THE STATE OF THE UNDERGROUND: BLACK METAL & THE NEW BREED RISING

Black Metal is constantly changing. It evolves, splits apart, destroys its own old ways, and creates new ones. The Second Wave of Black Metal set the foundation, while the Third Wave added variety. 

Today, new bands don't just admire the classics — they take them in new directions. They mix atmosphere, raw sound, ritual elements, progressive chaos, dungeon synth, cosmic ideas, and folkloric themes.

The underground scene is buzzing with fresh sounds.

This article looks at the newest black metal bands to watch, the labels that support them, and the trends shaping the genre today. It focuses on genuine underground music, free of commercial influence.

The Underground Now: Raw Spirit, Modern Vision

In 2025, black metal is thriving because musicians are taking control. Bands are creating their own unique styles, such as raw lo-fi sounds, forest-themed folk, experimental occult music, minimalist approaches, atmospheric pieces, and punk influences — you name it.

What's interesting is that these different styles are not competing. They coexist and support each other. Some bands choose to record on old 4-track tape for a vintage feel, while others use high-quality production for dreamy effects. Both methods are genuine and meaningful.

Labels like NoEvDia, Ván Records, Debemur Morti, Osmose, Altare Productions, Amor Fati, Northern Silence, Nordvis, and Agonia Records continue to innovate while DIY labels keep the scene raw and unpredictable.

Bands Shaping the New Wave of Darkness

Lamp of Murmuur (USA)

This project constantly evolves. It started as raw and vampiric but has turned into a unique mix of atmospheric and melodic heavy metal. Each release marks a new era. Don’t miss it.

Label Connections: Argento, Not Kvlt, independent circles.
Bandcamp | Instagram

Paysage d’Hiver (Switzerland)

Not exactly new, but each album hits harder than the last. Wintherr’s frozen world continues to influence atmospheric black metal across the globe.

Label: Kunsthall Produktionen.
Homepage | Bandcamp

UADA (USA)

Melodic black metal with clarity, fire, and a devoted following. Their forest-inspired aesthetic fits perfectly with the Pacific Northwest’s mystical energy.

Label: Eisenwald.
Homepage | Bandcamp

Guðveiki (Iceland/USA)

A uniquely chaotic blend of atmospheric black metal and dissonant death metal, shaped by Iceland’s melodic sense of darkness.

Label: Ván Records.
Bandcamp

Old Growth (Canada)

A hidden gem in the raw atmospheric underground. Their music is steeped in ambience, nature worship, and melancholic wilderness energy.

Label: Naturmacht Productions.
Label Bandcamp

Fellwarden (UK)

Epic atmospheric black metal from the mind behind Fen. Massive, emotional, and fiercely melodic.

Label: Eisenwald.
Bandcamp

Çaïnan Dawn (France)

One of France’s strongest modern black metal acts. Intense, ritualistic, and deeply atmospheric.

Label: Osmose Productions.
Label Bandcamp

Malist (Russia)

Cold, epic, atmospheric black metal with emotional depth. Grand melodies and immersive songwriting.

Label: Naturmacht Productions.
Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Labels Forging the Future of Black Metal

Pulse Records is lucky to work with some of the strongest labels in today’s black metal scene. Here’s how they’re shaping the underground:

Agonia Records

Avant-garde, dissonant, black/death extremity with cutting, modern production.

Newer / Rooted Artists to Watch:

• Blut Aus Nord – new era dissonance & post-BM evolution
• Decline of the I – experimental, unsettling French BM
• Lvcifyre – apocalyptic death-tinged black chaos
• Outre-Tombe – raw black/death surging upward
• Inherits the Void – modern atmospheric BM with emotional weight

Altare Productions

Portugal’s purest raw BM cult — lo-fi, ritualistic, spiritual, uncompromising.

Newer / Rooted Artists to Watch:

• Monte Penumbra – occult avant-black
• A Forest of Stars – esoteric Victorian psychedelia (Portuguese issues)
• Trono Além Morte – pure Lusitanian mysticism
• Voëmmr – raw, spectral, tape-hiss worship
• Black Cilice – the modern raw BM icon

Amor Fati Productions

Elite modern BM, atmospheric mysticism, and experimental depth.

Newer / Rooted Artists:

• Mütiilation reissues / LLN heritage
• Häxenzijrkell – cavernous haunting BM
• Veiled – serpentine ritual dissonance
• Wrekan – pagan-tinged extremity
• Narzissus – raw, hypnotic ritualism

Blood Harvest Records

Black/death hybrids, abyssal violence, cavernous riffs.

• Corpsehammer – black/death fury
• Malthusian – obliterating Irish chaos
• Vølus – industrial-tinged black/death
• Putrid Tomb – crypt-dwelling extremity
• Feral Lord – warped sorcery

Debemur Morti Productions

Forward-thinking BM, avant-garde sonic darkness.

• Aara – triumphant atmospheric BM
• White Ward – blackened jazz/post-BM
• Blut Aus Nord – visionary era
• Pénitence Onirique – cosmic modern BM
• Déhà projects – blackened despair

Drakkar Productions

Classic French black metal; raw and unpolished.

• Celestia – melodic French sorrow
• Nocturnal Depression – DSBM
• Viande – raw filth
• Ende – ritual atmosphere
• Fhoi Myore – traditional frost

Naturmacht Productions

Nature-centered atmospheric BM.

• Malist – epic atmospheres
• Eldamar – ethereal ambient BM
• Unfyros – Finnish mysticism
• Enisum – alpine BM
• Eave – haunting US atmospheres

Nordvis Produktion

Folk-rooted, spiritual northern BM.

• Grift – poetic forest black
• Bhleg – nature worship
• Eitrin – folk-infused BM
• Fjällblod – pagan resurgence
• Arctic Sleep – ambient ties

Osmose Records

Foundational extremists; war, speed, chaos.

• Inquisition – cosmic fury
• Caïnan Dawn – ritual French force
• Necrowretch – blackened death
• Impaled Nazarene – iconic chaos
• Hirilorn legacy works

Norma Evangelium Diaboli (NoEvDia)

Elite, esoteric, uncompromising black metal.

• Aosoth – ritual extremity
• VI – occult dissonance
• Antaeus – war-black nihilism
• Mortuus – orthodox sorcery
• Leviathan reissues

Ván Records

Occult, gothic, genre-defying darkness.

• The Ruins of Beverast – colossal BM/doom
• Dread Sovereign – blackened psych-doom
• Chapel of Disease – death rock evolution
• Königreichssaal – ritual BM
• Sulphur Aeon – Lovecraftian cathedrals

(And many more — our distro list is a war chest of underground excellence.)

Atmospheric Dominance

Atmospheric black metal has become a major trend in the underground music scene, and for good reasons. Bands have evolved from simple tremolo riffs with reverb to creating entire worlds. Their long songs, layered synth sounds, field recordings, and cinematic pacing make albums feel like journeys rather than just tracks. This kind of black metal doesn’t just blast music — it surrounds you. Labels like Naturmacht, Nordvis, and Amor Fati focus on this style, and listeners explore it more each year.

What’s particularly interesting is how atmospheric black metal has developed into different styles: lush and melodic (like Aara and Fellwarden), cold and hypnotic (like Paysage d’Hiver and Taake), mystical and pagan (like Eneferens and Grift), and even ambient-driven mixes (like Eldamar and Unfyros). This type of black metal appeals to many people. It allows listeners to drift into another realm while still giving them the harsh, cold edge that defines the genre. It’s black metal for those who seek emotion, solitude, nature, and the cosmos all at once.

Raw Revival

On the less polished side of music, raw black metal is making a bold comeback. It embraces imperfections like tape hiss, one-room recordings, loud cymbals, and harsh guitar sounds. New bands show that the wild spirit of black metal never faded; it just needed a group of musicians tired of perfect, digital sounds. The lo-fi underground scene is thriving again, with many tape-only releases from labels like Altare, KVLT, Drakkar, and Hass Weg, each pushing a do-it-yourself style further.

