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Most Gripping Atmospheres


Here are the most captivating atmospheres I've ever heard. Including metal and non-metal albums. Grouped according to genre and one album per band.

Created by: R'Vannith | 13.08.2011



1. Division By Zero - Independent Harmony
Progressive Metal
2. Beyond Twilight - The Devil's Hall Of Fame
Progressive Metal
3. Riverside - Out Of Myself
Progressive Metal
4. Suspyre - When Time Fades...
Progressive Metal
5. Redemption - The Fullness Of Time
Progressive Metal
6. Andromeda - Chimera
Progressive Metal
7. Disillusion - Back To Times Of Splendor
Progressive Metal
8. Communic - Waves Of Visual Decay
Progressive Metal
9. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory
Progressive Metal
10. Shadow Gallery - Room V
Progressive Metal
11. Devin Townsend - Terria
Progressive Metal
12. Pain Of Salvation - The Perfect Element, Part I
Progressive Metal
13. Kingcrow - Phlegethon
Progressive Metal
14. Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle
Progressive Metal
15. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Progressive Metal
16. Dan Swanö - Moontower
Extreme Progressive Metal
17. Opeth - Still Life
Extreme Progressive Metal
18. Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet
Progressive Rock/Metal
19. Rishloo - Feathergun
Progressive Rock/Metal
20. The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute
Progressive Rock/Metal
21. Anekdoten - Nucleus
Progressive Rock/Metal
22. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Progressive Rock
23. Arena - The Visitor
Progressive Rock
24. Beardfish - Destined Solitaire
Progressive Rock
25. Pallas - The Dreams Of Men
Progressive Rock
26. Solaris - Nostradamus Book Of Prophecies
Progressive Rock
27. Genesis - Selling England By The Pound
Progressive Rock
28. King Crimson - Lizard
Progressive Rock
29. Renaissance - Scheherazade And Other Stories
Progressive Rock
30. The Enid - In The Region Of The Summer Stars
Progressive Rock
31. Yes - Relayer
Progressive Rock
32. Anglagard - Hybris
Progressive Rock
33. Wishbone Ash - Argus
Progressive Rock
34. Supertramp - Crime Of The Century
Progressive Rock/Pop
35. Van De Graaf Generator - Still Life
Progressive Rock
36. Eloy - Ocean
Progressive Rock
37. Camel - Moonmadness
Progressive Rock
38. Hawkwind - Warrior On The Edge Of Time
Psychedelic/Progressive Rock
39. Ozric Tentacles - Jurassic Shift
Psychedelic/Space Rock
40. Alan Parsons Band - A Valid Path
Progressive Rock
41. Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination - Edgar Allan Poe
Progressive Rock
42. The Pineapple Thief - Someone Here Is Missing
Progressive Rock
43. Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
Electronic/Ambient
44. Depeche Mode - Violator
Electronic
45. Ulver - Shadows Of The Sun
Electronic/Ambient/Avantgarde Metal
46. Dol Ammad - Ocean Dynamics
Electronic Symphonic Metal
47. Die Verbannten Kinder Evas - Dusk And Void Became Alive
Ambient/Neoclassical
48. Elend - Weeping Nights
Ambient/Neoclassical
49. Arcana - Le Serpent Rouge
Ambient
50. Dead Can Dance - The Serpents Egg
Ambient/Neoclassical/World/Folk
51. Dargaard - The Dissolution Of Eternity
Neoclassical/Ambient/Folk
52. Tenhi - Maaäet
Ambient/Neofolk
53. Winds - The Imaginary Direction Of Time
Neoclassical/Avantgarde Metal
54. Apocalyptica - Cult
Neoclassical/Instrumental Metal
55. Agalloch - The Mantle
Neofolk/Black/Gothic Metal
56. Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja
Viking Folk Metal
57. The Moon And The Nightspirit - Ősforrás
Folk Metal
58. Primordial - To The Nameless Dead
Black/Folk Metal
59. Subway To Sally - Herzblut
Folk/Industrial Metal
60. Alcest - Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde
Black/Shoegaze
61. Angst Skvadron - Flukt
Post-Black/Avantgarde Metal
62. Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
Industrial Black Metal
63. Bal-Sagoth - The Power Cosmic
Symphonic Black Power Metal
