The Groove

The greatest black metal artists of all time

43 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Darkthrone

Norway · 1986– · black metal

29.532

Why this number?

The full board · page 2

25 Këkht Aräkh

Ukraine · 1997– · black metal 4.000

26 Sigh

Japan · 1990– · black metal 3.600

27 Moonspell

Portugal · 1989– · gothic metal 3.211

28 Батюшка

Poland · 2015– · black metal 3.200

29 Shining

Sweden · 1996– · rock 3.045

30 Zeal & Ardor

Switzerland · 2013– · avant-garde metal 2.435

31 Summoning

Austria · 1993– · atmospheric black metal 2.314

32 King Diamond

Denmark · 1985– · heavy metal 2.217

33 Ihsahn

Norway · 1975– · black metal 1.872

34 Dødheimsgard

Norway · 1994– · industrial metal 1.650

35 Celtic Frost

Switzerland · 1984–2008 · heavy metal 1.348

36 Shining

Norway · 1999– · black metal 1.245

37 Arcturus

Norway · 1990– · progressive metal 1.086

Katatonia

Sweden · 1991– · alternative metal 0.900

39 Dethklok

United States of America · 2006– · death metal 0.600

40 Deafheaven

United States of America · 2010– · blackgaze 0.573

41 Myrkur

Denmark · 1985– · folk 0.475

Arch Enemy

Sweden · 1996– · melodic death metal 0.313

43 Orchid

United States of America · 1997– · emoviolence 0.233