Which black metal albums should I buy first on vinyl?

Start with the Norwegian classics: Darkthrone's "A Blaze in the Northern Sky", Emperor's "In the Nightside Eclipse", Mayhem's "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" and Immortal's "Pure Holocaust". Add a Bathory album to understand where the sound came from. All of them have been officially reissued on vinyl.

How can I spot a black metal bootleg?

Bootlegs often show an unknown or missing label name, blurry cover printing, no insert and incomplete credits. Compare the copy with the official edition from the original label. A very low price for a rare title is another warning sign. When in doubt, ask the seller for photos of the back cover and labels.

Where does the name black metal come from?

It comes from "Black Metal", the second album by the English band Venom, released in 1982. The term was then applied to the style developed by Bathory, Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, and later by the early-1990s Norwegian scene, which defined its musical and visual codes.

Are colored black metal vinyl pressings worth it?

They appeal to collectors and are often limited, but they do not sound better than black vinyl and can be slightly noisier. If you buy to listen, a standard black pressing is enough. If you buy to collect, check the stated run size and compare prices across stores before it sells out.

Black Metal

Born in the 80s and propelled by the 90s Norwegian scene, black metal combines blistering speed, possessed vocals, and dense atmospheres. Legendary bands like Mayhem and Emperor paved the way for entire generations, evolving the style towards more melodic, symphonic, or experimental variations.

Each track transports the listener into a world of its own, where intensity blends with emotional power. Turn on the player and let the sonic onslaught carry you away!

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Black Metal Vinyl: Norwegian Classics, Key Labels and Reissues

Why black metal vinyl records are so collectible

Black metal vinyl holds a special place for collectors. The genre grew out of the underground, with short runs, independent labels and a strong visual identity: black-and-white covers, unreadable logos, corpse paint photos. The 12-inch format does that artwork justice, and many bands still release every album on LP, in color variants or box sets. This page gathers those records, from first-wave classics to recent releases, so you can compare offers from partner stores.

The name comes from Venom's 1982 album "Black Metal". Bathory in Sweden, then Hellhammer and Celtic Frost in Switzerland, laid down the sound: tremolo-picked riffs, deliberately raw production, occult atmosphere. In the early 1990s, the Norwegian scene set the genre's canon, and it still accounts for most of the records collectors hunt for today.

Original pressings, reissues and bootlegs: what to check

First pressings of the Norwegian classics are scarce and expensive, so most collectors turn to official reissues, often from the original labels or their successors: Peaceville for Darkthrone, Candlelight Records for Emperor, Osmose Productions for early Immortal. These come in standard black and in color variants, some of them limited.

Bootlegs are a real issue in this genre, especially for the most famous titles. Check the label name on the back cover, whether an insert or booklet is included, and whether the listing is consistent with the official edition. For used copies, ask about the playing surfaces and the jacket corners, which often suffer on gatefold editions.

Essential black metal albums on vinyl

The Norwegian second wave accounts for most of the reference records. In just a few years it produced albums that still anchor any black metal vinyl collection, before the style branched out across Europe and beyond into symphonic, atmospheric and many other directions. These are the easiest to find as official reissues: