Black Metal

[Iced Guardian]

I really like what's happening in the US black metal scene (and spilling into parts of my country Canada). That "Cascadian Black Metal" pioneered by bands like Panopticon (another favourite from 2015), Agalloch and Wolves In The Throne Room (plus non US bands like Fen Drudkh etc.). 

A lot of new(ish) bands are being influenced by that sound and making some great stuff. Bands like:
Alda 
Woman Is The Earth
Skagos (from Canada)

Skagos is pretty cool, and Agalloch, though something I wouldn't define solely as black metal, is probably one of my top 5 bands. The problem with Cascadian/post-black metal to me is that it tends stumble on its own atmosphere and build-ups. At some point the songs cease to be songs and they just end up floating in air aimlessly. I like well crafted build-ups and atmospheres, but I like riffs, too. Luckily, there's a lot of bands who execute the atmospheric approach really well, like aforementioned Drudkh. I also just have to throw Gris into this conversation. Beautiful music and skilled musicians. Think of Godspeed You! Black Emperor playing black metal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWUr3JWi9ZM

I think that's a very fair point on the post black metal / whatever we want to call it genre. A lot of that style, and a lot of post rock, can easily get lost in the build but not actually build to anything. It's far too easy to do that. But when it's done well, it's pretty spectacular.

And I really like Gris too. "A L'Âme Enflammée, L'Âme Constellée" is a great album. Really takes me on a journey.

Oh I hear ya. I'm always hesitant to share too much because it becomes overwhelming, but I just can't stop!

Every time I go into a thread like this I get lost in black holes of bands. Looking them up on Metal-Archives then seeing "similar artists" and related music in YouTube. 

It's never ending. But so amazing.

Haha, totally! It's a never-ending cycle! But on the other hand, I simply love finding new bands and stuff to listen to. I just can't understand people who are like "I haven't listened to anything new since year X". I couldn't live without new music.

You're totally right. I can never understand when people say "there's no good new music" or "I have trouble finding good new music". Find some labels you like and explore their catalogue. Or, find some YouTube channels you like (I like Lightfox177, Atmospheric Black Metal Albums and Black Metal Promotions) and see what they're sharing.