Best Symphonic Black Metal Bands

Rank	Band / Formed / Genres	Albums
1	Cradle of Filth 1991, United Kingdom Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Cruelty and the Beast (1998) #72 Dusk... and Her Embrace (1996) #139 V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) [EP] #169
2	Dimmu Borgir 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997) #685 Stormblåst (1996) #1059 Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) #1312
3	Emperor 1991, Norway Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) #41 Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997) #401 Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise (2001) #1455
4	Summoning 1993, Austria Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Dol Guldur (1997) #244 Stronghold (1999) #355 Old Mornings Dawn (2013) #500
5	Anorexia Nervosa 1995, France Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Drudenhaus (2000) #112 Redemption Process (2004) #767 New Obscurantis Order (2001) #1094
6	Dark Mirror ov Tragedy 2003, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	The Lord ov Shadows (2018) #386 The Pregnant of Despair (2009) #2017 The Lunatic Chapters of Heavenly Creatures (2014) #3260
7	Graveworm 1992, Italy Melodic Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	As the Angels Reach the Beauty (1999) #428 Scourge of Malice (2001) #597 Engraved in Black (2003) #5041
8	閃靈 (Chthonic) 1995, Taiwan Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	高砂軍 (Takasago Army) (2011) #521 賽德克巴萊 (Seediq Bale) (2005) #2964 武德 (Bu-Tik) (2013) #4896
9	Illnath 2000, Denmark Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Cast Into Fields of Evil Pleasure (2003) #1382 Angelic Voices Calling (2001) [EP] #3440 Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom (2009) [Demo]
10	Obtained Enslavement 1989, Norway Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Witchcraft (1997) #497 Soulblight (1998) #4316 The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell (2000) #8369
11	Arcturus 1991, Norway Progressive Metal, Avant-garde Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	The Sham Mirrors (2002) #227 Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996) #628 La masquerade infernale (1997) #1073
12	Carach Angren 2003, Netherlands Symphonic Black Metal	Lammendam (2008) #3286 Death Came Through a Phantom Ship (2010) #5142 Ethereal Veiled Existance (2005) [EP]
13	Aquilus Australia Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Griseus (2011) #680 Bellum II (2024) Bellum I (2021) #6385
14	Covenant 1992, Norway Melodic Black Metal	Nexus Polaris (1998) #705 In Times Before the Light (1996) #3614 From the Storm of Shadows (1994) [Demo]
15	Old Man's Child 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	Revelation 666: Curse of Damnation (2000) #2729 Vermin (2005) #5419 In Defiance of Existence (2003) #5902
16	Starkill 2012, United States Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Power Metal	Fires of Life (2013) #3656 Virus of the Mind (2014) #8171 Shadow Sleep (2016)
17	Dismal Euphony 1992, Norway Melodic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Autumn Leaves - The Rebellion of Tides (1997) #1078 Soria Moria Slott (1996) #4134 Python Zero (2001)
18	The Bishop of Hexen 1994, Israel Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightmarish Compositions (2006) #2191 Ancient Hymns of Legends & Lore (1996) [Demo] Archives of an Enchanted Philosophy (1997) #6483
19	Lux Occulta 1994, Poland Symphonic Black Metal	Dionysos (1997) #3587 Forever Alone Immortal (1996) #5629 My Guardian Anger (1999) #6495
20	Limbonic Art 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	Volume I-IV (2001) [Compilation] In Abhorrence Dementia (1997) #5962 Ad Noctum - Dynasty of Death (1999) #6124
21	Samael 1987, Switzerland Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Electronic	Passage (1996) #1507 Ceremony of Opposites (1994) #1614 Solar Soul (2007) #2091
22	Shade Empire 1999, Finland Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Anti-Life Saviour (2017) [Single] Omega Arcane (2013) #322 Poetry of the Ill-Minded (2017) #779
23	Die Apokalyptischen Reiter 1995, Germany Death Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal	Soft and Stronger (1997) #6456 Have a Nice Trip (2003) #6779 All You Need Is Love (2000) #7386
