If black metal is war, then we must honor those whose words are the greatest weapons. Thus, today, we present the 11 best lyricists in the genre.
The black metal community abounds with brainy figures, such as Mayhem’s Attila Csihar, gallery owner Gaahl of Trelldom, published poet Kvohst of Hexvessel, journalist Alan Averill of Primordial and journalist Svein Egil Hatlevik of Fleurety. Powerful lyrics can, of course, be found in their endeavors as well as in the offerings of Emperor, Ulver, Kampfar, Windir, Arcturus, Koldbrann, Arckanum, Watain, Dissection, Sorhin, Lifelover, Xasthur, etc.
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Bathory, for example, famously laid the groundwork for future generations of black metal writers and then Viking metallers, with some overlap between those stylistic periods in their career. As Bathory moved toward the epic, Quorthon displayed his ability to construct gripping narratives. Before shifting away from the dark arts, on the milestone Blood Fire Death (1988), Quorthon borrowed from both Erica Jong and Robert W. Chambers.
By contrast, Carl-Michael Eide, known as “Aggressor” in Aura Noir, composed some of the most genre-atypical, yet finest, lyrics for Ved Buens Ende. His feverishly romantic, though pessimistic, musings, which, we are told, draw from Shakespeare and H.P. Lovecraft, never lose their intoxicating, gilded charm.
A special shoutout must go to bassist and conceptual guru Torstein Parelius, who crafts the majority of lyrics for Manes. Although he joined the team after the end of their glorious black metal era, this awarded film producer’s contributions and the enduring essence of the band are the epitome of black metal. On a similar note, early Katatonia incorporated black metal components, and frontman Jonas Renkse remains another lyrical wizard of crushing profundity.
Without further ado, we throw you like sheep into the poetic fires ignited by the following pensmen.
11 Best Lyricists in Black Metal
The lyrical feats crafted by these black metallers cut with the utmost precision.
Gallery Credit: Jillian Drachman