2nd Wave BM from Sweden this time.

1. Marduk were the foremost Swedish BM band alongside Bathory. Their first record was pure evil Death, their third was already with the Black sound of the time, so this their second was a perfect transitional moment. Unlike the Norwegians, they did not defect from and start hating Death Metal, and were in turn hated for a while by the new black metallers for daring to go on tour with DM bands. The sinners.

2. Throne of Ahaz were short lived with two albums only, but interesting ones they  were. The second more melodic and in line with many other 90s acts, but the first was both primitive and crisp OGBM – something very rare in 1993.

3. Dark Funeral’s first EP was the first output of Magus Caligula after leaving Hypocrisy due to a busted eardrum. Alongside Marduk is still the best known Swedish BM band, but this is probably their best.

4. Lord Belial, the flute masters, later became more evil, modern and melodic, but were really at their most interesting on their early pink love ode to goats.

5. Nifelheim had the other 80s sounding 90s record alongside the first Throne of Ahaz, with both bands using the same name Nifelheim on their debuts – as if a source of common energy. The self-titlted maybe one of the most respected for keeping it oldschool.

6. Dissection, nothing more can be said about them. They were always more melodic Death than any kind of Black – but on the rough version of their second album definitely had influences from the darker sibling.

7. Mörk Gryning didn’t invent much new, but were in the right place at the right time. Later did a killer blackened cover version of At the Gates’ “Neverwhere.”

8. Naglfar went full on melodic and were easily ahead of their time with a style that is still in season today.

9. Dawn could have been melodic Death or melodic Black, no one is really sure. So they did the first style on their first and second (last) records, and the latter on their EP inbetween. Their singer had already done vocals for the first In Flames EP.

10. Allegiance sound ferocious and innovative even nowadays, starting a new journey with each track. This is probably the most Black Metal sounding one from their first outing.

11/12. Sorhin and Necromicon would have to be lesser known go us outsiders, but their sounds definitely fit the time and feel.