This movement isn’t about looking back; it’s a deliberate choice to resist mainstream trends. While many genres seek clarity and refinement, raw black metal celebrates noise and simple rhythms. It captures feelings of isolation, secrecy, and ritual. Bands like Lampir, Voëmmr, Vampirska, and others from the Portuguese raw scene are finding new ways to use minimalism. They often appear suddenly, release a demo like a cursed object, and then disappear again. This unpredictability adds to the excitement. Today’s raw black metal has the same edge and underground energy as the mid-90s, but with fresh ideas driving it.

Cosmic Black Metal

Cosmic black metal is becoming very popular. This new style moves away from the traditional themes of nature to focus on space and the unknown. It combines atmospheric and progressive sounds with ideas about light, time, and vastness. Bands like Mare Cognitum, Mesarthim, and Spectral Lore are leading this trend, mixing the intensity of black metal with futuristic sounds and heavy use of synthesizers. The result is music that feels grand and uplifting, a contrast to the usual dark themes of black metal.

What’s exciting about cosmic black metal is how it uses modern production techniques while still keeping its power. The clean sound makes the music feel more cosmic: bright guitar layers, rhythmic synth pads, programmed drums, and space-like background sounds. Even bands that usually play in harsher styles are using cosmic elements, treating distortion more like a colorful effect rather than a weapon. This movement shows that black metal can explore the universe and still remain true to its roots.

Folk & Pagan Resurgence

Folk and pagan black metal are becoming popular again, but now they feel deeper and less clichéd. Instead of using cheesy medieval riffs or renaissance-themed looks, modern bands focus on real cultural identity, mythology, and local storytelling. Labels like Nordvis and Ván Records lead this movement with bands that treat folk elements as meaningful parts of their music, not just gimmicks. They incorporate acoustic guitars, traditional instruments, ambient sounds, and themes from their ancestors as natural parts of their songs.

This new wave of pagan black metal is emotional and thoughtful. It connects to the earth without being overly rustic, takes pride without being nationalistic, and is melodic while still maintaining its intensity. Bands like Grift, Bhleg, Ulvesang, and Havukruunu create music that feels timeless, viewing black metal through the lens of heritage and land. It focuses on reconnecting with the past rather than just replicating it. The result is powerful, honest, and truly atmospheric.

Black/Death Hybridization

Black/death hybrids are currently shaking up the underground music scene. These genres mix violent elements into a powerful and intense sound. This music features chaotic drumming, deep production, twisting guitar riffs, and dark themes drawn from various occult influences. Labels like Blood Harvest, Sepulchral Voice, Invictus, Dark Descent, and NoEvDia support this aggressive style.

These bands focus on creating strong atmospheres and raw energy at the same time. Some lean towards chaotic war metal (like Teitanblood and Revenge), others explore complex black/death soundscapes (such as Abyssal and Malthusian), while some create heavy ritualistic music (like Svartidaudi and Antaeus). This movement is breaking new ground. In 2025, extreme music is not just about speed; it’s about creating tension, atmosphere, and destruction. The new generation is moving beyond simple brutality and is reaching into something almost ceremonial.

Visual Identity

Black metal relies heavily on its visuals as much as its music. Today, a band's visual identity matters more than ever. They create entire mythologies around their looks, using symbols, occult images, simple designs, and unique photography styles, along with corpse paint and logos. Underground labels like Ván, NoEvDia, Les Acteurs de l’Ombre, and Amor Fati treat artwork with great importance; every release resembles a valuable artifact.

Modern black metal album covers vary from hand-drawn to digital and cosmic styles. The design choices are as important as the music itself. Some bands prefer to keep an air of mystery, sharing no photos, names, or credits. Others create visual themes that connect across multiple albums. In a streaming age, striking images attract listeners before they even hear a note. In black metal, music and visuals are more united than in any other metal genre.

Vinyl & Tape Supremacy

Black metal fans highly value physical formats like vinyl and tapes. These items are not just nostalgic; they have become important cultural symbols. Limited editions, special designs, handmade packaging, wax-sealed versions, fold-out posters, and screen-printed covers appeal to collectors. Labels such as Osmose, Ván, Drakkar, Hass Weg, Altare, and Northern Silence focus on this physical culture.

