Black metal has seen no sign of slowing down in recent years. From its raw, gnarled Scandinavian inception to its more majestic and atmospheric contemporary counterparts, it’s grown tenfold into a worldwide movement riddled with complex subgenres and various approaches. With a worldwide audience hungry for making these distinctions between bands, how hard is it today to truly stand out from the crowd? Within black metal, there have been various artists which have created such an impact to make their own tour de force within the genre. Enter the likes of Xasthur, with Scott Conner’s hopelessness permeating through each wail and riff, bringing on a new wave of emotional onslaught to the genre. Contrastingly, the expansive and fantastical sounds of the likes of Eldamar and Germ bring a playfu...