24	Serenity in Murder 2009, Japan Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	The Highest of Dystopia (2015) #2181 The First Frisson of the World (2011) #2454 The Eclipse (2017) #2514
25	Alghazanth 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	The Three-Faced Pilgrim (2013) Vinum Intus (2011) #2568 Wreath of Thevetat (2008) #3952
26	Deathcode Society 2009, France Symphonic Black Metal	Ite Missa Est (2009) [EP] #2657 Eschatonizer (2015) #3251 Unlightenment (2023)
27	Diabolical Masquerade Sweden Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal	Nightwork (1998) #1239 Ravendusk in My Heart (1996) #5661 Death's Design (2001) #7443
28	Stormlord 1991, Italy Symphonic Black Metal	Mare Nostrum (2008) Hesperia (2013) The Curse of Medusa (2002) [EP]
29	Enid 1997, Germany Symphonic Black Metal	Abschiedsreigen (2000) #877 Seelenspiegel (2002) Nachtgedanken (1999)
30	Obscurcis Romancia 1998, Canada Symphonic Black Metal	Theatre of Deception (2012) #2732 Le Règne Du Seigneur De Perdition (2001) [Demo] Obscurcis Romancia (2003) [EP]
31	Tvangeste Russia Symphonic Black Metal	Damnation of Regiomontum (2000) #4623 Firestorm (2004) #7936 Blood Dreams (1997) [Single]
32	Abigail Williams 2004, United States Melodic Black Metal, Deathcore, Atmospheric Black Metal	Walk Beyond the Dark (2019) #3335 In the Absence of Light (2010) #5891 In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns (2008) #6398
33	Hollenthon Austria Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Domus Mundi (1999) #7526 Opus Magnum (2008) #7653 With Vilest of Worms to Dwell (2001)
34	Elffor 1995, Spain Symphonic Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal	The Black Sentinel (2023) Where the Damned Dwells (2022) #2379 Unblessed Woods (2006)
35	Bal-Sagoth 1989, United Kingdom Symphonic Metal, Epic Black Metal	Battle Magic (1998) Atlantis Ascendant (2001) #6939 The Chthonic Chronicles (2006)
36	Anthelion 2001, Taiwan Symphonic Black Metal	Bloodshed Rebefallen (2007) #3653 Manjusaka (2010) [EP] Bloodstained Anthelion (2004) [EP]
37	Agathodaimon 1995, Germany Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Phoenix (2009) Blacken the Angel (1998) #6043 Serpent's Embrace (2004)
38	Tyrant Japan Symphonic Black Metal	Under the Dark Mystic Sky (1997) Legend (2002) #4740 Grimoires (2005)
39	Meridies 2015, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Death Metal	건축무한육면각체 (Architectonic Infinite Cube) (2020) Frustatim (2016) [Split] On a Submerged Islet (2015) #5565
40	Nokturnal Mortum 1994, Ukraine Pagan Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Folk Metal	Голос Сталі (The Voice of Steel) (2009) #545 Істина (2017) #2362 Weltanschauung (2005)
41	Dragonlord 2000, United States Symphonic Black Metal	Black Wings of Destiny (2005) Dominion (2018) #6893 Rapture (2001)
42	Obsidian Gate Germany Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightspectral Voyage (1999) Colossal Christhunt (2001) #7573 The Vehemence (2002) [EP]
43	Rotting Christ 1987, Greece Melodic Black Metal, Grindcore, Gothic Metal, Death Metal	Their Greatest Spells (2018) [Compilation] Thy Mighty Contract (1993) #2053 Theogonia (2007) #2229
44	Gratzug 2011, Germany Black Metal	V: Meyster (2016) #4020 Mondtore (2012) #7750 Pestabtei (2011) [Demo]
45	Battlelore 1999, Finland Symphonic Metal, Folk Metal	Sword's Song (2003) #3912 Third Age of the Sun (2005) #4401 Evernight (2007) #5708
46	...And Oceans 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Industrial Metal	The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts (1998) #6040 As in Gardens, So in Tombs (2023) #6712 Cosmic World Mother (2020) #7797
47	Abhor 1995, Italy Black Metal	Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti (2011) #3309 Occulta Religio (2018) Ritualia Stramonium (2015)
48	Astaroth Austria Atmospheric Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Violent Soundtrack Martyrium (1999) #6830 Sklavengott (1997) Annus Suprimus (2001)
49	Opera IX 1988, Italy Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	The Call of the Wood (1995) #5744 The Black Opera: Symphoniae Mysteriorum in Laudem Tenebrarum (2000) Maleventum (2002)
50	Ringarë 2004, United States Atmospheric Black Metal	Of Momentous Endless Night (2023) Thrall of Winter's Majesty (2021) Sorrow Befell (2020) [Demo]

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