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black metal

A genre of the Heavy Metal category derived from Thrash Metal through such bands as Venom, the main early defining differences between it and its father-genre being tremelo picking and 'blast-beats'; drum beats played about twice the speed as the traditional trash metal base beats (32nds as opposed to 16ths).

Taking major influence from Bathory and Venom, the ganre became largely associated with Norway through the work of Mayhem, Burzum and Dark Throne, many of the later bands categorised into the black metal genre being influenced by these three bands, and many of these bands being from Norway themselves.

Spawning from thrash metal as black and death metal did, they ran parallel. Eventually the two genres became commonly associated since they both implemented tremelo picking, blast beats, and invariably screamed vocals much of the time. This was taken into influence by some bands and the genres eventually interweaved with some projects such as Dark Throne, Profanatica, and late Emperor.

Other movements of the genre since its rising in the Norwegian metal scene have been melodic/symphonic projects such as Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir, and more underground movements such as the Black Legions, which as a collective are as yet universally nameless.
Bathory, Abigor, Immortal and Burzum could be described as Black Metal bands.
black metal by Aston Clulow January 16, 2004

Norwegian Black Metal 

A genre specific to bands that hail from Norway and play Black Metal. It is one of the most famous genres in the Metal subculture, mostly due to the crimes, multiple church arsons, murders, and violence that surrounds it.

Norwegian Black Metal bands include (but are not limited to)
Darkthrone, Mayhem, Immortal, Emperor, Gorgoroth, Burzum, and Enslaved.
If it wasn't for all of the (bored) crazy fucking Norwegians, Black Metal, particularly Norwegian Black Metal, would be nowhere but further underground.

Suicidal/Depressive Black Metal (SDBM/DSBM) 

A sub-genre of Black Metal which focuses on themes of suicide, anti-humanity, self-mutilation, negative energy, and emotional imbalance or unrest.

Some "well known" bands in this genre include: Xasthur, Burzum, Silencer, Make A Change... Kill Yourself, and Nocturnal Depression.
He killed himself while listening to Suicidal/Depressive Black Metal (SDBM/DSBM).

Post-Black Metal 

A genre of music that combines Post-Rock, Black Metal, and sometimes Shoegaze. Lyrical themes include, but aren't limited to, sorrow, beauty, surrealism, etc.

Examples of Post-Black Metal: Alcest, Silence of the Old Man, Lantlos, Shyy, Dopamine, Austere, Woods of Desolation, Grey Waters, and Heretoir.
Post-Black Metal is an amazing genre of music that few people know about.

Symphonic Black Metal 

Symphonic Black Metal is essentially the Black Metal equivalent of Melodic Death Metal, only (as the name states) is more related to a symphony.

Symphonic Black Metal uses Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, and on occasions Symphony instruments such as Violins, Cellos, etc.
Dimmu Borgir is my favorite Symphonic Black Metal band.

true norwegian black metal 

Greatest music ever created. Ultra cold metal with harsh production to create a truely demonic atmosphere!

Darkthrone's 'A blaze in the northern sky' is THE greatest album ever written