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) #69 Dusk... and Her Embrace (1996) #112 V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) [EP] #155
2	Dimmu Borgir 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997) #556 Stormblåst (1996) #1189 Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) #1410
3	Emperor 1991, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) #46 Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997) #315 Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise (2001) #1511
4	Summoning 1993, Austria Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Dol Guldur (1997) #253 Stronghold (1999) #415 Old Mornings Dawn (2013) #541
5	Anorexia Nervosa 1995, France Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Drudenhaus (2000) #130 Redemption Process (2004) #814 New Obscurantis Order (2001) #1119
6	Dark Mirror ov Tragedy 2003, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	The Lord ov Shadows (2018) #367 The Pregnant of Despair (2009) #2092 The Lunatic Chapters of Heavenly Creatures (2014) #3476
7	Graveworm 1992, Italy Melodic Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	As the Angels Reach the Beauty (1999) #423 Scourge of Malice (2001) #629 Engraved in Black (2003) #5412
8	Obtained Enslavement 1989, Norway Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Witchcraft (1997) #457 Soulblight (1998) #2636 The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell (2000) #8991
9	閃靈 (Chthonic) 1995, Taiwan Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	高砂軍 (Takasago Army) (2011) #557 賽德克巴萊 (Seediq Bale) (2005) #3142 百萬遍 (Endless Aeons) (2025) [Single]
10	Arcturus 1991, Norway Progressive Metal, Avant-garde Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	The Sham Mirrors (2002) #219 Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996) #590 La masquerade infernale (1997) #1034
11	Illnath 2000, Denmark Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Cast Into Fields of Evil Pleasure (2003) #1243 Angelic Voices Calling (2001) [EP] #3659 Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom (2009) [Demo]
12	Carach Angren 2003, Netherlands Symphonic Black Metal	Lammendam (2008) #3511 Death Came Through a Phantom Ship (2010) #6244 Ethereal Veiled Existance (2005) [EP]
13	Covenant 1992, Norway Melodic Black Metal	Nexus Polaris (1998) #630 In Times Before the Light (1996) #3860 From the Storm of Shadows (1994) [Demo]
14	Aquilus Australia Atmospheric Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Griseus (2011) #936 Bellum II (2024) Bellum I (2021) #6844
15	Old Man's Child 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	Revelation 666: Curse of Damnation (2000) #2756 Vermin (2005) #6293 In Defiance of Existence (2003) #6339
16	Starkill 2012, United States Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Power Metal	Fires of Life (2013) #3845 Virus of the Mind (2014) #8775 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) #4399 Python Zero (2001)
18	Limbonic Art 1993, Norway Symphonic Black Metal	In Abhorrence Dementia (1997) #6388 Volume I-IV (2001) [Compilation] Opus Daemoniacal (2024)
19	The Bishop of Hexen 1994, Israel Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightmarish Compositions (2006) #2373 Ancient Hymns of Legends & Lore (1996) [Demo] Archives of an Enchanted Philosophy (1997) #6953
20	Lux Occulta 1994, Poland Symphonic Black Metal	Dionysos (1997) #3823 Forever Alone Immortal (1996) #5858 My Guardian Anger (1999) #6963
21	Samael 1987, Switzerland Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Electronic	Passage (1996) #1570 Ceremony of Opposites (1994) #2171 Solar Soul (2007) #2493
22	Alghazanth 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	The Three-Faced Pilgrim (2013) Vinum Intus (2011) #2698 Wreath of Thevetat (2008) #4208
23	Shade Empire 1999, Finland Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	Anti-Life Saviour (2017) [Single] Omega Arcane (2013) #360 Poetry of the Ill-Minded (2017) #833
