12 YouTube Channels Black Metal Fans Should Check Out
There are scores of awesome YouTube channels out there posting some great content about pretty much anything you can imagine. And while other metal subgenres like thrash, metalcore, djent, and the like have their spot on the platform, so too does glorious black metal. As such, we’ve got a list of channels that enrich us as worshippers of the black metallic arts.
Of course, we all already know entities like Black Metal Promotion, but we’re going deeper into the abyss. And while the title “Black Metal YouTuber” may seem like a contradiction of sorts, BorisT., a.k.a. Boris Behara, for example, has earned 84K subscribers for his videos. Finland’s Rauta has also built up a substantial fanbase.
Obviously, the revered Peaceville Records uploads music by outstanding bands like RUÏM. The channel dubbed Cosmic Hammer also posts material by a variety of great acts from Beherit to Kwade Droes. Furthermore, the Norwegian metal archivist Andre Nautøy shares many fascinating recordings that should interest those willing to dig deep into the genre’s history.
Without further ado, we present our list of channels that black metal fans need to follow. In fact, black metal is pretty much the only justifiable reason, besides Seigmen, that I can find for using YouTube. Hopefully, many of our readers will agree.
Vemodsorkestern
Vemodsorkestern is Kim Carlsson‘s YouTube page. Having co-founded the tragically disbanded Lifelover in 2005, Carlsson’s other magnificent projects include Hypothermia, Kall, A Symphony to the Void, Consider Suicide, Life Is Pain, Horns Emerging, Ritualmord, etc.
Carlsson has served as an extremely influential pioneer and muse. Like a certain gentleman featured in our pick directly below, Kim Carlsson is an unsurpassed vocalist and composer; he achieves a level of authenticity that is almost wholly without parallel. In a conversation that Carlsson has uploaded, the visionary rightly stated:
“… the things that I have created or that have been created through me… [and] the albums that I have composed that are not recorded yet but will be are so powerful and have so much potential to alter people’s minds and moods and many other things that… in the future you, you will regard it as classical music because that’s how I see black metal and different minimalistic, individualistic forms of music…”
On his channel, Kim gives phenomenal talks and Q&As on a wide range of topics, such as his bands, stunning visual art, and so forth. Carlsson’s videos are honest, insightful, and reflect his massive intellect. You could easily get absorbed in his content for hours. Stay tuned for updates as well as new ritualistic and spiritual musical offerings.
TheSinisterInitiative666
In my humble opinion, The Sinister Initiative is not only the best black metal label, but it is also the label whose roster contains the greatest amount of genius. Shining’s self-titled eleventh masterpiece unleashed its superhuman brilliance on September 15 via TSI. Shining is so disastrously perfect that it has already caused me a massive amount of acute pain, awakening blissful memories of necrosis, open veins, and white powder; I literally tremble like Gilles de Rais before the bleeding flesh of a young victim when listening to the divine voice of Sir Niklas Kvarforth, the drums of the famed Nicholas Barker, the synths of Cold Prophet’s Tuomas Tahvanainen, the guitar sorcery of Peter Huss and Mayhem’s Ghul, the guest solos of King Diamond’s Andy La Rocque, and the flawless bass. Remarkably, Kvarforth pretty much composed the entire album himself. Indeed, Shining’s Halmstad (2007) is recognized as one of the greatest BM albums of all time, and I firmly believe the same respect is owed to Shining and the band’s other releases as well.
In addition to Shining, TSI also currently boasts Høstsol and Cold Prophet — two of our other top-recommended outfits. TSI is operated by Kvarforth himself, Tahvanainen, and Missy Hedning — a gorgeous and incredibly cool business guru, creative wizardess, and music-video vixen.
Finn Håkon Rødland
Finn Håkon Rødland is our favorite black metal author, archivist, and curator. This distinguished authority on True Norwegian Black Metal has amazed us with epic books that accompany his monumental Mayhem box sets. Rødland has garnered recognition from outlets like Aftenposten, a leading Norwegian paper, for painstakingly assembling what is referred to as the biggest black metal collection in the world among an endless catalogue of other achievements. During this year’s edition of Beyond the Gates, Rødland’s Dimmu Borgir exhibition, tour of Fantoft Stave Church, and more proved hits with the media. Rødland is always offering his knowledge and resources to the scene, whether for the widely viewed documentary Helvete or the extreme metal exhibition that visited Berlin this year — Der Harte Norden.
Rødland never fails to snap breathtaking photos, countless of which have been used by the press, at black metal’s most important events. His videos are equally superb. His documentation helped us report on the Morbid reunion show that was held earlier this year in Sweden. We hope that he’ll record Morbid’s next gig in Oslo. On Rødland’s YouTube channel, you can find exceptional content related to bands like Mayhem, of course; Slagmaur; Dødheimsgard; even Kiss.
