i think the best thing a band can achieve is to create an album with atmopshere. that is, an album with a very strong uniquie identity, something that is so well peaced together (from artwork, to production, to songs, to concetps). this is the highest form of music creation in my opinion. making a cd that can take the listener into a different time or place just through suggestion of cover art or lyrical themes is a great thing

think hard before suggesting albums, dont just throw out albums with similar riffs or good production or just songs you like. yeah decapitated's nihilty is great but it doesn't really create a world through music


these are my favorites

the PERFECT example for this is moonsorrow - verisakeet. forest noises in between tracks, warm organic production, finnish vocals that really create an atmosphere (finnish is a very dipthong heavy language, lots of long and drawn out sounds)

finntroll-visor om slutet , just about the same thing. forest noises, production, great art

nile - any of their works, but i'd say black seeds of vengeance has the most atmosphere. (and sauron mediation or whatever)

devin townsend band - ocean machine

pestilence - spheres


lets hear some more suggestions...these are the best albums to fall asleep to.

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this thread just screams

opeth-morningrise
drudkh-autumn aurora (i can just imagine a forest engulfing me, however queer that sounds)
agalloch- the mantle.........thanks to my boy Kalmahswamp

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it isnt metal... but...

Mogwai - Happy Songs for Happy People

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cynic - focus

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focus sounds exactly like the venosa painting on the cover

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The Project Hate - Armageddon March Eternal

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December Wolves - Blasterpiece Theatre. More Atmoshpere than anything.

Grave Digger - Rheingold
Wizard - Odin

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Nevermore-This Godless Endeavor
Overkill-Necroshine
Danzig-II
Blind Guardian-A Night at the Opera
Flotsam and Jetsam-Dreams of Death

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Disembowlment - Transcend Into The Peripheral. Atmospheric as.
Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris
Gorguts - The Erosion of Sanity

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Vehemence - God Was Created.

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Isis - Oceanic
Nile - All
Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
Akercocke - Chronozon

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Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse

EDIT: Shit, just realised Mansley beat me to it... While im here ill say that Spawn of Possesions Cabinet is quite atmospheric. In my opinion anyway.

Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris.
Wormed - Planisphaerium.
Hate Eternal - Conquering the Throne.
Morbid Angel - Gateways to Annhialation/Formulas Fatal to the Flesh.
Karl Sanders - Saurian Meditation.
Behemoth - Thelema.6.

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both While Heaven Wept full lenghts.

Atheist- Unquestionable Presence

Best of them all, imo.

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Oh, and SunnO)))- Black One.

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GraveWorm-When Daylights gone
Opeth-Damnation

wormed! sounds like a big ass space worm just flopping around in space, really angry and unable to do anything about it but drool and snarl

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Ugh

I think Spheres is absolutely awful.

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Isis - Panopticon, Oceanic

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Oh, almost forgot!

Godspeed, You Black Emperor!- Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

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Today Is The Day - almost anything they've done. "In The Eyes Of God" stands out though.

To tell the truth, pretty much every album has a certain atmosphere. Usually (atleast from my point of view) the album is influenced by its coverart. For example: Katatonia's Tonight's Decision has always taken on a "blueish" connotation with me. Exceptions to this coverart phenomenon include:

Forest Stream- Tears of Mortal Solitude (I hate the coverart, but the album is so amazing and atmospheric, the album art is light and tannish, I get a very dark connotation from the music)

Frantic Bleep- The Sense Apparatus (the cover is gold and white, the music is much more dissonant and dark though)

Anathema- Alternative 4

i agree, that cover does not do the music justice. heres mine:

Darkside-cognitave dissonance. i swear youll think you are actually in space or at least playing Halo

Nazgul(Italy, not the other Nazgul(s?))-De expugnatione elfmuth. epic battle. Turisas is only 1/3 of the battle metal Nazgul is, im serious, and correct.

Mithotyn-In the sign of the ravens. nearly every song title matches the atmosphere of each song. Upon raging waves, Lost in the mist, In the forest of moonlight and Freezing storms of snow are the most accurate, IMO. hah, ive used the first three previous locations on here.

Mourn in silence-any. their name is PERFECT for thier guitar style. the extent to which these guys make the guitars sound mournful is really something, and they back it up with just the right synth.

Cadacross-so pale is the light. the album cover and title are perfect for this darkly atmosphered album. the guitar tone, keyboards, and vocals all contribute to the wonderful atmosphere of twilight and/or night.