64. Old Man's Child - Vermin
Symphonic Black Metal
65. Therion - Sirius B
Symphonic Metal
66. Aesma Daeva - The Eros Of Frigid Beauty
Symphonic Metal
67. Epica - Consign To Oblivion
Symphonic Metal
68. Kamelot - The Black Halo
Symphonic Power Metal
69. Septicflesh - Communion
Symphonic Death Metal
70. Nocturnus - The Key
Atmospheric Death Metal
71. Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes
Melodic Death Metal
72. Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
Progressive Melodic Death Metal
73. In Mourning - Monolith
Progressive Melodic Death Metal
74. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
Melodic Death Metal
75. Unexpect - Fables Of The Sleepless Empire
Avantgarde Metal
76. Estradasphere - Buck Fever
Avantgarde Metal/Fusion
77. Virus - The Agent That Shapes The Desert
Avantgarde Metal
78. In The Woods... - Omnio
Avantgarde Metal
79. Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
Avantgarde Black Metal
80. Isis - Oceanic
Avantgarde Metal
81. Alchemist - Austral Alien
Avantgarde Metal
82. Pelican - The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw
Avantgarde Instrumental Metal
83. God Is An Astronaut - All Is Violent, All Is Bright
Post-Rock/Instrumental
84. Tides From Nebula - Aura
Ambient/Instrumental Post-metal
85. Bloodiest - Descent
Post-Metal/Sludge
86. Anathema - Judgement
Atmospheric Rock
87. Ahab - The Call Of The Wretched Sea
Funeral Doom Metal
88. Candlemass - Nightfall
Doom Metal
89. Solstice - New Dark Age
Epic Doom Metal
90. DoomSword - Let Battle Commence
Epic Doom Metal
91. Warning - Watching From A Distance
Doom Metal
92. While Heaven Wept - Vast Oceans Lachrymose
Doom Metal
93. Avrigus - The Secret Kingdom
Atmospheric Doom Metal
94. The 3rd And The Mortal - Tears Laid In Earth
Atmospheric Doom Metal
95. Forest Stream - Tears Of Mortal Solitude
Doom Metal
96. Saturnus - Martyre
Doom/Gothic Metal
97. Heavenwood - Abyss Masterpiece
Gothic Metal
98. Throes Of Dawn - Quicksilver Clouds
Gothic/Symphonic Metal
99. Madder Mortem - All Flesh Is Grass
Atmospheric Gothic Metal
100. Paradise Lost - Icon
Gothic Metal
101. Tiamat - Wildhoney
Atmospheric Gothic Metal
102. Katatonia - Viva Emptiness
Alternative/Gothic Metal
103. Todesbonden - Sleep Now, Quiet Forest
Atmospheric Gothic/Doom Metal
104. Cormorant - Metazoa
Progressive Folk/Black/Melodic Death
105. Equilibrium - Sagas
Viking Folk Metal
106. Kiuas - The Spirit Of Ukko
Power Metal
107. Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings
Power Metal
108. Blind Guardian - A Night At The Opera
Power Metal
109. Angra - Temple Of Shadows
Progressive Power Metal
110. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy
Neoclassical/Progressive Power Metal
111. Evergrey - Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy
Dark Progressive Power Metal
112. Angel Dust - Bleed
Heavy/Thrashy Power Metal
113. Morgana Lefay - Grand Materia
Heavy/Thrashy Power Metal
114. Savatage - Hall Of The Mountain King
Heavy Metal
115. Iron Maiden - Brave New World
Heavy Metal
116. Virgin Steele - The House Of Atreus Act I
Symphonic Heavy Metal
117. Turisas - The Varangian Way
Battle Folk Metal



Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by R'Vannith ]



Comments

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Comments: 24   Visited by: 365 users
27.10.2011 - 13:51
Frost Beast
Account deleted
Great list, but it needs more black metal. Try Drudkh and Wolves In The Throne Room for great atmospheres.
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27.10.2011 - 14:31
Urs Blank

Impressive list with really good and varied stuff! Lots of progressive and even some Estradasphere and Virus! Man I quite agree with your tastes
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27.10.2011 - 22:22
fabregassed
Account deleted
Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 13:51

Great list, but it needs more black metal. Try Drudkh and Wolves In The Throne Room for great atmospheres.