Maxime Taccardi
Musician, painter, sculptor, teacher, photographer, and filmmaker Maxime André Taccardi is responsible for much of the most innovative black metal around. Taccardi often blends styles, but, more importantly, he constantly leaps beyond the limits imposed by genres, much like some of the other greats on our list. Taccardi’s main band is K.F.R. His other ingenious projects include Kyūketsuki, Osculum Serpentis, Griiim, Saturnian Tempel, Djinn, Lamentum, Necröse, De Vermiis Mysteriis, ∇, and Mentïs Morbüm. He also fronts Bubonic Christians. In the past, Taccardi had an outfit called Tmina.
Taccardi’s original YouTube channel was unjustly deleted, but we are enjoying his new one. An exciting update is that Taccardi recently remastered K.F.R’s Hypnotic Black Metal and Ad Manifestationem Diaboli, both originally released in 2018. We can’t wait to hear Taccardi’s contributions to Suicide Circle’s next album, Bukkake of Souls, which is set to drop on December 29. Suicide Circle is the project of Meyhnach of Mütiilation fame. Meyhnach has repeatedly collaborated with Taccardi, including on Kyūketsuki’s forthcoming album, In Hell I Shall Be King. Watch out for its premiere: we can already attest that it’s an outstanding offering. In the meantime, you can enjoy the latest killer EP by Taccardi’s wife, who goes by the pseudonym Kristyn Strange, here.
Mork
On Mork’s channel, you can enjoy live videos, studio recordings, and The Thomas Eriksen Podcast. Not only do I consider The Thomas Eriksen Podcast to be the greatest black metal podcast, but Eriksen’s interviews are among the most informative I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. Yes, Mork’s mastermind has recorded fantastic episodes with the one and only Gaahl, ex-Ulver’s Haavard, ex-Mayhem’s Billy Messiah, ex-Mayhem’s Manheim, Darkthrone’s Nocturno Culto, Darkthrone’s Fenriz, Cadaver’s Anders Odden, Tulus’ Sarke, Tsjuder‘s Nag, Thorns’ Snorre Ruch and former members, etc. Although Eriksen hasn’t been focusing on his podcast these days due to the demands of his musical career, he has expressed his desire to interview Niklas Kvarforth. We really hope that this happens.
Snorres School Of Desktop Satanism
Welcome to “Snorre Ruch Music School for Trolls.” Yes, Thorns’ fabled Snorre Ruch made the totally unexpected decision to start a YouTube channel last year. In the description, Ruch writes: “I am here to share some of the ideas I have in regards to creating interesting music.” Rejoice and enjoy his music tips.
Slagmaur
Snorre Ruch’s accomplices Slagmaur announced major news this September via Instagram: “Slagmaur is looking forward to taking over England’s cold shores next weekend before the band will complete the vocals on the new Thorns album and their own.” Of course, Slagmaur’s YouTube channel is equally worth following. Slagmaur counts icons like Mayhem’s Hellhammer and ex-Mayhem’s Maniac among their fans. The band has been said to have some of the genre’s best albums, imagery, costumes, and stage shows. This is because Slagmaur’s founder, General Gribbsphiiser, is an outstanding photographer and filmmaker.
Terratur Possessions
The Trondheim-based record label Terratur Possessions has been delivering a good portion of the highest quality black metal since 2007. Terratur’s channel showcases music by Manii; One Tail, One Head; Knokkelklang; Whoredom Rife; Jammerskrik; Syning; Mare; Sarath; Misotheist; Askeregn; Enevelde; Theriomorph; Darvaza; Syn; etc. This is truly too much greatness for mere mortals to handle.
Patricia Thomas
The now semi-retired Patricia Thomas is one of extreme metal’s coolest managers. She has joined forces with many of black metal’s top bands: the mind-blowingly awesome Skitliv, Carpathian Forest, Shining, Slagmaur, Ragnarok, etc. Thus, her channel is a place of musical excellence, where you can find much of the wildest and even sexiest black metal.
Teloch
Mayhem is currently blessed with two rock star guitarists, Ghul and Teloch. Why wouldn’t you follow one of the most talented and funniest figures in metal?! Teloch is known for his live streams that prove that he is a man of many words. However, his music with Mayhem, Nidingr, Bergeton, Umoral, and beyond certainly speaks for itself.
NargarothChannel
The legendary Nargaroth is obviously one of the genre’s most important voices. The band’s wholesome German-born mastermind, René “Ash” Wagner, who currently resides in America, truly embodies the warrior spirit. Fortunately, in 2022, Ash announced that Nargaroth had inked a deal with Season of Mist. We can’t wait to hear Nargaroth’s next masterpiece.
Heartagram
Earlier this year, ex-HIM’s Ville Valo, a man of lethal beauty, spoke to us about his appreciation of black metal. We brought up the topic because this Love Metal pioneer is actually more black metal than 99.9% of all BM artists. On this site, we’ve already described Mr. Valo’s work as a gateway drug to artists like Lifelover and Shining. Interestingly, Sir Niklas Kvarforth wore a Heartagram T-shirt as a nod to HIM while making a guest appearance in the music video for Benighted’s “Spit.” No, Benighted is no longer a black metal band, but, again, Niklas Kvarforth is certainly at the top of the BM hierarchy. To be clear, the Heartagram channel features Valo’s solo material under the VV banner.
