Where black metal's fury meets atmospheric beauty. 140–202 BPM.
Post Black Metal is a subgenre that evolved from black metal in the early 1990s, incorporating elements of post-rock, shoegaze, and ambient music. It retains the shrieked vocals and blast beats but adds melodic guitar work, dynamic shifts, and a more introspective atmosphere. Bands like Alcest and Deafheaven pioneered the style.
The defining artists of Post-black Metal — the names that shaped the sound. Tap to hear on Spotify.
The classic anthems and current essentials that define Post-black Metal.
Post Black Metal is characterized by dynamic contrasts: blistering blast beats and shrieked vocals give way to clean, reverb-drenched guitar arpeggios and whispered singing. The rhythm section often alternates between frantic double bass and slow, pounding grooves. Guitars use heavy distortion for aggressive sections and chorus or delay for ethereal passages.
Typical BPM ranges from 140 to 202, with songs often building from quiet intros to explosive climaxes. The production is usually cleaner than traditional black metal, allowing the melodic elements to shine. Drum patterns incorporate blast beats, but also use half-time grooves and cymbal washes to create atmosphere.
Post Black Metal emerged in the early 1990s, primarily in Norway and France, as a reaction to the rigid confines of traditional black metal. Bands like Ved Buens Ende and later Alcest began incorporating softer, more melodic passages, drawing from post-rock and shoegaze.
By the 2000s, the genre crystallized with albums like Alcest's "Souvenirs d'un autre monde" (2007) and Deafheaven's "Sunbather" (2013), which brought the style to wider audiences. These works emphasized contrast between harsh and beautiful, often using clean vocals and layered guitar textures.
Culturally, Post Black Metal reflects a shift towards emotional vulnerability and artistic exploration within extreme metal. It has been embraced by fans of both metal and indie rock, fostering cross-genre appreciation and inspiring a wave of atmospheric black metal acts.
How Post-black Metal is built — drum pattern, swing, and the sounds you need.
When producing Post Black Metal, focus on creating a wide dynamic range. Use compression sparingly to preserve the contrast between quiet and loud sections. For drums, layer a tight, punchy kick with a more ambient room mic for the blast beats. Snare should crack but not overpower the mix.
Guitar tones: use a high-gain amp for distorted parts, but roll off gain for cleaner sections. Add reverb and delay to create a sense of space. Vocals can be layered: one dry track for aggression, one heavily reverbed for ethereal parts. Consider using orchestral samples or synth pads to enhance atmosphere, but keep them subtle.
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