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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{short description|Subgenre of black metal music}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox music genre
{{Infobox music genre
| name = Symphonic black metal
| name = Symphonic black metal
| stylistic_origins = * [[Symphonic metal]]
| color = white
| bgcolor = #BB0022
| stylistic_origins =
* [[Symphonic metal]]
* [[black metal]]
* [[black metal]]
| cultural_origins = Early to mid 1990s, Norway and United Kingdom<!-- Precursors of symphonic black metal are British bands Craddle of Filth (1991), Bal-Sagoth (1993), Hecate Enthtoned (1993) and Norwegian bands Carpathian Forest (1992), Dimmu Borgir (1993), Gehenna (1993), Limbonic Art (1993) and Emperor (1991). All of them are mentioned in the list below -->
| cultural_origins = Early to mid 1990s, Norway and United Kingdom<!-- Precursors of symphonic black metal are British bands Craddle of Filth (1991), Bal-Sagoth (1993), Hecate Enthtoned (1993) and Norwegian bands Carpathian Forest (1992), Dimmu Borgir (1993), Gehenna (1993), Limbonic Art (1993) and Emperor (1991). All of them are mentioned in the list below -->
| instruments =
* Electric guitar
* bass guitar
* drums
* keyboard
* violin
* other acoustic and electronic instruments
| popularity = Moderate
| other_topics =
| other_topics =
}}
}}

'''Symphonic black metal''' is a sub-genre of [[black metal]] that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates [[symphony|symphonic]] and [[orchestra]]l elements.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/style/symphonic-black-metal-ma0000012290 |title=Symphonic Black Metal : Significant Albums, Artists and Songs, Most Viewed : AllMusic |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref> Notable symphonic black metal bands include [[Dimmu Borgir]], [[Emperor (band)|Emperor]] and [[Carach Angren]].
'''Symphonic black metal''' is a subgenre of [[black metal]] that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates [[symphony|symphonic]] and [[orchestra]]l elements.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/style/symphonic-black-metal-ma0000012290 |title=Symphonic Black Metal : Significant Albums, Artists and Songs, Most Viewed : AllMusic |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2 September 2012}}</ref>
==Characteristics==

