5. Nortt
Not as prolific as some of us would like, Nortt has only managed a scarce three full lengths between 2003 and 2007, with 2007's Galgenfrist being his most recent work to date. He self-describes as "black funeral doom metal", which sounds about right, although there are a lot of shitty projects that also fit that general description. Check out "Havet Hinsides Havet", though, and you'll see an attention to negative space and energy builds which is more typically associated with respected avantgarde ensembles such as Sunn O)).
4. Borgne
Possibly the least well-known artist on the list, but also one of the better produced, Bornyhake has recorded as a member of several bands while also producing another one-off solo project by the name of Enoid (2008). To make his output that much harder to put bookends around, he just as frequently records as Ormenos and has occasionally even used numerous variants of his real name, Sergio.
3. Vinterriket
Christoph Ziegler mixes pagan folk metal and the most abrasive of blackened lo fi to hypnotic effect as Vinterriket, easily the most productive of the one man solo projects on this list. Dude has so many singles, EP's and splits that his Metal Archives discography lists more compilations than actual albums! Ziegler plays keyboards in Battle Dagorath as well, but seems to spend the lion's share of his time cooped up in his own basement.
2. Panopticon
We're doing a separate feature on Kentucky black metal – yes, even the Bourbon Triangle has been known to get depressive from time to time – so I won't spend a whole lot of time here, except to point out that A. Lunn also plays with the excellent Seidr, whom we have talked about before.
1. Burzum
Love him or hate him – and let's face it, most of us hate him – Varg Vikernes (who likes his corn flakes crispy) is not only one of the most influential personages in all of black metal history, but also represents Ground Zero when it comes to one man BM bands. Granted, he's put out more shit albums than good ones over the years, but his early work still holds up to any other band on this list. Also, I saved Burzum for #1 just to see how many of you actually noted the "in no particular order" clause. Call it trolling for a cause.
