We’d been waiting to see what direction Blake Judd and company would take after the Black Meddle duology, and we finally found out this week when Nachtmystium released its sixth full-length album Silencing Machine (check out Jeff Treppel’s review in our August issue). To celebrate, we recently asked the Illinoisan—whose band is the inspiration for this piece of deliciousness—to tell us about five albums that he’s been listening to recently. And he didn’t disappoint, sharing five with us that mostly share one color characteristic: black. As usual, we’ve compiled Blake’s picks, to the extent available, into a Spotify playlist for your listening enjoyment.

Deathspell Omega—Drought (2012)
I’d never really been a big fan of these guys up to this point. I mean, I didn’t dislike them at all, I just never got into it. After listening to this EP, I’m totally on board. It’s a little proggy at times, but it holds my attention!

Krieg/Satanic Warmaster—Split (2003)
I’d been listening to this as we played the Krieg half of this split live when Nachtmystium recently went on tour with Krieg. We acted as Krieg’s live band and this split is fucking ugly and an excellent piece of black metal. I never get a break from playing Nachtmystium stuff live so I was pretty excited for this. Plus “The Sick Winds Stir the Cold Dawn” is probably my favorite Krieg song ever!

Darkthrone—Panzerfaust (1995)
I’ll take this record over Transilvanian Hunger any day. I love both records, but this is far superior in my opinion. Darkthrone is undeniably one of the best Norwegian black metal bands of all time and I don’t think people give Panzerfaust enough credit. “En Vind Av Sorg” rips and is a perfect example of what the black metal sound should be.

Vomitor—Roar of War (1999)
Goddamnit this Vomitor tape rules! Sucks it’s only four tracks. If you still want more, pick up the Bleeding the Priest LP as well. Saw them play at Festung Open Air a couple of years ago and they were unbelievable live.

Katharsis—666 (2000)
These demos are some of the most savage black metal recordings ever laid to tape. I absolutely love these. Killer stuff!

*Pick up a copy of Silencing Machine here!

**We update one Spotify playlist for each new Decibrity entry, so feel free to subscribe to that here. Past entries include:

“Best of” Rush (Part 1) (Part 2)
Dawnbringer
Ufomammut
Shadows Fall
Horseback
Greg Mackintosh (Paradise Lost) (Part 1) (Part 2)
Torche
“Best of” Meshuggah
Astra
Pallbearer
Barren Earth
Shane Embury (Napalm Death) (Part 1) (Part 2)