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) #119 V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) [EP] #163
2	Dimmu Borgir 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997) #541 Stormblåst (1996) #1087 Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) #1358
3	Emperor 1991, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) #46 Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997) #347 IX Equilibrium (1999) #1415
4	Summoning 1993, Austria Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Dol Guldur (1997) #248 Stronghold (1999) #389 Old Mornings Dawn (2013) #524
5	Anorexia Nervosa 1995, France Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Drudenhaus (2000) #120 Redemption Process (2004) #798 New Obscurantis Order (2001) #1119
6	Dark Mirror ov Tragedy 2003, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	The Lord ov Shadows (2018) #399 The Pregnant of Despair (2009) #2050 The Lunatic Chapters of Heavenly Creatures (2014) #3384
7	Graveworm 1992, Italy Melodic Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	As the Angels Reach the Beauty (1999) #442 Scourge of Malice (2001) #623 Engraved in Black (2003) #5225
8	閃靈 (Chthonic) 1995, Taiwan Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	高砂軍 (Takasago Army) (2011) #542 賽德克巴萊 (Seediq Bale) (2005) #3062 武德 (Bu-Tik) (2013) #5060
9	Illnath 2000, Denmark Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Cast Into Fields of Evil Pleasure (2003) #1423 Angelic Voices Calling (2001) [EP] #3564 Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom (2009) [Demo]
10	Obtained Enslavement 1989, Norway Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Witchcraft (1997) #519 Soulblight (1998) #4426 The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell (2000) #8675
11	Arcturus 1991, Norway Progressive Metal, Avant-garde Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	The Sham Mirrors (2002) #217 Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996) #559 La masquerade infernale (1997) #1017
12	Carach Angren 2003, Netherlands Symphonic Black Metal	Lammendam (2008) #3414 Death Came Through a Phantom Ship (2010) #5327 Ethereal Veiled Existance (2005) [EP]
13	Aquilus Australia Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Griseus (2011) #700 Bellum II (2024) Bellum I (2021) #6620
14	Covenant 1992, Norway Melodic Black Metal	Nexus Polaris (1998) #724 In Times Before the Light (1996) #3737 From the Storm of Shadows (1994) [Demo]
15	Old Man's Child 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	Revelation 666: Curse of Damnation (2000) #2814 Vermin (2005) #5612 In Defiance of Existence (2003) #6114
16	Starkill 2012, United States Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Power Metal	Fires of Life (2013) #3728 Virus of the Mind (2014) #8469 Shadow Sleep (2016)
17	Dismal Euphony 1992, Norway Melodic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Autumn Leaves - The Rebellion of Tides (1997) #1107 Soria Moria Slott (1996) #4254 Python Zero (2001)
18	The Bishop of Hexen 1994, Israel Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightmarish Compositions (2006) #2241 Ancient Hymns of Legends & Lore (1996) [Demo] Archives of an Enchanted Philosophy (1997) #6717
19	Lux Occulta 1994, Poland Symphonic Black Metal	Dionysos (1997) #3708 Forever Alone Immortal (1996) #5648 My Guardian Anger (1999) #6727
20	Limbonic Art 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	Volume I-IV (2001) [Compilation] In Abhorrence Dementia (1997) #6166 Opus Daemoniacal (2024)
21	Samael 1987, Switzerland Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Electronic	Passage (1996) #1551 Solar Soul (2007) #2130 Ceremony of Opposites (1994) #2131
22	Shade Empire 1999, Finland Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Anti-Life Saviour (2017) [Single] Omega Arcane (2013) #329 Poetry of the Ill-Minded (2017) #812
23	Die Apokalyptischen Reiter 1995, Germany Death Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal	Soft and Stronger (1997) #6693 Have a Nice Trip (2003) #7021 All You Need Is Love (2000) #7664
24	Serenity in Murder 2009, Japan Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	The Highest of Dystopia (2015) #2228 The First Frisson of the World (2011) #2501 The Eclipse (2017) #2564
25	Alghazanth 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	The Three-Faced Pilgrim (2013) Vinum Intus (2011) #2629 Wreath of Thevetat (2008) #4075
26	Deathcode Society 2009, France Symphonic Black Metal	Ite Missa Est (2009) [EP] #2734 Eschatonizer (2015) #3371 Unlightenment (2023)
27	Diabolical Masquerade Sweden Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal	Nightwork (1998) #1290 Ravendusk in My Heart (1996) #5866 Death's Design (2001) #7723
