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) #73 Dusk... and Her Embrace (1996) #138 V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) [EP] #168
2	Dimmu Borgir 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997) #682 Stormblåst (1996) #1060 Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) #1319
3	Emperor 1991, Norway Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) #41 Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997) #399 Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise (2001) #1455
4	Summoning 1993, Austria Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Dol Guldur (1997) #244 Stronghold (1999) #351 Old Mornings Dawn (2013) #501
5	Anorexia Nervosa 1995, France Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Drudenhaus (2000) #109 Redemption Process (2004) #763 New Obscurantis Order (2001) #1096
6	Dark Mirror ov Tragedy 2003, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	The Lord ov Shadows (2018) #386 The Pregnant of Despair (2009) #2011 The Lunatic Chapters of Heavenly Creatures (2014) #3249
7	Graveworm 1992, Italy Melodic Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	As the Angels Reach the Beauty (1999) #428 Scourge of Malice (2001) #596 Engraved in Black (2003) #5017
8	閃靈 (Chthonic) 1995, Taiwan Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	高砂軍 (Takasago Army) (2011) #523 賽德克巴萊 (Seediq Bale) (2005) #2956 武德 (Bu-Tik) (2013) #4874
9	Illnath 2000, Denmark Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Cast Into Fields of Evil Pleasure (2003) #1382 Angelic Voices Calling (2001) [EP] #3426 Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom (2009) [Demo]
10	Obtained Enslavement 1989, Norway Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Witchcraft (1997) #499 Soulblight (1998) #4301 The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell (2000) #8316
11	Carach Angren 2003, Netherlands Symphonic Black Metal	Lammendam (2008) #3275 Death Came Through a Phantom Ship (2010) #5115 Ethereal Veiled Existance (2005) [EP]
12	Arcturus 1991, Norway Progressive Metal, Avant-garde Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	The Sham Mirrors (2002) #227 Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996) #668 La masquerade infernale (1997) #1145
13	Aquilus Australia Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Griseus (2011) #678 Bellum I (2021) #6346 Arbor (2007) [EP]
14	Covenant 1992, Norway Melodic Black Metal	Nexus Polaris (1998) #703 In Times Before the Light (1996) #3599 From the Storm of Shadows (1994) [Demo]
15	Old Man's Child 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	Revelation 666: Curse of Damnation (2000) #2720 Vermin (2005) #5392 In Defiance of Existence (2003) #5866
16	Starkill 2012, United States Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Power Metal	Fires of Life (2013) #3642 Virus of the Mind (2014) #8119 Shadow Sleep (2016)
17	Dismal Euphony 1992, Norway Melodic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Autumn Leaves - The Rebellion of Tides (1997) #1079 Soria Moria Slott (1996) #4113 Python Zero (2001)
18	The Bishop of Hexen 1994, Israel Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightmarish Compositions (2006) #2182 Ancient Hymns of Legends & Lore (1996) [Demo] Archives of an Enchanted Philosophy (1997) #6445
19	Lux Occulta 1994, Poland Symphonic Black Metal	Dionysos (1997) #3572 Forever Alone Immortal (1996) #5603 My Guardian Anger (1999) #6457
20	Limbonic Art 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	Volume I-IV (2001) [Compilation] In Abhorrence Dementia (1997) #5928 Ad Noctum - Dynasty of Death (1999) #6085
21	Samael 1987, Switzerland Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Electronic	Passage (1996) #1506 Ceremony of Opposites (1994) #1612 Solar Soul (2007) #2084
22	Shade Empire 1999, Finland Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Anti-Life Saviour (2017) [Single] Omega Arcane (2013) #320 Poetry of the Ill-Minded (2017) #777
23	Die Apokalyptischen Reiter 1995, Germany Death Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal	Soft and Stronger (1997) #6419 Have a Nice Trip (2003) #6737 All You Need Is Love (2000) #7339
24	Serenity in Murder 2009, Japan Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	The Highest of Dystopia (2015) #2173 The First Frisson of the World (2011) #2447 The Eclipse (2017) #2507
25	Alghazanth 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	The Three-Faced Pilgrim (2013) Vinum Intus (2011) #2567 Wreath of Thevetat (2008) #3935
26	Deathcode Society 2009, France Symphonic Black Metal	Ite Missa Est (2009) [EP] #2652 Eschatonizer (2015) #3240 Unlightenment (2023)
27	Diabolical Masquerade Sweden Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal	Nightwork (1998) #1243 Ravendusk in My Heart (1996) #5630 Death's Design (2001) #7395
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) #874 Seelenspiegel (2002) Nachtgedanken (1999)
30	Obscurcis Romancia 1998, Canada Symphonic Black Metal	Theatre of Deception (2012) #2722 Le Règne Du Seigneur De Perdition (2001) [Demo] Obscurcis Romancia (2003) [EP]
31	Tvangeste Russia Symphonic Black Metal	Damnation of Regiomontum (2000) #4598 Firestorm (2004) #7887 Blood Dreams (1997) [Single]
32	Abigail Williams 2004, United States Melodic Black Metal, Deathcore, Atmospheric Black Metal	Walk Beyond the Dark (2019) #3325 In the Absence of Light (2010) #5854 In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns (2008) #6359
33	Hollenthon Austria Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Domus Mundi (1999) #7478 Opus Magnum (2008) #7609 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) #2372 Unblessed Woods (2006)
35	Bal-Sagoth 1989, United Kingdom Symphonic Metal, Epic Black Metal	Battle Magic (1998) Atlantis Ascendant (2001) #6889 The Chthonic Chronicles (2006)
36	Anthelion 2001, Taiwan Symphonic Black Metal	Bloodshed Rebefallen (2007) #3639 Manjusaka (2010) [EP] Bloodstained Anthelion (2004) [EP]
37	Agathodaimon 1995, Germany Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Phoenix (2009) Blacken the Angel (1998) #6007 Serpent's Embrace (2004)
38	Tyrant Japan Symphonic Black Metal	Under the Dark Mystic Sky (1997) Legend (2002) #4718 Grimoires (2005)
39	Meridies 2015, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Death Metal	건축무한육면각체 (Architectonic Infinite Cube) (2020) Frustatim (2016) [Split] On a Submerged Islet (2015) #5542
40	Nokturnal Mortum 1994, Ukraine Pagan Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Folk Metal	Голос Сталі (The Voice of Steel) (2009) #547 Істина (2017) #2355 Weltanschauung (2005)
41	Dragonlord 2000, United States Symphonic Black Metal	Black Wings of Destiny (2005) Dominion (2018) #6848 Rapture (2001)
42	Obsidian Gate Germany Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightspectral Voyage (1999) Colossal Christhunt (2001) #7527 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) #2044 Theogonia (2007) #2219
44	Gratzug 2011, Germany Black Metal	V: Meyster (2016) #4005 Mondtore (2012) #7703 Pestabtei (2011) [Demo]
45	Battlelore 1999, Finland Symphonic Metal, Folk Metal	Sword's Song (2003) #3896 Third Age of the Sun (2005) #4382 Evernight (2007) #5672
46	...And Oceans 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Industrial Metal	The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts (1998) #6004 As in Gardens, So in Tombs (2023) #6669 Cosmic World Mother (2020) #7749
47	Abhor 1995, Italy Black Metal	Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti (2011) #3299 Occulta Religio (2018) Ritualia Stramonium (2015)
48	Astaroth Austria Atmospheric Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Violent Soundtrack Martyrium (1999) #6787 Sklavengott (1997) Annus Suprimus (2001)
49	Opera IX 1988, Italy Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	The Call of the Wood (1995) #5710 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]

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