Doesn't have to have black metal. I personally don't find BM atmospheric like a lot of people say.
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27.10.2011 - 22:26
Frost Beast
Account deleted
Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 22:22

Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 13:51

Great list, but it needs more black metal. Try Drudkh and Wolves In The Throne Room for great atmospheres.


Doesn't have to have black metal. I personally don't find BM atmospheric like a lot of people say.

That's true, mate. Bands like Darkthrone and Immortal nearly have nothing to do with atmosphere, but you can't deny that Drudkh and Wolves In The Throne Room records drip with atmosphere.
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27.10.2011 - 22:38
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 22:26
Immortal nearly have nothing to do with atmosphere

Whoa whoa whoa wait just a minute. Immortal, nothing to do with atmosphere? Please.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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27.10.2011 - 22:40
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
PS if you've got Alan Parsons up there (AVP is a phenomenal album by the way) you might as well add The Project's Tales.... Atmospheric as fuuuck.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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28.10.2011 - 08:20
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 13:51

Great list, but it needs more black metal. Try Drudkh and Wolves In The Throne Room for great atmospheres.


Thanks! And yeah it definitely needs a bit more from that department, trouble with me is though I rarely enjoy Black metal as it is, let alone get a sense of atmosphere from it. I'll be sure to check those two out.

Written by Urs Blank on 27.10.2011 at 14:31

Impressive list with really good and varied stuff! Lots of progressive and even some Estradasphere and Virus! Man I quite agree with your tastes


Thanks, glad it was to your liking. That Estradasphere album is honestly one of the best atmospheres I've ever heard, it's just so crazy, funny and awesome all at once!

Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 22:22

I personally don't find BM atmospheric like a lot of people say.


I agree very much, although I'm starting to get a feel for the more ambient black metal, some of that stuff has great atmosphere.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 27.10.2011 at 22:40

PS if you've got Alan Parsons up there (AVP is a phenomenal album by the way) you might as well add The Project's Tales.... Atmospheric as fuuuck.


Never would have put you as an Parsons fan! AVP isn't very highly regarded but I can hardly not enjoy it's electronic/prog randomness (especially with Cleese at the end for some reason). That's my favourite by Alan Parsons but because 'The Project' is a different band I can't see why I shouldn't add that one too ('Tales' is definitely atmospheric in every sense of the word)
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07.01.2013 - 06:31
Carl Berg
Carl Berg
Absolutely amazing list. When I saw Andromeda I knew this deserved a thumbs up.
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07.01.2013 - 13:17
Aristarchos

Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 13:51

Great list, but it needs more black metal. Try Drudkh and Wolves In The Throne Room for great atmospheres.

Definitely agree with that. More atmospheric than most of the bands in the list.
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07.01.2013 - 15:36
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Carl Berg on 07.01.2013 at 06:31

Absolutely amazing list. When I saw Andromeda I knew this deserved a thumbs up.


Wow thanks a lot! I think "Chimera" is their most atmospheric album though "Extension of the Wish" is my favourite from them. Really smooth prog sound with excellent vocals, especially on tracks like "The Hidden Riddle."
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07.01.2013 - 15:38
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Aristarchos on 07.01.2013 at 13:17

Written by Guest on 27.10.2011 at 13:51

Great list, but it needs more black metal. Try Drudkh and Wolves In The Throne Room for great atmospheres.

Definitely agree with that. More atmospheric than most of the bands in the list.

