bmurator UK Symphonic / Epic Black Metal. A golden oldie! This is both brutal & beautiful with techincal skills that are ootw good! I had heard of them but had never had the chance to listen carefully & now I do... :) These guys have only been turning out album after album that are milestones & this one could easily have come out in the last few years instead of close to 30! I *need* to explore their discography for more gems & as they are still around would dearly love a new album! Highly recommended!!!

RidgeForest The legendary debut album of mighty Bal-Sagoth. More black metal sounding than their later works but already showing all kind of adventurous elements varying from doom/death to the symphonic epic metal that would become their main thing. Favorite track: Into the Silent Chambers of the Sapphirean Throne (Sagas from the Antediluvian Scrolls).

Wilson Bilkovich This is where it all started. More guitar-heavy than their later works, this is full of things to love. The Ophidian Throne once again draws power from the moon-shrouded crystal. Favorite track: A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria.

Ippocalyptica Almost every black metal fan is intimately familiar with Emperor’s discography, but I bet most are like me in that they only own physical versions of the albums because of how long ago they were released. Well, there is nothing like an upcoming concert to motivate one to purchase the digital versions, and while IX Equilibrium might be their “weakest” effort, that is like saying The Hobbit is the weakest of Tolkien’s four main novels: every entry is still peak material. This one needs more love. Favorite track: Decrystallizing Reason.

Murphrygian Controlled chaos with haunting melodies throughout.

As a fan of chaotic, technical, brutal Death Metal, IX hits the spot! Why? Because IX has less Black Metal influence than their previous work and is more "riff based." This is a transitional record, one that showed the different directions the two songwriters were heading (which would ultimately split up the band). However, this highly technical Brutal, Blackened Death Metal assault is just SO damn good! Listen, purchase, support! Favorite track: The Source of Icon E.

Obsidian One I never connected with this album the same way I did with Anthems to the Welkin or In the Nightside Eclipse, but there is one particular passage — roughly one minute long — that makes this a must-have album for me: the track Decrystallizing Reason, starting just after 2:00. I have listened and re-listened to this countless times, and it never gets old. For me, it's one of the genre's most unforgettable moments.
Favorite lyric: "As the stone you have become." Favorite track: Decrystallizing Reason.

lncitatus Unconventional, amazing Black Metal. The solos are the cherry on top. Favorite track: To Thou Who Dwellest in the Night.

... Second favorite track "Fall of Man". Favorite track: Du Nordavind.

DameFantome Integral avant-garde metal, like a cosmic circus doomed to recur. Favorite track: Star Crossed.

Archmage Orladin Legendary album. I used to obsessively listen to this album while playing EverQuest, back in the days when I could afford to be unserious and concerned with mere pleasure. I consider this to be just as good as "La Masquerade...". Star Crossed and Kinetic are two songs I want on my eternity playlist (selection of music you have in a hypothetical eternal afterlife). Its only flaw is that the production is flat and compressed. Favorite track: Star Crossed.

vecxio One of the very best metal albums ever released in the history of mankind. Period.

Archmage Orladin An album that was well worth the wait. This album is so close to being decidedly better than Sideshow Symphonies, but to me Archer and Bane are weak tracks (comparatively speaking) that could easily be cut. The rest of the album is phenomenal though, and this is essential listening. Favorite track: Game Over.

Sven This album is on rotation since it came out. It is the pinnacle of Arcturus in my opinion, because for me it has the perfect balance between catchy and quirky, harsh and soft. This might be my favorite album of all time. If I had to choose one album to listen to the rest of my life, this is a very strong candidate. Favorite track: Pale.

berkanathoresen After Following Arcturus for many years, this album feels like a perfect mix of the old Black Metal days with the later Avant Garde work, specially with more of the Grim vocals. Favorite track: Crashland.