Symphonic black metal is a style of black metal that incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements. This may include the usage of [[music workstation]] keyboards to conjure up "pseudo-orchestral" landscapes with default presets (e.g. strings, choirs, piano, organs, and pads), or full orchestral arrangements containing [[woodwind instrument|woodwind]]s, [[brass instrument|brass]], [[percussion instrument|percussion]], [[musical keyboard|keyboard]]s and [[string instrument|strings]]. Bands may feature solo instruments such as violins in addition to virtual or live orchestral arrangements. Vocals can be "clean" or operatic in style, and song structures are more defined or are inspired by symphonies, albeit not adhering to forms found in Western music (e.g. sonata, rondo, theme and variations) and following a typical riff-based approach. Many of the characteristics of traditional black metal are retained, such as shrieked vocals, fast tempos, high treble gain and tremolo picked electric guitars. The approached theme can be also considered wider that the traditional black metal, indeed a lot groups of symphonic black metal adduce to deal with themes such as the vampirism ([[Theatre des Vampires]], [[Cradle of Filth]]), the occultism and the paranormal (Carach Angren). The political theme is also more neglected as in the other black metal sub-genres.
== History ==
==List of notable symphonic black metal bands==
One of the earliest forerunners in what would come to be the sound of Symphonic black metal was [[Celtic Frost]] on their [[1987 in music|1987]] album ''[[Into the Pandemonium]]''. The first extreme metal bands incorporating classical, orchestral, and operatic elements into their music were [[Mekong Delta (band)|Mekong Delta]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Wagner |first=Jeff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZwZcZ2X5ToC&pg=PA135 |title=Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal |date=2010 |publisher=[[Bazillion Points]] |isbn=978-0-9796163-3-4 |location=[[Brooklyn]] |pages=134–135, 155 |language=en}}</ref> [[Bulldozer (band)|Bulldozer]] on their album ''Neurodeliri'' (1988),<ref>''Bulldozer''. ''"They came into this world with hatred … and with hatred they will depart !"'' In: ''Tales of the Macabre, Nr. 5''.</ref> [[Believer (band)|Believer]] on ''[[Sanity Obscure]]'' (1990) and [[Dimensions (Believer album)|''Dimensions'']] (1993),<ref name=":0" /><ref name="believer">{{cite web|last1=Treppel|first1=Jeff|title=The Lazarus Pit: Believer's Sanity Obscure|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2012/11/09/the-lazarus-pit-believer-s-sanity-obscure/|website=[[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]]|publisher=Alex Mulcahy|access-date=June 4, 2015|date=November 9, 2012}}; {{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=John |title=Dimensions |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dimensions-mw0000624244 |accessdate=June 4, 2015 |website=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[All Media Guide]]}}; >{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Matt |date=April 1, 1994 |title=Believer - Dimensions |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Believer/Dimensions/15415/ |journal=[[Cross Rhythms (magazine)|Cross Rhythms]] |publisher=Cornerstone House |issue=20 |accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> [[Master's Hammer]] on ''[[Ritual. (Master's Hammer album)|Ritual]]'' (1991)<ref>[https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/master-s-hammer-the-jilemnice-occultist_268677.html Rock Hard - MASTER´S HAMMER - The Jilemnice Occultist] ''(German)''</ref> and ''[[Jilemnický okultista|The Jilemnice Occultist]]'' (1993) and [[Sigh (band)|Sigh]] on their debut ''[[Scorn Defeat]]'' (1993).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/scorn-defeat-mw0000116336|title=Scorn Defeat - Sigh {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Band
The style on [[Emperor (band)|Emperor]]'s ''[[In the Nightside Eclipse]]'' (1994) had a pioneering influence though and was the main inspiration for many keyboard-based black metal bands following after. [[Troll (band)|Troll]]'s ''Drep de kristne'' (1995) and [[Arcturus (band)|Arcturus]]' ''[[Aspera Hiems Symfonia]]'' (1996) are other notable early works of symphonic black metal, before the genre was commercialised by the international success of bands like [[Dimmu Borgir]] and [[Bal Sagoth]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100304101547/http://www.onemetal.com/2010/01/25/troll-neo-satanic-supremacy/ Troll – Neo-Satanic Supremacy – REVIEW : OneMetal.com]</ref><ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/aspera-hiems-symfonia-mw0000256762?1631471512089 Aspera Hiems Symfonia - Arcturus - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic]</ref>
! Country

! Formed
== Characteristics ==
! Notes
Symphonic black metal is a style of [[black metal]] that incorporates symphonic and [[orchestra]]l elements. This may include the usage of keyboards to conjure up "pseudo-orchestral" soundscapes with default presets (e.g. strings, choirs, piano, organs, and pads), or full orchestral arrangements. Bands may feature solo instruments such as violins in addition to keyboards and/or orchestral arrangements. Vocals can be "clean" or [[Opera#Operatic voices|operatic]] in style, and song structures are more defined or are inspired by symphonies, and follow a typical riff-based approach. Many of the characteristics of traditional black metal are retained, such as shrieks, fast tempos, high [[Treble (sound)|treble]] and [[tremolo]]-picked electric guitars. The overall sound and themes can be considered wider than traditional black metal, many groups of symphonic black metal use themes such as [[vampirism]] ([[Theatres des Vampires]], [[Cradle of Filth]]), [[occultism]] and the [[paranormal]] ([[Carach Angren]]). Political themes are more neglected by them as in other black metal subgenres.
|-