Still need to check out those suggestions, thanks for the reminder.
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21.02.2014 - 22:52
MechanisT
Account deleted
Dripping atmosphere by the buckets. Truly great album, and one that fits here methinks.

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22.02.2014 - 06:26
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Guest on 21.02.2014 at 22:52

Dripping atmosphere by the buckets. Truly great album, and one that fits here methinks.


I'll need to listen this one more fully, from that piece you've shown me it seems to be very atmospheric. It reminds me vaguely of another band, but I can't put my finger on who it is at the moment.
Thanks muchly for the suggestion.
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22.02.2014 - 19:52
Lit.
Account deleted
As long as we're talking atmospheric black, perhaps Lurker of Chalice?
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23.02.2014 - 03:37
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Guest on 22.02.2014 at 19:52

As long as we're talking atmospheric black, perhaps Lurker of Chalice?


I haven't heard this one either, and it's very favoured on MS. I'll give it a listen when I'm next in the mood for some black metal, thanks.
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01.06.2014 - 18:50
NorthernDickhead

Perhaps some of Haggard's albums would have room on here?
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07.06.2014 - 17:35
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by NorthernDickhead on 01.06.2014 at 18:50

Perhaps some of Haggard's albums would have room on here?

Haven't heard their material for years. Needless to say they didn't leave much of a positive impression on me then, as I haven't listened beyond one of their albums. Eppur Si Muove it was. I think I'll have to revisit them at some point though, thanks for the suggestion.
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13.09.2014 - 04:51
Doge of Venice

I would suggest this album but I'm sure some would disagree.
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13.09.2014 - 07:47
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Doge of Venice on 13.09.2014 at 04:51

I would suggest this album but I'm sure some would disagree.


I've been aware of that one, but I still haven't tried it out, despite how much everyone seems to appreciate it, how nice the cover is, the fact that it's an Australian musician... the hell's wrong with me? I need to check it out, I don't imagine I'll be unimpressed by it going off the amount of folks that are into it. Only one way to find out of course, actually listen to it.
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13.09.2014 - 07:53
R'Vannith
ghedengi
Written by Guest on 21.02.2014 at 22:52

Dripping atmosphere by the buckets. Truly great album, and one that fits here methinks.




I forgot to mention to you, I realised sometime later that this reminded me of Klabautamann, and having checked out who they're signed to, lo and behold they're both on the same label, "Zeitgeister." Pretty coincidental, and it's very nice music too. One of the best that that label have on-board I think.
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13.09.2014 - 16:03
Doge of Venice

Written by R'Vannith on 13.09.2014 at 07:47

Written by Doge of Venice on 13.09.2014 at 04:51

I would suggest this album but I'm sure some would disagree.


I've been aware of that one, but I still haven't tried it out, despite how much everyone seems to appreciate it, how nice the cover is, the fact that it's an Australian musician... the hell's wrong with me? I need to check it out, I don't imagine I'll be unimpressed by it going off the amount of folks that are into it. Only one way to find out of course, actually listen to it.


It's worth it. I think even Troy appreciates it (even though it's too symphonic for him )

EDIT: Oh, and while we're at it, here are a couple others I'd suggest:

Gazpacho - Demon
Major Parkinson - Twilight Cinema

If we are talking atmospheres that are hard to let go once they have you, then I would also include this.
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13.09.2014 - 17:54
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Doge of Venice on 13.09.2014 at 16:03
It's worth it. I think even Troy appreciates it (even though it's too symphonic for him )

I think objectively it's great for what it is, I'm just not a big fan of the style.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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13.09.2014 - 18:37
Doge of Venice

Written by Troy Killjoy on 13.09.2014 at 17:54

Written by Doge of Venice on 13.09.2014 at 16:03
It's worth it. I think even Troy appreciates it (even though it's too symphonic for him )

I think objectively it's great for what it is, I'm just not a big fan of the style.


I was just teasing.
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06.04.2020 - 12:54
JoHn Doe

Any list that has Camel's Moonmadness gets a thumbs up from me.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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