Hello and welcome! If you're reading this, you are probably new here and might be a bit overwhelmed with all of the great music out there.
Blackgaze has a lot of variety within the genre and the Wiki has some pages that go into deeper breakdowns. But for now, this post will serve as a mini beginner guide to some of the most notable bands and artists of the subgenre.
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Alcest
One of the pioneers of the genre. Neige and Winterhalter have been members of several post-black metal bands, but Alcest is the only one still active. Heavily inspired by nature and spirituality, their dreamy melodies feel like sunbeams on your skin. Every album is great in it's own regard. Take time to explore them all.
My favorite: Kodama
Lantlôs
Another one of Neige's projects. Compared to Alcest, Lantlôs' first 2 albums have a much darker tone that beautifully flirts with post-rock and jazz. After Neige's departure, Siegenhort has since taken the reins. Their style and sound has shifted, but the band's progressive nature and creativity still remains.
My favorite: .neon
Deafheaven
Maybe one of the most polarizing metal bands in existence. They're considered to be the band that popularized blackgaze via Sunbather. Gut-wrenching howls over wailing guitar riffs that morph into soft, melodic ballads all over the course of one song. Though their sound has softened over the years, they continue to capture audiences with their live theatrics and emotive lyrics.
My favorite: New Bermuda
Sadness
A one-man project that has recently boomed in popularity, rightfully so. With a huge discography and tons of splits, there's so much to dig through. Through the shrieks and droning walls of sound, the pain and longing is tangible. This is DSBM for those with hope and love in their hearts. Best known for the album "I Want To Be There".
My favorite: _____
MØL
Often recommended to those that like Deafheaven, but they should not be considered merely an imitator. Explosive and guitar-forward with powerful, reptilian vocals, their music is dynamic and never boring. They also offer instrumental versions of their albums for a totally different experience.
My favorite: Diorama
An Autumn for Crippled Children
Now referred to as "An Autumn", they've been in the game for a while and are a unique pillar of the scene. Post-punk meets post-black metal with prominent synth; a goth's dream. Able to maintain structure despite their raw, noisy quality and unintelligible vocals.
My favorite: Try Not to Destroy Everything You Love
Asunojokei 明日の叙景
I consider this to be one of the most talented and interesting bands out there right now. A very flexible band, their first EP is more akin to DSBM while their newest album is upbeat, vibrant, and even danceable. Incredibly emotive and strong melodies carry you through like a proggy, metallic Envy.
My favorite: Island
Numenorean
Controversial and now defunct, they still remain a name in the genre. Blackgaze, but heavy on the black. Atmospheric and full of despair. They don't necessarily provide anything ground-breaking, but they're solid and visceral. Their latest release made an attempt to diversify this sound and has been described as "Gojira, but black metal".
My favorite: Adore
Unreqvited
Another selection with a ton of sonic variety, Unreqvited is a one-man project. From dreary DSBM, to ambient with nature sounds, to symphonic black metal, there's something for everyone. Pained shrieks take a backseat to beautiful soundscapes. They've also done splits with others on this list.
My favorite: Disquiet
Show Me a Dinosaur
St.Petersberg has a notable post-black metal scene and SMAD is one of the more well-known acts. Could be considered a "post-everything" band with all of the influences they incorporate. Soft, lush guitar tones gradually crescendo into hard-hitting blasts and fast tremolo-picking.
Hey folks, Gabriel from TRYSTE here again, some of you may remember me from our album release about a year ago. Just wanted to share with you that now that the project became a proper 5-piece band to play live, we finally made physical copies of the album and some merch, and I fulfilled an old dream of making pink band T-shirts in addition to good ol’ black 😁 honest opinion, what do you guys think? Would you wear it? We only made a limited edition of 20 to sell at gigs for now, but if they do well we make do more to sell on Bandcamp. The art is adapted from our album cover (the colour there is more coral than pink but we didn’t find that specific colour for tees, they were too orange). Any feedback is appreciated thanks!
34 songs clocking at almost 4 hours. Tried having a good mix of ethereal/dreamy and heavy post-black. The track order was randomized, but I'll eventually re-order it by hand so the tracks flow better.
I'll probably remove a few long songs along the way and maybe add some doomgaze tracks (Blackwater Holylight, Faetooth...) And yes, it needs some Sadness for sure.
I called my station Nocturne FM for now but I'm open for suggestions. 😄
we are a very small blackgaze band named Withuur and we released our new single off of our upcoming album. I would appreciate it if you guys could check it out and give me some feedback 🖤
The single «Eyes That Have but Do Not See» explores a child’s abandonment by parents who fail to see them as an individual or recognize their struggles. This track will be part of the upcoming album Matricaria.
I'd like to introduce MERGE, an international Blackgaze / Post-black metal project bringing together musicians from Spain, Germany, and the US.
Today we're sharing "Home", accompanied by an official lyric visualizer. It's the first track we're unveiling ahead of our debut EP, DAWN, which will be released on November 1, 2026.
Our sound draws inspiration from bands like Deafheaven, MØL, and Show Me a Dinosaur, combining atmospheric passages, melodic intensity, and heavier post-black metal elements.
DAWN is the first glimpse into our upcoming 10 track full-length album, Where It Blooms, planned for spring 2027. The EP introduces the atmosphere and themes of a larger work that will unfold with the album.
We're excited to finally start sharing this project beyond our own circle!