Nile-black seeds of vengeance. we all know. though i dont get the same thing at all from their other albums.

these are the ones ive found most effective in relating either the album covers, song names and/or band names.

i would say amon amarth sets up a decent atmosphere. maybe not a "world" as some albums create but it does have a sonic "image" to me at least.

ulver - kvledssanger. sounds like youre sitting in a warm lodge somehwere in the hills of norway :P, its even got some wind sounds

gorguts - obscura

all about meditation and self discovery, definite atmosphere

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Saurian Meditation - Karl Sanders. There is your atmosphere.

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asunder,split with graves at sea. the cello, long intros, songs ranging in the 15-20 minute mark make this band truely great. this is a band that can play songs over 10 minutes and keep my interest

emporer the equilibrium album, most people hate it, i think the over the top classical theme,chanting and keyboard programed violin stuff is awesome. it borders on parodying itself and there are some killer riffs in there

dystopia human garbage, atmosphere of complete dread, very unsettling album

metallica-master of puppets, instrumental track orion. rest of the album good but not necessarily deep thruout. that one song tho..........

Wish you were here or off the wall.Any Pink Floyd album.

Uruk-Hai - A Night In The Forest
Saturnus - Paradise Belongs To You
Forest Stream - Tears of Mortal Solitude
Isis - Panopticon
Empyrium - Songs Of Moors & Misty Fields
Any Old Man Gloom album...

there are loads more, but those are a few off the top of my head.

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Cephalic Carnage - Lucid Interval

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Sacramentum - Far Away From the Sun - The most atmospheric album I've heard.The lyrics portray my exact feeling when I hear a song off here.Bloody-fucking-brilliant.

Burzum - Hvis Lysett Tar Oss - Mainly for "Det Som En Gang Var",but every song has its own idenity

Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse - Need I say more?

Dragonlord - Raptue and BWOD - Battles.Blood."Netherworld"(I swear he says that in like every song) and of course dragons.Yummy.

Dimmu Borgir - Stormblast - My favorite BM album.Very atmospheric

i dont think i forgot many that i wanted to put here, but if i did Stormblast is one.

what is Sacramentum like?
i like that dragonlord one too, but i dont get much atmosphere. what do you get from it?

EDIT: in fact i think everything so far would have been a lot more interesting if everyone would put what kind of atmosphere they get from it, and possibly why.

this is what i intended

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CLOUDEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHDDDD

That tapping wah-wah solo rules.

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My favourite song on the album!

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Manilla Road - Crystal Logic

Bathory - Hammerheart

The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Down Amongst The Deadmen and Traveller

Burzum - Det Som Engang Var

Graveland - Fire Chariot of Destruction

Queensryche - Operation:Mindcrime (Not the sequel! That shit sucked ass!)

darkspace -II -ambient black metal from switzerland
monolithe- II - doom from god knows where

both killer bands.

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necrophagist
awesome band

Haha, no. They're pretty good, but atmosphere? I don't think so.

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Robert Rich - Somnium (get it now...the soundtrack to sleep)
Robert Rich - Trances/Drones
Vidna Obmana - Spore

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X Japan - Art of Life. There is only one song on that album, but it's over 30 minutes long. The greatest metal song ever created.

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Orphaned Land - all

i will suggest any agalloch album, especially the new one, dont know if it is officially out or not, but i have it.
soom may disagree, but CoF's Cruelty and the Beast
if you dare venture beyond the realms of metal, the cure's Bloodflowers album creates an amazing atmosphere. if you need any albums, PM or IM me.

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any atmosphere album. that dude has got some tight beats

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Turisas - Battle Metal
Equilibrium - Turis Fratyr

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The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium

Oh hell yes.

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Morbid Angel - Gateways (AMAZING scifi atmopshere)
Hate Eternal - I, Monarch (for playing Starcraft with zerg)

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cynic,portal
pestilence-spheres
atheist

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gontyna kry- welowie
osculum inflame- any
nocternity-onyx (holy shit. i was blown away by the orgasmic awesomeness)

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Canvas Solaris

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Emperor - In the night side eclipse

Joe Satriani - Crystal Planet.
Its sorta space-like music when ever I hear some of the songs off that album.

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crystal planet is very cool indeed. for me nola has the thickest atmosphere ive ever heard. this record is unbelievable

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Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer

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Nice choices, minus Atheist. Not much atmosphere there.

