Best 100 black metal releases

Black metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in the early 1980s, with roots in the blackened thrash metal scene. It is characterized by fast tempos, heavily distorted guitars, high-pitched shrieking vocals, blast beat drumming, and often lo-fi production. Lyrically, black metal often deals with themes of paganism, nature, and anti-Christianity, with some bands espousing extreme views of nihilism and violence. The genre has evolved over time, with different scenes and subgenres emerging in various countries, including Norway, Sweden, the United States, and France.