Mayhem - Deathcrush (1987)
Here we go, a double-whammy of the most influential and notorious BM band EVER. Formed in the mid-1980's by a bunch of Norwegian teens, MAYHEM have managed to maintain a particular vision of brutality throughout their career, despite numerous setbacks and tragedies (see their Wikipedia entry for the full story). Before all the events that gave Mayhem, and BM in general, worldwide infamy, they were a bunch of Venom and Bathory obsessed kids creating their own crushing and EVIL music. This is the title track from their first album Deathcrush.
Mayhem - Freezing Moon (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, 1994)
After Deathcrush, there were some line-up changes and the band enlisted a peculiar Swede known as Dead on vocals. This guy was the real deal (again check out the wiki for more info), and tragically killed himself before recording what was to be Mayhem's magnum opus De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Necrobutcher (these guys have such classy handles) the bass player left the band, leading to another peculiar (read: totally fucked up) fellow joining, Varg Vikernes aka Burzum. In 1993, the band got Attila Csihar from Tormentor do record the vocals, but prior to the release of the album, Vikernes (also involved in a series of church arsons around Norway) confronted the band's lead guitarist Euronymous and murdered him. The band broke up for a couple of years after this (eventually reforming with new and old members), and De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas was finally released in 1994.
Burzum - Dunkelheit (1996)
An incredibly controversial figure in BM history, Burzum has also been incredibly influential in terms of pioneering the "one-man black metal band". Let's face it, he is a totally deranged lunatic, yet has somehow managed to create a pretty massive cult following. Outsider art is one thing, but Burzum's monomaniacal dedication to the fucked-up political agendas that he expresses goes beyond that label into something much, much more sinister. Let us not forget that Vikernes is a convicted murderer and arsonist!
Immortal - Call of the Winter Moon (Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism, 1992)
As you can no doubt gather, BM is pretty heavy shit! Thankfully Norway's Immortal are there to provide some light relief with their amazingly EVIL videos and catchy "black'n'roll" steez. This track is from an album called Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism. On the cover is a panda breathing fire. 'Nuff said.
Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky (live, 1991)
Darkthrone started out playing pretty straight-up death metal before evolving into black metal over a trilogy of albums that could be considered some of the genre's finest. A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Under A Funeral Moon, and Transilvanian Hunger are definitive texts of BM: endless permutations of the blastbeat, EVIL raw production, epic riffage, and brutal vocals. Also these guys have a fondness for hiking through the grim and frostbitten winter forests. Their more recent albums have shifted from BM significantly, embracing old school NWOBHM, thrash and punk influences. Here's an extremely KVLT (read: budget) live rendition of "A Blaze in the Northern Sky".
Click here and here for interviews with the band's Fenriz and Nocturno Culto regarding the making of A Blaze in the Northern Sky.
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