I can't list any albums I can think of that haven't already been listed, but I'd gladly piss on your face.

Yes.

whatever album had grave dancer i think it was called, that was creepy. sounds of arguing from upstairs or something

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That's the one.

Woods of Ypres - The Pursuit of the Sun and the Allure Of
Agalloch : All their work

Just got Ulver's Perdition City and I'm so amazed. I can't breathe and I feel like I'm floating. This is just insane......

Off the top of my heady head head:

Isis - Panopticon, In the Absence of Truth
Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer
Aphex Twin - Drukqs
Ulver - Perdition City, Blood Inside
Bjork - Vespertine, Medulla
Radiohead - OK Computer, Kid A, Hail to the Thief
Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse, Anthems to the Wilken Dust
Kaki King - Legs To Make Us Longer
Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye
Vinterland - Welcome My Last Chapter
Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris
Scarve - Luminiferous
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of Natural History

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Immolation - Close to a World Below

i cant believe i never included summoning. one of the most atmospheric bands i know.

minas morgul has a very dark and mystical atmosphere. the correlation between the music, and album art is something Summoning are great at. this artwork being a fantasy tale town, in a dim lit mountain valley. its no wonder this album is very nice, at night.

stronghold is much more of the vast landscape atmosphere. again, great music/art correlation. while many of the moments are gloomy, overall its just epic. hearing this allows much to the imagination. its pretty nice to check out scenic photography, while listening!

thats pretty much all i wanted to say, although i love all the albums.

That sums up Summoning. Them and Agalloch are the ultimate bands to listen to while high.

Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times

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No way dude! It ruins the song imo.

Anthrax - Spreading the Disease, because it makes me feel like it's 1985

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haha

Any song I've heard of Windir has that 'cold misty-mountain' type of sound more than anyone, even Immortal.

Mastodon - Blood Mountain

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Portal-Seepia
Axis Of Perdition-Deleated Scenes From The Transition Hospital
Axis Of Perdition-Physical Illucinations in the Sewer of Xuchilbara (The Red God)
Autopsy-Mental Funeral
Abscess-Through The Cracks Of Death
Blut Aus Nord-Mort
Blut Aus Nord-The Work Which Transforms God
Boris-Amplifier Worship
Boris-Feedbacker
Boris-Flood
Candlemass-Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Carcass-Necroticism
Catacombs-In The Depths Of Rlyeh
Celtic Frost-Monotheist
Coffins-Mortuary In Darkness
Crypticus-Dedicated To The Impure
Dan Swano-Moontower
Danzig-4
Deceased-Fearless Undead Machines
Deceased-Supernatural Addiction
Deceased-As The Weird Travel On
Dissection-Somberlain
Entombed-Clandestine
Esoteric-Subconscious Dissolution Into The Contiuum
Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects-Sol Niger Within
Ghoul-Maniaxe
Ghoul-Splatterthrash
Godflesh-Streetcleaner
Gorguts-Obscura
Immolation-CLose To A World Below
Immotal Fate-Beautiful
Impaled-Death After Life
Impetigo-Horror Of The Zombies
King Crimson-In The Court Of The Crimson King
Lord Gore-The Autophagous Orgy
Lykathea Aflame-Elvenefris
Macabre-Dahmer
Machetazo-Sinfonias Del Terror Ciego
Mausoleum-Cadaveric Displays Of Ghoulish Ghastliness
Mayhem-De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Mr. Bungle-S/T
Mr. Bungle-Disco Volante
Mr. Bungle-California
My Dying Bride-As The Flower Withers
Necrophagia-The Divine Art Of Torture
Necrophagia-Black Blood Vomitorium
Necrophagia-Harvest Ritual Vol 1
Opeth-My Arms, Your Hearse
Pestilence-Testimony Of The Ancients
Phantasm-The Abominable
Pungent Stench-Been Caught Buttering
The Ravenous-Assembled In Blasphemy
Samhain-November Comming Fire
Sigh-Gallows Gallery
Sigh-Hangman's Hymn
Sigh-Imaginary Sonicscape
Sigh-Hail Horror Hail
Slayer-Hell Awaits
Sunn O)))-Black One
Sunn O))) and Boris-Alter
Type O Negative-Bloody Kisses
Type O Negative-Slow, Deep And Hard
Vader-Impressions In Blood
White Zombie-Astro-Creep: 2000
White Zombie-La Sexorcisto: Devil's Music Vol 1
Winter-Into Darkness/Eternal Frost
Wormphlegm-In an Excruciating Way Infested With Vermin and Violated by Executioners Who Practise Incendiarism and Desanctifying the Pious
Wormphlegm-Tomb Of The Ancient King
Xysma-Yeah
Xysma-First And Magical

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Blood From The Soul's To Spite The Gland That Breeds, Shane Embury is a genius.