| [[Abigail Williams (band)|Abigail Williams]]
== See also ==
| The United States of America
* [[List of symphonic black metal bands]]
| 2005
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-the-shadow-of-a-thousand-suns-mw0000799532 |title=In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns - Abigail Williams : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=[...] ''In the Shadow of 1000 Suns'' is more in the symphonic black metal vein.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Havoc Unit]]
| Finland
| 1995
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/and-oceans-mn0000025139 |title=...And Oceans - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Loftus |first=Johnny |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/am-god-allotropic-metamorphic-genesis-of-dismorphism-mw0000625647 |title=A.M. G.O.D.: Allotropic/Metamorphic Genesis of Disorphism - ...And Oceans : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Anderson |first=Jason |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref>
|-
| [[Anorexia Nervosa (band)|Anorexia Nervosa]]
| France
| 1995
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/anorexia-nervosa-mn0000593838 |title=Anorexia Nervosa - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=...establishing themselves as a symphonic black metal force to be reckoned with.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Apostasy (band)|Apostasy]]
| Sweden
| 2000
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/apostasy-mn0000926951 |title=Apostasy - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Sweden's Apostasy was formed in 1994 and performs keyboard-laden symphonic black metal inspired by the likes of [[Dimmu Borgir]] and [[Arcturus (band)|Arcturus]].}}</ref>
|-
| [[Bal-Sagoth]]
| England, The United Kingdom
| 1989
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-power-cosmic-mw0000672739 |title=The Power Cosmic - Bal-Sagoth : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-chthonic-chronicles-mw0000428206 |title=The Chthonic Chronicles - Bal-Sagoth : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=[...] ''The Chthonic Chronicles'' underscores the ambitious nature of the symphonic black metal style.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Carach Angren]]
| The Netherlands
| 2003
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/carach-angren-mn0002104939|title=Carach Angren {{!}} Biography, Albums, Streaming Links {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-02-03}}</ref>
|-
| [[Carpathian Forest]]
| Norway
| 1992
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/defending-the-throne-of-evil-mw0000023667 |title=Defending the Throne of Evil - Carpathian Forest : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Serba |first=John |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=...''Defending the Throne of Evil'' just falls in with the rest of the symphonic black metal pack.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Catamenia (band)|Catamenia]]
| Finland
| 1995
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/catamenia-mn0000631305 |title=Catamenia - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Finland became a surprising hotbed of heavy metal talent during the late '90s, and symphonic black metal act Catamenia certainly ranks among the most consistent – if not commercially successful – of these.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Chthonic (band)|Chthonic]]
| Taiwan
| 1995
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/seediq-bale-mw0000545909 |title=Seediq Bale - Chthonic : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Prato |first=Greg |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Symphonic black metal will always be first and foremost associated with Norway, a locale that seems to spawn a new band sporting ghoulish face paint every bloody day. But by 2007, the style had long crossed over into other faraway territories, as evidenced by the emergence of Taiwan's Chthonic.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Cradle of Filth]]
| England, The United Kingdom
| 1991
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/midian-mw0000103260 |title=Midian - Cradle of Filth : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Bregman |first=Adam |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref>
|-
| [[Crimson Moonlight]]
| Sweden
| 1997
|<ref>{{cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |title=Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time |magazine=Heaven's Metal |date=August 2010 |page=8 |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/booklet.pdf |accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref>
|-
| [[Darzamat]]
| Poland
| 1995
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/transkarpatia-mw0000584142 |title=Transkarpatia - Darzamat : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Prato |first=Greg |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Symphonic black metal comes from all points of the globe, but it seems to have truly taken hold in Europe circa the early 21st century, as an avalanche of similarly styled bands began sprouting up from this particular locale. And one of Poland's leading entries into the symphonic black metal sweepstakes turned out to be the six-piece Darzamat.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Diabolical Masquerade]]
| Sweden
| 1993
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/diabolical-masquerade-mn0000821191 |title=Diabolical Masquerade - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=...Sweden's Diabolical Masquerade released a string of symphonic and misanthropic black metal albums...}}</ref>
|-
| [[Dimmu Borgir]]
| Norway
| 1993
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/death-cult-armageddon-mw0000322109 |title=Death Cult Armageddon - Dimmu Borgir : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Serba |first=John |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-sorte-diaboli-mw0000480592 |title=In Sorte Diaboli - Dimmu Borgir : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Jurek |first=Thom |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Dimmu Borgir's brand of symphonic black metal...}}</ref>
