Symphonic black metal is a subgenre of black metal characterized by its grandiose fusion of extreme metal with classical music elements. Defining features include intricate orchestral arrangements, operatic vocals, and sweeping keyboard passages, often juxtaposed with aggressive, blast-beat driven rhythms and shrieking, growling vocals. Emerging in the mid-1990s, this style drew from the atmospheric and introspective qualities of Norwegian black metal, integrating elements of classical music and gothic rock to create a dramatic, cinematic sound. At its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, symphonic black metal became a staple of the extreme metal scene, captivating audiences with its bombastic, atmospheric soundscapes and themes of darkness, mysticism, and romanticism. While drawing from the same dark, introspective wellspring as traditional black metal, symphonic black metal's incorporation of classical and gothic elements sets it apart, creating a unique, theatrical experience that blends the raw intensity of extreme metal with the majesty of classical music.

High Plains Bloodlust

Waxen

Ep - 6 Tracks - Released May 23, 2025