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seepia rules, im yet to hear anything but two songs off outre but i want that too

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Deep Freize by Sleep Research Facility.

Great ambient album with the Antarctic as the concept. It actually feels like you're there in the tundra. It's good to know that Norwegian fools prancing round the forest with plastic weapons are not the only musicians to lay claim to the term "frostbitten".

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*Adds listening to Sleep Research Facility to my things to do list*

wow, this album is so good, half way through now.

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maybe if youd take "anal fisting" off the list, youd have more free time.

edit: since i have nothing new to post, i'll just laugh here, for PST's following post: haha.

...

Then there'd be nothing on the list. You couldn't even call it a list. It would defeat the point of having a list.

All of Shambless's work.

http://www.myspace.com/shambless

Agreed and most of Pink Floyd and Yes' 70s work

Evoken creates the most depressing atmosphere ever.

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Yes. 'Antithesis of Light' is amazing.

Nyktalgia's selftitled is the most depressing black metal album I've ever heard. I'll think of some more later, this thread has helped me find a lot of great albums.

the great southern trendkill

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Agreed for Meddle and Dark Side of the Moon. Strangely, the album with probably the least atmosphere from them is my favourite; Animals.

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I think
Behemoth-The Apostasy
and
Demigod
are great atmospheric albums

Also the newest Vital Remains is great

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NO

NO NO NO NO NO
NO

NO
WRONG
NOT CORRECT NO
WRONG
NO NO NO

Holy shit, those albums have NO atmosphere whatsoever. Those are literally some haphazard songs thrown together, and the only way in which they 'link' is that they all. Sound. The fucking. Same.

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Horna - Sudentaival

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I know this was probably not the intention, but to me, Follow the Reaper bypre-retarded children of bodom has a very cold atmosphere to it. Maybe it was Peter Tagtgrens producing....not sure.


OH! and Dissections first to releases....cold sounding as well.

no flamezors...please

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Lurker Of Chalice - s/t
The Braveheart soundtrack, fuck yes.

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Definitely...Lurker of Chalice!

Funeral Mist "Salvation"
Svartsyn "Timeless Reign"
Bloodbath "Resurrection Through Carnage" and "Breeding Death"
Black Funeral "Waters of Weeping"

and everything from Dead Can Dance

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Morbid Angel - Formulas Fatal to the Flesh
Pestilence - Testimony Of The Ancients
Virus - Force Recon
Merciless Death - Sick Sanctities
Voivod - Killing Technology

Devin Townsend-Synchresta
Electric Wizard-Come my Fanatics...
Against Empire-The Ones Who Bear Scars Remember
Katatonia-Dance of December Souls

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Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Alice in Chains - Dirt
Infected Mushroom - Vicious Delicious
Graveworm - Scourge of Malice

this one came in the mail the morning highschool ended, and a night at the island had already been planned. even though i was drunk, i have a good memory of walking on the sand that night, with this album on. listening to Descending into Ethereal Mist, while staring over a black ocean is very awesome, i can assure you.

Any of the aforementioned black metal bands offer decent production? Can't be fucked to sort through them all.

For death metal albums, great atmosphere. I'd add Seven Churches by Possessed and Indulgence by Nasty Savage. Similar atmospheres for two very different albums stylistically. Someone mentioned Dirt by AIC, I'd add the self-titled.

Tool - all
Cynic - Focus
Deicide - first two
Fates Warning - No Exit
Black Sabbath - first two, Sabotage
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Mercyful Fate - All (but especially the first two)
King Diamond - All (but especially the first two)
Judas Priest - Rocka Rolla
Yattering - Murder's Concept

Manowar FTW.

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I think Opeth's Ghost Reveries has some good atmosphere. At least The Grand Conjuration.

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devin townsend band - accelerated evolution

porcupine tree - fear of a blank planet

pelican - the fire in our throats will beckon the thaw

and pretty much most post-rock/metal bands imo