Hades - Alone Walkyng (1993)

Mesmerizing first demo by Norwegian black/viking metal greats Hades, aka Hades Almighty. Slow, sorrowful epics with the warm, ever-so-slightly raw sound of a demo, and the kind of compositional and technical strength that usually takes years to synthesize as a band. One of Quorthon's best pupils.

Track listing:

1. Unholy Congregation

2. Hecate (Queen of Hades)

3. Alone Walkyng

Thirsty for blood and terror of mortals

Similar listening:

Barathrum - Infernal (1996)

Mordaehoth – Bloedwraak - Verdoem Al 't Christelijk Leven (2003)

Barathrum - Infernal (1996)

Glorious Finnish black metal. Heavy, war-like, first-wave style blasphemy with some slower, ritualistic elements that recall doom and viking metal.

Track listing:
1. The Night of the Demon Lord
2. The Blasphemer
3. Warmetal
4. Deliver a Battle
5. Death Is Saviour
6. Leaving the World of Mortals
7. Deadmarch
8. Ethereal Guest
9. Immortal Warrior
10. Demon Est Deus Inversus
11. Infernal

His breath will sear your back like winds from hell

You should also hear:

Wind of the Black Mountains -
Sing Thou Unholy Servants (1996)

Mordaehoth - Bloedwraak - Verdoem
Al 't Christelijk Leven (2003)

Mordaehoth – Bloedwraak - Verdoem Al 't Christelijk Leven (2003)

Dutch lo-fi, viking-infused black metal. Fuzzed-out guitars, vicious screams, and epic, multi-tracked singing, held together by warm, blown-out analogue production.

Track listing:
1. Oskorei
2. Walburga's Nacht
3. Verdoem Al 't Christelijk Leven
4. Laatste Dagen Van Een Oud Pantheon
5. Wodans Zonen
6. Liederen Van Het Onterfde Land

Riding on the wings of the wind
Towards the spectral blaze ahead

More along these lines:

Countess -
The Shining Swords of Hate (2000)

Spitehowling -
Born to Die for Evil (2002)

Scald - Will of Gods Is a Great Power (1997)

A true should-be classic of Russian epic doom with viking elements. Passionate, versatile vocals -- this guy hits some serious high notes, and he hits 'em hard -- masterfully paced songwriting, A+ guitar solos, and pretty much anything else you could want from an epic doom record. Sadly, Will of Gods Is a Great Power is the only album Scald recorded before the death of their phenomenally talented vocalist, Maxim Andrianov. A must for any fan of 'traditional' doom or viking metal.

Track listing:
1. Night Sky
2. Sepulchral Bonfire
3. A Tumulus
4. In the Open Sea
5. Eternal Stone
6. Ragnaradi Eve
7. Bilrost
8. Sepulchral Bonfire (Version '94)

Waves will kill your fire
Sea will kill the gods

You'd probably also like:

While Heaven Wept -
Sorrow of the Angels (1997)

Ereb Altor -
By Honour (2008)

Draugnim - Northwind's Ire (2008)

Finnish blackened viking metal. Mid-paced, melodic, and epic, with a lush, orchestral backbone.

Track listing:
1. Moonpath
2. Craionhorn
3. Feast of the Fallen
4. Towards the Dusk
5. Will Dawn Rise Again
6. Sworn to Waves
7. Archein

In salty grave I shall be reborn

You'll also like:

Kermania -
Kehre Heim... (2014)

Ancestors Blood -
Hyperboria (2016)

Himinbjorg - Where Ravens Fly (1998)

Epic, war-ready French black metal with Viking metal overtones and raw but crisp production. I was planning on doing something special for the 300th black metal post on here (read 'em and weep) but my ideas never fully congealed, so here it is: just another rad-as-fuck black metal record.

Track listing:
1. Lightning of Blood
2. Conqueror
3. In the Haze of the Summer Solstice's Fires
4. Journey Through the Nine Worlds
5. Nidhöggr
6. Where Ravens Fly

Wounds will soon smoke in the freezing dawn

If you like this, try:

Helheim -
Jormundgand (1995)

Árstíðir lífsins -
Jǫtunheima dolgferð (2010)

Helheim - Jormundgand (1995)

Epic, raging Norwegian black metal with some viking elements -- a folky melody here, some clean vocals there, a touch of that "boing" instrument. While the vocals are pretty varied, there's a lot of this very high-pitched shriek that is either a bit silly or intensely lupine (or both) depending on your tastes. Jormundgand is Helheim's first and most straightforward record; they got increasingly viking-y and experimental from here.

Track listing:
1. Jormundgand
2. Vigrids Vård
3. Nidr ok Nordr liggr Helvegr
4. Gravlagt i Eljudne
5. Svart visdom
6. Jotnevandring
7. Nattravnens tokt
8. Galder

Altered through ages, constant in time

More Norwegian black metal:

Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996)

Odium - The Sad Realm of the Stars (1998)

Ereb Altor - By Honour (2008)

Ereb Altor often gets talked about as the side project of Swedish Candlemass worshippers Isole. But this isn't really the case as far as I'm concerned; not only does Ereb Altor's first demo predate Isole's by two years, but they're also just as great.

Though they're unquestionably playing within the confines of viking metal -- the amusingly named "Winter Wonderland" would have sounded right at home on Hammerheart or Twilight of the Gods-- their doom metal chops are evident at certain points throughout the album, such as the title track's jaw-dropping midsection and funereal album-closing instrumental "Ereb Altor". This helps to minimize the cheese factor, and makes for a more evil, mournful, and organic sound than that of a typical viking metal record.

Track listing:
1. Perennial
2. Awakening
3. By Honour
4. Winter Wonderland
5. Dark Nymph
6. Wizard
7. Ereb Altor

Trembling I grasp my sword
Pulsating blood in my veins
This is the day of days