Tape culture is experiencing a revival. Demos come in small runs of 50 or 100 copies and sell out quickly, creating a urgency that digital music cannot match. Vinyl records often sell out before they even ship. Fans appreciate the physical experience—the smell of the paper, the weight of the LP, and the sound of a freshly opened cassette. In black metal, physical items are more than just merchandise; they are treasured artifacts. As we move into 2025, the underground scene is more focused on collecting these artifacts than ever.

Independent & DIY Forces Worth Watching

Lampir (Raw USBM)

Lampir is a key player in the modern raw black metal scene. Each release sounds like it comes from a dark basement, filled with distortion, and shows no compromise. The riffs are repetitive in a captivating way, the vocals sound distant and tormented, and the overall atmosphere feels heavy and dark — think of moonlit graveyards and empty woods. Lampir does not try to change or impress; it sticks closely to the old style and feels fresh because of it. In the USBM underground, Lampir is already seen as an important and unpredictable figure: raw, chaotic, and essential.

Hekseblad (US Atmospheric)

Hekseblad combines atmospheric black metal with a wild, untamed sound. Their songs mix beautiful melodies with deep emotions. The music captures the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, calling to mind wide open spaces, crisp mountain air, and a longing for exploration. Unlike many atmospheric bands, Hekseblad embraces aggression. Their riffs have a raw edge, the vocals are sharp like cold winds, and the ambiance enhances the mood rather than softening it. The result is black metal that feels both vast and deeply personal, grounded in solitude yet full of passion.

Ultha (German Post-Black Sorrow)

Ultha creates powerful and emotional post-black metal music. Their sound mixes the grand atmosphere of black metal with the deep feelings found in doom and post-metal. This results in long songs that feel like a journey through grief. Ultha’s guitar riffs are cold and melodic, the drumming is lively and expressive, and the vocals are filled with raw emotion — uncommon in this genre. They stand out as one of the most thoughtful and musically advanced bands in Europe today, making albums that take listeners on cathartic trips into darkness. When Ultha embraces sadness, few bands can match their impact.

Unfyros (Finnish Mystic Black Metal)

Unfyros channels pure Finnish mysticism through their music. They create icy riffs and melancholic chords, conveying a deep sense of ancient spiritual energy. Their black metal is atmospheric without being soft, melodic without losing its edge, and has a strong ritualistic feel. You can hear their Finnish background in their sound, influenced by bands like Horna and Sargeist, as well as the atmospheric elements of the northern forest style. However, Unfyros takes these influences and turns them into something more unique. Their music feels like a trance — a cold ritual in motion — leading listeners on a spiritual journey through frost. They are quickly becoming one of Finland’s most promising rising forces.

Narzissus (Ritualistic, Dungeon-Influenced)

Narzissus blends ritual black metal with dungeon-like atmospherics, creating music that feels more like an occult ceremony than a typical metal band. Their songs are minimal, repetitive, and captivating. They mix droning riffs, whispered invocations, and dark ambient sounds that evoke a sense of unease. Their music gives a feeling of isolation, as if recorded in a forgotten shrine lit only by candles. Narzissus draws inspiration from dungeon synth and early ritualistic black metal but adds a modern touch and refined occult visuals. They are a true gem in the underground music scene.

These bands might be operating in smaller circles, but they’re shaping tomorrow’s sound.

The Flame Burns Wilder Than Ever

Black Metal today is not dying, not stagnating, not repeating. It’s evolving — sometimes beautifully, sometimes violently.

The new generation carries the rawness of the early days but wields modern tools, broader influences, and a global community that thrives in the shadows.

From the labels keeping the underground alive to the lone-wolf musicians crafting worlds in their bedrooms, the scene has never felt more alive. The new breed is here — hungry, creative, atmospheric, chaotic, ritualistic — and they’re not asking permission from anyone.

The abyss is growing. And we’re here for every second of it.