|-
| [[Dragonlord (band)|Dragonlord]]
| The United States of America
| 2000
|<ref>{{cite book |author=Wiederhorn, Jon |title=The New (Old) Order |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GfoDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT85&dq=%22dragonlord%22+%22symphonic+black+metal%22#v=onepage&q=%22dragonlord%22%20%22symphonic%20black%20metal%22&f=false |publisher=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]] |accessdate=2009-09-30}}</ref>
|-
| [[Emperor (band)|Emperor]]
| Norway
| 1991
|
|-
| [[Equilibrium (band)|Equilibrium]]
| Germany
| 2001
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sagas-mw0000789619 |title=Sagas - Equilibrium : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Equilibrium's folk metal/symphonic black metal attack isn't just about intensity; it is also about craftsmanship.}}</ref>
|-
| Exalted Saviour
| Canada
| 2013
|
|-
| [[Graveworm]]
| Italy
| 1992
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/graveworm-mn0000662059 |title=Graveworm - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Since forming in 1992, Italy's Graveworm have unleashed a number of very sophisticated gothic-symphonic black metal albums...}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hecate Enthroned]]
| England, The United Kingdom
| 1993
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/redimus-mw0000301961 |title=Redimus - Hecate Enthroned : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=''Redimus'' is neither the best nor the worst that symphonic black metal and melodic death metal have to offer...}}</ref>
|-
| Imperial Circus Dead Decadence
| Japan
| 2007
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icddecadence.com/|title=Imperial Circus Dead Decadence {{!}} official website|website=Imperial Circus Dead Decadence official website|language=ja|access-date=2018-10-30}}</ref>
|-
| [[Limbonic Art]]
| Norway
| 1993
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-ultimate-death-worship-mw0000225161 |title=The Ultimate Death Worship - Limbonic Art : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Serba |first=John |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=The relatively lo-fi, but still clear, production lends the songs a grainy nastiness that's integral to the overall feel of the record, which strongly represents the ugly, pockmarked side of symphonic black metal.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Opera IX]]
| Italy
| 1988
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/anphisbena-mw0000258752 |title=Anphisbena - Opera IX : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=[...] Cadaveria did her part to make Opera IX one of the more unusual bands in symphonic black metal...}}</ref>
|-
| [[Shade Empire]]
| Finland
| 1999
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sinthetic-mw0000263032 |title=Sinethic - Shade Empire : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=[...] But these guys take it a step further, providing music that is elaborate even by symphonic black metal standards.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/finland/kuopio/shade+empire |title=MusicMight :: Artists :: Shade Empire |work=musicmight.com |access-date=2 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913043033/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/finland/kuopio/shade+empire |archive-date=13 September 2012 |df= }}</ref>
|-
| [[Stormlord (band)|Stormlord]]
| Italy
| 1991
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stormlord-mn0000949451 |title=Stormlord - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=...before turning their collective gaze northwards to Scandinavia's bustling [[extreme metal]] scene. There they found like-minded accomplices in up-and-coming symphonic black metal bands like [[Dimmu Borgir]] and [[Borknagar]]...}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tiamat (band)|Tiamat]]
| Sweden
| 1988
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tiamat-mn0000588536/biography |title=Tiamat - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Over the course of the 1990s, Sweden's Tiamat evolved from a typical [[death metal]] outfit into one of the leading lights in 'symphonic' black metal.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tvangeste]]
| Russia
| 1996
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tvangeste-mn0000205887 |title=Tvangeste - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic |accessdate=30 July 2013 |quote=Tvangeste was formed in 1996 in Kaliningrad, Russia, and its line-up at the time consisted of Miron Chirva, Edgar, Nikolay "Kok" Kazmin (of Candle in the Dark) and...}}</ref>
|-
| [[Twilight Ophera]]
| Finland
| 1996
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-end-of-the-halcyon-age-mw0000655839 |title=The End of the Halcyon Age - Twilight Opera : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=Twilight Ophera isn't terribly distinctive – plenty of other symphonic black metal bands have favored this type of sound in the Nordic countries...}}</ref>
|-
| [[Vaakevandring]]
| Norway
| 1999
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/norway/vaakevandring |title=MusicMight :: Artists :: Vaakevandring |work=musicmight.com |access-date=2 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913043048/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/norway/vaakevandring |archive-date=13 September 2012 |df= }}</ref>
|-
| [[Vesania]]
| Poland
| 1997
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/firefrost-arcanum-mw0000695769 |title=Firefrost Arcanum - Vesania : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic |last=Mason |first=Stewart |work=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=2 September 2012 |quote=[...] ''Firefrost –Arcanum–'', an album so hugely, unapologetically over the top that at first it almost sounds like a deadpan parody of symphonic black metal.}}</ref>
|-
| [[Welicoruss]]
| Russia
| 2005
|
|-
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}

{{heavymetal}}
{{heavymetal}}
{{extreme metal}}
{{extreme metal}}
{{Goth subculture}}
{{Goth subculture}}

[[Category:Heavy metal genres]]
[[Category:Symphonic black metal| ]]
[[Category:Symphonic black metal| ]]
[[Category:Black metal subgenres]]
[[Category:Black metal genres]]
[[Category:Heavy metal genres]]
[[Category:Norwegian styles of music]]
[[Category:Norwegian styles of music]]

Latest revision as of 04:04, 22 October 2024

Symphonic black metal
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsEarly to mid 1990s, Norway and United Kingdom

Symphonic black metal is a subgenre of black metal that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements.[1]

History

[edit]

One of the earliest forerunners in what would come to be the sound of Symphonic black metal was Celtic Frost on their 1987 album Into the Pandemonium. The first extreme metal bands incorporating classical, orchestral, and operatic elements into their music were Mekong Delta,[2] Bulldozer on their album Neurodeliri (1988),[3] Believer on Sanity Obscure (1990) and Dimensions (1993),[2][4] Master's Hammer on Ritual (1991)[5] and The Jilemnice Occultist (1993) and Sigh on their debut Scorn Defeat (1993).[6]

The style on Emperor's In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) had a pioneering influence though and was the main inspiration for many keyboard-based black metal bands following after. Troll's Drep de kristne (1995) and Arcturus' Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996) are other notable early works of symphonic black metal, before the genre was commercialised by the international success of bands like Dimmu Borgir and Bal Sagoth.[7][8]

Characteristics

[edit]

Symphonic black metal is a style of black metal that incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements. This may include the usage of keyboards to conjure up "pseudo-orchestral" soundscapes with default presets (e.g. strings, choirs, piano, organs, and pads), or full orchestral arrangements. Bands may feature solo instruments such as violins in addition to keyboards and/or orchestral arrangements. Vocals can be "clean" or operatic in style, and song structures are more defined or are inspired by symphonies, and follow a typical riff-based approach. Many of the characteristics of traditional black metal are retained, such as shrieks, fast tempos, high treble and tremolo-picked electric guitars. The overall sound and themes can be considered wider than traditional black metal, many groups of symphonic black metal use themes such as vampirism (Theatres des Vampires, Cradle of Filth), occultism and the paranormal (Carach Angren). Political themes are more neglected by them as in other black metal subgenres.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Symphonic Black Metal : Significant Albums, Artists and Songs, Most Viewed : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b Wagner, Jeff (2010). Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal. Brooklyn: Bazillion Points. pp. 134–135, 155. ISBN 978-0-9796163-3-4.
  3. ^ Bulldozer. "They came into this world with hatred … and with hatred they will depart !" In: Tales of the Macabre, Nr. 5.
  4. ^ Treppel, Jeff (9 November 2012). "The Lazarus Pit: Believer's Sanity Obscure". Decibel. Alex Mulcahy. Retrieved 4 June 2015.; Bush, John. "Dimensions". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 4 June 2015.; >Anderson, Matt (1 April 1994). "Believer - Dimensions". Cross Rhythms (20). Cornerstone House. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  5. ^ Rock Hard - MASTER´S HAMMER - The Jilemnice Occultist (German)
  6. ^ "Scorn Defeat - Sigh | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  7. ^ Troll – Neo-Satanic Supremacy – REVIEW : OneMetal.com
  8. ^ Aspera Hiems Symfonia - Arcturus - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic
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