Since this list is about Norwegian bands, black metal is going to dominate the list. However, there are a few bands from Norway in other genres that have released great albums over the years. These lists of the best metal bands from a particular country draw a lot of interest, email and message board posts. Most of them are how much of a moron I am for picking this band or omitting that band, but it least it gets a good debate going. Nonetheless, it's a fun exercise to try to take bands from different genres and eras and rank them. Here my choices for the best Norwegian metal bands.
11. Ulver
Ulver mastermind Garm is a gifted and unusual artist. He has been in two other bands on this list (Arcturus and Borknagar), and you never know what you're going to get with an Ulver album. After a traditional raw, old school black metal debut with some acoustic passages, their second was a mostly acoustic folk influenced album, followed by a return to a rawer sound. Since then, Ulver has drifted away from black metal and heavy metal in general toward more of an electronic, ambient, avant-garde and experimental sound. Even though calling them metal today may be a stretch, Ulver still deserves a place on this list.Recommended Album: Bergtatt (1994)
12. Limbonic Art
After starting as a more traditional quartet, by the time they recorded their debut Limbonic Art was a duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Daemon and keyboardist/guitarist Morpheus. Their style of symphonic black metal had complex arrangements and a lot of depth and texture. After disbanding in 2003, Limbonic Art reunited on June 6, 2006 (6/6/06) and began recording new material.Recommended Album: Moon In The Scorpio (1996)
13. Arcturus
Originally called Mortem, in 1990 they changed their name to Arcturus. They are another band who have had an all star lineup of musicians over the years including vocalists Garm (Borknagar, Ulver) and ICS Vortex (Dimmu Borgir), guitarist Samoth (Emperor) and drummer Hellhammer (Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir). Arcturus started as a symphonic black metal band, but their music has became much more avant garde over time, incorporating elements of electronica, pop, trip-hop and metal. They announced the band was breaking up in early 2007.Recommended Album: La Masquerade Infernale (1997)
14. Ragnarok
Ragnarok are a stereotypical Norwegian black metal band with the corpsepaint and evil lyrics, but their music is anything but standard. It's raw and feral with grim guitars and shrill keyboards, but you'll also hear some Viking influences, especially in their early work. And even though the genre is more about atmosphere than playing ability, Ragnarok's musicianship is surprisingly good.Recommended Album: Arising Realm (1997)
15. Green Carnation
Green Carnation originally formed back in 1990, but disbanded after recording a demo because Tchort joined Emperor. Other members formed In The Woods. The band reformed in 1998 and released their debut in 2000. Green Carnation's musical style is hard to pigeonhole. They incorporate elements of doom, black metal, psychedelic and goth into a diverse and sometimes experimental style.Recommended Album: Light Of Day, Dark Of Darkness (2001)
16. Dodheimsgard
Dodheimsgard, also known as DHG, were formed in 1994 and have only released four full-length CDs so far. After starting out as a fairly standard black metal band, their sound evolved into a more avant-garde and experimental style incorporating more electronica. The band broke up in the late '90s, but recently reformed with only one original member, Vicotnik.Recommended Album: Kronet Til Konge (1995)
17. Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child was started in 1989 by Thomas Rune Andersen, also known as Galder. The band mixes black metal with death and thrash. Even though Galder joined Dimmu Borgir as their guitarist in 2001, he continues Old Man's Child as a secondary project.Recommended Album: Born Of The Flickering (1995)
18. Gehenna
Gehenna started as a melodic black metal band, and then evolved into a more aggressive black metal band before morphing into more of a death metal band. Then in 2005 they started returning more toward their black metal roots with WW. It was a welcome return to form.Recommended Album: Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (1995)
19. Mortiis
Mortiis was the original bassist for Emperor and appeared with them only on a single, split and demo before departing for a solo career in 1993. He's released some eclectic albums over the years, and went away from black metal towards ambient and industrial music. Even though his music is mostly electronica, there is still a dark vibe and traces of his black metal past.Recommended Album: Ĺnden Som Gjorde Opprřr (1994)
20. Tristania
Tristania are a gothic metal band who got their start in 1997. Their music is grand and symphonic with a lot of orchestral elements, but still retains its metal core. The band's three vocal attack adds even more diversity with harsh male vocals, clean male vocals and melodic female vocals.Recommended Album: Beyond The Veil (1999)