24	Die Apokalyptischen Reiter 1995, Germany Death Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal	Soft and Stronger (1997) #6928 Have a Nice Trip (2003) #7261 All You Need Is Love (2000) #7948
25	Serenity in Murder 2009, Japan Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal	The Highest of Dystopia (2015) #2276 The First Frisson of the World (2011) #2557 The Eclipse (2017) #2617
26	Deathcode Society 2009, France Symphonic Black Metal	Ite Missa Est (2009) [EP] #2807 Eschatonizer (2015) #3459 Unlightenment (2023)
27	Diabolical Masquerade Sweden Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal	Nightwork (1998) #1311 Ravendusk in My Heart (1996) #6065 Death's Design (2001) #8012
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) #921 Seelenspiegel (2002) Nachtgedanken (1999)
30	Elffor 1995, Spain Symphonic Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal	The Black Sentinel (2023) The Crescent Moon Palace (2024) Where the Damned Dwells (2022) #2463
31	Obscurcis Romancia 1998, Canada Symphonic Black Metal	Theatre of Deception (2012) #2896 Le Règne Du Seigneur De Perdition (2001) [Demo] Obscurcis Romancia (2003) [EP]
32	Tvangeste Russia Symphonic Black Metal	Damnation of Regiomontum (2000) #4955 Firestorm (2004) #8527 Blood Dreams (1997) [Single]
33	Abigail Williams 2004, United States Melodic Black Metal, Deathcore, Atmospheric Black Metal	Walk Beyond the Dark (2019) #3557 In the Absence of Light (2010) #6323 In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns (2008) #6863
34	Bal-Sagoth 1989, United Kingdom Symphonic Metal, Epic Black Metal	The Power Cosmic (1999) #7834 Battle Magic (1998) #7286 The Chthonic Chronicles (2006)
35	Dragonlord 2000, United States Symphonic Black Metal	Dominion (2018) #4844 Black Wings of Destiny (2005) #7691 Rapture (2001)
36	Hollenthon Austria Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal	Domus Mundi (1999) #7772 Opus Magnum (2008) #8225 With Vilest of Worms to Dwell (2001)
37	Anthelion 2001, Taiwan Symphonic Black Metal	Bloodshed Rebefallen (2007) #3902 Manjusaka (2010) [EP] Bloodstained Anthelion (2004) [EP]
38	Agathodaimon 1995, Germany Symphonic Black Metal, Gothic Metal	Phoenix (2009) Blacken the Angel (1998) #6477 Serpent's Embrace (2004)
39	Tyrant Japan Symphonic Black Metal	Under the Dark Mystic Sky (1997) Legend (2002) #5079 Grimoires (2005)
40	Meridies 2015, Korea Symphonic Black Metal, Death Metal	건축무한육면각체 (Architectonic Infinite Cube) (2020) Frustatim (2016) [Split] On a Submerged Islet (2015) #5963
41	Atritas Switzerland Symphonic Black Metal	Celestial Decay (2009) Where Witches Burnt (2004) #7852 Medium Antigod (2007)
42	Nokturnal Mortum 1994, Ukraine Symphonic Black Metal, Folk Metal	Голос Сталі (The Voice of Steel) (2009) #923 Істина (2017) #2446 Weltanschauung (2005)
43	Pestilent Hex 2017, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal	The Ashen Abhorrence (2022) #4321 Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow (2024) Through Mirrors Beyond (2024) [Single]
44	Obsidian Gate Germany Symphonic Black Metal	The Nightspectral Voyage (1999) Colossal Christhunt (2001) #8147 The Vehemence (2002) [EP]
45	Battlelore 1999, Finland Symphonic Metal, Folk Metal	Sword's Song (2003) #5414 Evernight (2007) #5647 Third Age of the Sun (2005) #4713
46	Rotting Christ 1987, Greece Melodic Black Metal, Grindcore, Gothic Metal, Death Metal	Their Greatest Spells (2018) [Compilation] Thy Mighty Contract (1993) #1737 Theogonia (2007) #2321
47	Mental Cruelty 2015, Germany Deathcore	A Hill to Die Upon (2021) King ov Fire (2021) [Single] Purgatorium (2018)
48	Gratzug 2011, Germany Black Metal	V: Meyster (2016) #4268 Mondtore (2012) #8337 Pestabtei (2011) [Demo]
49	...And Oceans 1995, Finland Symphonic Black Metal, Industrial Metal	The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts (1998) #6089 As in Gardens, So in Tombs (2023) #7184 Cosmic World Mother (2020) #8382
50	Abhor 1995, Italy Black Metal	Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti (2011) #3534 Occulta Religio (2018) Ritualia Stramonium (2015)

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