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) #910 Seelenspiegel (2002) Nachtgedanken (1999)
30	Obscurcis Romancia 1998, Canada Symphonic Black Metal	Theatre of Deception (2012) #2821 Le Règne Du Seigneur De Perdition (2001) [Demo] Obscurcis Romancia (2003) [EP]
31	Elffor 1995, Spain Symphonic Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal	The Black Sentinel (2023) The Crescent Moon Palace (2024) Where the Damned Dwells (2022) #2409
32	Tvangeste Russia Symphonic Black Metal	Damnation of Regiomontum (2000) #4766 Firestorm (2004) #8235 Blood Dreams (1997) [Single]
33	Abigail Williams 2004, United States Melodic Black Metal, Deathcore, Atmospheric Black Metal	Walk Beyond the Dark (2019) #3466 In the Absence of Light (2010) #6102 In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns (2008) #6634
34	Dragonlord 2000, United States Symphonic Black Metal	Dominion (2018) #4668 Black Wings of Destiny (2005) Rapture (2001)
35	Hollenthon Austria Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Domus Mundi (1999) #7487 Opus Magnum (2008) #7932 With Vilest of Worms to Dwell (2001)
36	Bal-Sagoth 1989, United Kingdom Symphonic Metal, Epic Black Metal	Battle Magic (1998) Atlantis Ascendant (2001) #7189 The Chthonic Chronicles (2006)
37	Anthelion 2001, Taiwan Symphonic Black Metal	Bloodshed Rebefallen (2007) #3774 Manjusaka (2010) [EP] Bloodstained Anthelion (2004) [EP]
38	Agathodaimon 1995, Germany Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Phoenix (2009) Blacken the Angel (1998) #6256 Serpent's Embrace (2004)
39	Tyrant Japan Symphonic Black Metal	Under the Dark Mystic Sky (1997) Legend (2002) #4899 Grimoires (2005)
40	Meridies 2015, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Death Metal	건축무한육면각체 (Architectonic Infinite Cube) (2020) Frustatim (2016) [Split] On a Submerged Islet (2015) #5760
41	Atritas Switzerland Symphonic Black Metal	Celestial Decay (2009) Where Witches Burnt (2004) #7562 Medium Antigod (2007)
42	Nokturnal Mortum 1994, Ukraine Pagan Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Folk Metal	Голос Сталі (The Voice of Steel) (2009) #566 Істина (2017) #2392 Weltanschauung (2005)
43	Obsidian Gate Germany Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightspectral Voyage (1999) Colossal Christhunt (2001) #7860 The Vehemence (2002) [EP]
44	Rotting Christ 1987, Greece Melodic Black Metal, Grindcore, Gothic Metal, Death Metal	Their Greatest Spells (2018) [Compilation] Thy Mighty Contract (1993) #1717 Theogonia (2007) #2267
45	Mental Cruelty 2015, Germany Deathcore	A Hill to Die Upon (2021) King ov Fire (2021) [Single] Purgatorium (2018)
46	Gratzug 2011, Germany Black Metal	V: Meyster (2016) #4135 Mondtore (2012) #8037 Pestabtei (2011) [Demo]
47	Battlelore 1999, Finland Symphonic Metal, Folk Metal	Third Age of the Sun (2005) #4524 Sword's Song (2003) #5226 Evernight (2007) #5912
48	...And Oceans 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Industrial Metal	The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts (1998) #5889 As in Gardens, So in Tombs (2023) #6949 Cosmic World Mother (2020) #8087
49	Abhor 1995, Italy Black Metal	Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti (2011) #3440 Occulta Religio (2018) Ritualia Stramonium (2015)
50	Astaroth Austria Atmospheric Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Violent Soundtrack Martyrium (1999) #7072 Sklavengott (1997) Annus Suprimus (2001)

Best Alternative Metal Bands	Best Atmospheric Black Metal Bands	Best Atmospheric Sludge Metal Bands
Best Avant-garde Metal Bands	Best Black Metal Bands	Best Brutal Death Metal Bands
Best Crossover Thrash Bands	Best Death Doom Metal Bands	Best Death Metal Bands
Best Deathcore Bands	Best Deathgrind Bands	Best Depressive Black Metal Bands
Best Djent Bands	Best Doom Metal Bands	Best Drone Metal Bands
Best Folk Metal Bands	Best Funeral Doom Metal Bands	Best Glam Metal Bands
Best Goregrind Bands	Best Gothic Metal Bands	Best Grindcore Bands
Best Groove Metal Bands	Best Hard Rock Bands	Best Heavy Metal Bands
Best Industrial Metal Bands	Best Mathcore Bands	Best Melodic Black Metal Bands
Best Melodic Death Metal Bands	Best Melodic Metalcore Bands	Best Metalcore Bands
Best Neoclassical Metal Bands	Best Nu Metal Bands	Best Power Metal Bands
Best Progressive Metal Bands	Best Sludge Metal Bands	Best Speed Metal Bands
Best Stoner Metal Bands	▶ Best Symphonic Black Metal Bands	Best Symphonic Metal Bands
Best Technical Death Metal Bands	Best Technical Thrash Metal Bands	Best Thrash Metal Bands
Best Trance Metal Bands	Best Trancecore Bands	Best Viking Metal Bands
Best War Metal Bands