 Swedish Metal Bands

The country of Sweden has always been a hotbed of heavy metal, launching the careers of some of the most successful metal bands. There were so many amazing bands to choose from that great groups such as Bathory, Dissection, Hammerfall and many others didn't make the list. Here are the top 10 metal bands that hail from Sweden, as selected by the About Guide To Heavy Metal, Chad Bowar.

1. OpethNot only are they the best band in Sweden, Opeth ranks right up there in the entire metal genre. They are an extremely diverse group, mixing death metal with many other styles, and even using acoustic instruments in some of their songs. The vocals are also diverse, and the lyrics are exceptional.

2. In FlamesEven with multiple lineup changes In Flames continues to be at the top of the death metal genre. Mixing death metal growls with clean singing, they have a wide appeal that grows with each release.

3. Dark TranquillityDark Tranquillity, formed in 1989, were another band at the beginning of the melodic death metal movement. And unlike some groups whose time in the sun has come and gone, Dark Tranquility continues to progress and release great albums.

4. EvergreyIn a country where melodic death metal reigns supreme, it may seem like an unusual choice to rank a progressive metal group like Evergrey so highly. But when you factor in their extraordinary musical ability and great songwriting, it's an easy choice. Tom S. Englund has one of the best voices in metal, and Evergrey are the complete package.

5. SoilworkIt may seem strange, but Soilwork has been accused of being "too commercial." Their style of melodic death metal is very palatable compared to some bands in the genre, but I doubt you'll be hearing any of their music on your local pop station anytime soon. They write really good songs and have a great mix of the brutal and the melodic.

6. At The GatesAt The Gates were at the forefront of melodic death metal in the early '90s. Before disbanding in 1996 they recorded several influential and respected albums. Some of their members went on to form The Haunted.

7. MeshuggahMeshuggah plays a really diverse form of metal that utilizes unusual time signatures and tempo changes combined with thrash and death metal elements and a lot of experimentation. They tend to be hit and miss, but when they're on, they are really good.

8. Amon AmarthOriginally called Scum, the death metal band Amon Amarth incorporates Viking imagery into their lyrics and a lot of melodic elements into their music.

9. CandlemassCandlemass are one of the pioneers of doom metal. They've been doing it for 20 years, and original vocalist Messiah Marcolin has once again left the band.

10. Arch EnemyArch Enemy is unique in that they are a death metal band with a female vocalist. Angela Gossow screams with just as much fury as anyone else and after several years with the band has proven to be no novelty act.

Alphabetical List of Death Metal and Black Metal Bands

A to Z list of death metal, black metal, thrash and grindcore band reviews.
Abigor
Abomination
Abruptum
Absu
Absurd
Abyss, the
Acerbus
Agathocles
Adramelech
Adversary
Amebix
Amorphis
Ancient
Ancient Rites
Angelcorpse
Antaeus
Arcturus
Asgard
Asphyx
Atheist
Atrocity
At the Gates
Autopsy
Auzhia
Avenger
Averse Sefira
Axis of Advance
Baphomet
Bathory
Behemoth
Beherit
Belial
Black Goat
Blasphemy
Blazemth
Blood
Bolt Thrower
Brutal Truth
Burzum
Cadaver
Candlemass
Capharnaum
Carcass
Cartilage
Cathedral
Celtic Frost
Cenotaph
Centinex
Ceremonium
Christ Agony
Cianide
Corrosion of Conformity
Cryptic Slaughter
Cryptopsy
Cultus Sanguine
Dark Funeral
DarkThrone
Dark Tranquility
Dawn
dead horse
Death
Death Strike
Deceased
Deeds of Flesh
Deicide
Deinonychius
Demigod
Demilich
Demoncy
Demonic
Deteriorate
Dimmu Borgir
D.R.I.
Disfear
Dismember
Dissection
Drogheda
Emperor
Engrave
Enslaved
Entombed
Eucharist
Exhumed
Fleshcrawl
Frozen Shadows
Gehenna
Godflesh
God Macabre
Gorgoroth
Gorguts
Gotmoor
Graveland
Grotesque
Gutted
Havohej
Hades
Hellhammer
Hemdale
Hetsheads
Hypocrisy
Ildjarn
Immolation
Immortal
Impaled Nazarene
Imprecation
Incantation
Infester
Infernum
Inquisition
Intestine Baalism
Kataklysm
Katatonia
Kilcrops
Krieg
Kvist
Lepra
Lord Wind
Luciferion
Magus
Manes
Marduk
Martyr
Massacra
Massacre
Mayhem
Merciless
Mesrine
Molested
Monastery
Monstrosity
Morbid Angel
Morpheus Descends
Mortem
Mortiis
Mortuary
Mysticum
Mythic
Mütiilation
Napalm Death
Necromantia
Necromass
Necrophobic
Niden Div 187
NME
Nox Intempesta
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Death
Num Skull
Obituary
Oppressor
Ophthalamia
Pentagram
Pervertum
Pestilence
Possessed
Powermad
Profanatica
Prong
Pyrexia
Rachel Barton Stringendo
Repulsion
Resuscitator
Revenant
Rigor Mortis
Rise
Rotting Christ
Sacramentum
Sadistic Intent
Samael
Sammath
Sarcofago
Sarcophagus
Seance
Sentenced
Sepultura
Septic Flesh
Setherial
Sinister
Skepticism
Slayer
Sodom
Sorcier des Glaces
Sort Vokter
Summon
Summoning
Suffocation
Swordmaster
Tartaros
Terrorizer
Thanatopsis
Tha-norr
Therion
Thorns
Throne of Ahaz
Torchure
Torturer
Troll
Ulver
Unanimated
Under The Pagan Moon
Ungod
Unleashed
Urgrund
Usurper
Vader
Varathron
Veles
Vilkates
Voivod
Von
Watain
Xibalba
Yamatu
Zyklon-B