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“Written in Waters” by Ved Buens Ende, Norway, 1995.

Deeply-original and unusual black metal. One of Aggressor's (Aura Noir, Virus, Dodheimsgard, et. al) many excellent projects.

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“Arising Realm”, by Ragnarok, Norway, 1997.

Excellently crafted, blending both frigid northern atmosphere and hostility, although the ageing late-90s clean production style may be contentious. 

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“The Return...” by Bathory, Sweden, 1985.

Hugely respected, if a little overlooked in favour of the debut, and “Under the Sign...”, this may nonetheless be Quorthon’s most densely evil offering.

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“The Dreams you Dread” by Benediction, UK, 1995

Finding itself sandwiched 1993 classic “Transcend the Rubicon” and shamelessly fun “Grind Bastard”, “Dreams...” nonetheless has its charm.

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“Mystérion Tés Anomias“ by Ofermod, Sweden, 1998.

An influential and fully-formed building block of what went on to become Orthodox black metal. Diabolical and ensnaring.  

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“Dance of December Souls” by Katatonia, Sweden, 1993.

A truly seminal work of cold, sweeping melancholia and sorrowful majesty - a jewel in the crown of its death-doom niche. 

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“Blasphemy is my Throne”, by Pest, Sweden, 2002.

Cruel, sharp old-school sounding black metal, for fans of Darkthrone and Craft.

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“Four More Years of Terror” by Master, USA, 2005.

Representative of Master’s post-”Let’s Start a War” era, with it’s unerringly consistent, unmistakable take on socially discontented death metal. 

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“Icon” by Icon, 1984, USA.

Immersed in the 80s Glam scene though this record may be, it’s hard-edged enough to pack a punch.

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“Coagulating Darkness”, by Hellripper, 2017, Scotland.

Bombastic, swaggering blackened-speed metal, immaculately produced.

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“Ether for Scapegoat” by Transgressor, Japan, 1992.

Sprawling, idiosyncratic gem of Japanese OSDM. The bands first and only Full Length.

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“Alone Walkyng” by Hades, Norway, 1993.

Epic sound and an already well formed creative direction in the bands debut demo. One of Norway’s best.

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“The Dying Truth”, by Cianide, USA, 1992.

Primal and crushing death-doom; bone-crunching miasmic riffs and skull-splitting percussion.

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“Invocations” by Baneful Storm, France, 2017

Powerful, thrashy death-metal with great tone and explosive drumming, for fans of Morbid Angel.

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“Above the Law” by Salute, UK, 2007.

Filthy, thrashy heavy metal drenched in the spirit of Hellhammer and Celtic Frost.