The Top 10 Black Metal Albums of 2026 ... so far

This was set in motion three years ago when too many journalists tried to erroneously hail hot garbage as the best black metal album of the year. This compelled me to set things straight, as such a claim is disrespectful to the genre; therefore, I decided to uphold this mid-year tradition. Just sounding good from a production standpoint is not going to make the cut, since studio magic alone is not what black metal is about. Though I am not looking for something to sound like trash in the name of being cvlt either. I am also not paying homage to bands that are just press darlings for whatever social reason of the day might be. I want bands who are effective at creating darkness, so with that said, here are the top 10 Black Metal Albums of 2026 ...so far.

10-Darkthrone-"Pre-Historic Metal" 

It seems these guys are now transfixed on their Celtic Frost phase. They are still black metal if you are talking about how that genre was defined in the 80s. There is a rawer sound to this album than their previous one, but it does not hinder the head-banging, fist-pumping riffs. The vocals croaked with a Tom Warrior-like anguish, sitting back further into the guitars. Mercyful Fate's influence seeks to move them from their obsession with Celtic Frost, which makes for interesting listening. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/05/heavy-maytal-darkthrone-pre-historic.html

 

9-Egregore- 'It Echoes in the Wild" 

This Canadian band gets it. They are bringing a blizzard of sound that is equally dark and heavy in its intensity when it hits your ears. The other strength Egregore finds on this album is that the vocals should not be an afterthought, no matter how they are delivered. They draw from more than just black metal, with thrash hooks in the guitar riffs and the aggression of death metal in the way it hits. It almsot sounds like an album from the early 90s in this regard, and the production helps solidify this aspect. It's not underproduced like an old Mayhem album, but it sounds more organic than most of the stuff coming out these days. It is atmospheric without any post anything

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/black-metal-history-month-egregore-it.html

 

8-Bringers of Death-"Sulphur"

Jeff Wilson of Chrome Waves has a blackened death metal project with the drummer from Acid Bath/Goatwhore, that is as ripping as you might expect, given Jeff's prior work in Nachtmystium and Wolvhammer. After the opening assault, things get into a more purposeful throb, and a darker mood is created that carries ample atmosphere.I like the mood it creates and appreciate the darkness invoked here, rather than just a bunch of blast beats beating you in the ears.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/04/bringers-of-death-sulphur.html

7-Bizarrekult-"Alt Somme Finnes"

This Norwegian band does not feel the need to preserve their heritage by sticking to the second wave blast beats, and instead uses a very dynamic perspective on songwriting. The emotional range of this album marries elements of Enslaved to Deafheaven.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/black-metal-history-month-bizarrekult.html

 

6-Mayhem-"Liturgy of Death"

Moving in a bigger and more symphonic direction for their new album, Norway's black metal icons Mayhem keep things dark even if it means crossing over into a marginally more accessible style that feels more like Dimmu Borgir in its epic scope. Hellhammer is behind the drum kit, so that brings a larger-than-life flurry of double bass. Obviously, Necrobutcher and Atilla are crafting these songs with guitarists who have been with them for well over a decade now. You might be surprised that this album is not ranked higher, but it takes fewer chances than the bands in the top 5. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/mayhem-liturgy-of-death.html

 

5-Unverkalt- ""Héréditaire"

Setting the stage with a deceptive sense of melody before blasting into you. The melodic vocals are perhaps more intersting, but they work a delicate balance of playing to both sides of the band's dynamic range. Depressive more than it's blackened, the sonic weight of their songwriting impresses right from the first song. Overall, this album is an impressive marriage of sound into well-balanced songs.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/03/unverkalt-hereditaire.html

 

4- Trelldom-"...by the Word..."

This project steps even further into a bleak sea of chaos and further from their black metal beginnings, which is fine. It's more dynamic than black metal tends to be, so much like Ulver, they outgrew the bounds of the sub-genre.Despite it not being as song-focused as the previous album, as I respect what they have created here and their willingness to explore new places

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/05/trelldom-by-word.html

3-Ellende-"Zerfall"

They are atmospheric, with stunning guitar work and a haze of melancholy, lending their waves of scathing picking an edge. The wrathful vocals are perhaps more scornful this time around. This willingness to experiment is one of the things that makes this one of their best releases so far. They have doubled down on their commitment to melody and great guitar playing.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/ellende-zerfall.html

2-Worm -"Necropalace"

This Florida-based band shifted into blackened doom, which earned their place here thanks to their dynamic songwriting that finds its more progressive moments of this album will appeal to Emperor fans. This is a creative high mark for the band, so if you are a fan or like progressive black metal with darkly epic tendencies, then this album is for you.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/black-metal-history-month-worm.html

1-Ponte Del Diavolo -"De Venom Natura"

This is not the heaviest or most cvlt black metal album on this list. It is, however, an album that thinks outside of the box and follows its own path while bringing a shade of darkness that is unique to what they are doing. There is not just blast metals and screaming, but a balanced range of dynamics that serve hooky songs worth repeat listens, which is what puts you atop the heap when it comes to this genre.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/ponte-del-diavolo-de-venom-natura.html

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Unverkalt :"Héréditaire"

 

Only missed this one by a week, it's been on my radar, but jsut now catching up with Germany's Unverkalt. Setting the stage with a deceptive sense of melody before blasting into you. The melodic vocals are perhaps more intersting, but they work a delicate balance of playing to both sides of the band's dynamic range. Depressive more than it's blackened, the sonic weight of their songwriting impresses right from the first song, but can this band uphold the expectations set here?  

"Oath of Prometheus" finds the drums blasting in as the undercurrent trying to take control. The harsher vocals are more focused on chaos, as the sung vocals wander. I am obviously the audience these guys are looking for, but it also means I am more well versed in this sort of thing, so I can hear the influences a mile away on the second, but it still works well enough for me. The more they blast, the less impressed I am by the storm of sound, and I want to hear more melody. "Anae Lithi" finds the melodies winning out and giving this more depth than the more feral strains of black metal.

The sense of melody leans it away from black metal altogether on "A Lullabye for the Descent", but it's dark and moody enough to still win me over despite all the layers of vocals wrestling against one another. It makes me think of 90s bands like Crisis. There is a more black metal tension to "Prenumbrian Lament". One vocal color Dimitra often uses is a whisper little girl like voice. It's creepy enough to work. Often these are given a roaring death metal male counterpoint thanks to their guitarist Eli. 

With "Introjects," things begin to move in a more accessible metal direction, which carries over into "I, the Deciet," which features Sakis Tolis from Rotting Christ. "Death is Forever" finds some intersting sound layered in a more intense black metal manner, but without some of hte structure of the previous songs.  The last song works off more of an emotional atmosphere, which is more dramatic than depressive. Overall, this album is an impressive marriage of sound into well-balanced songs. I will give this a 9.5. Out on Season of Mist. 

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