Inspired by the Omega Switch list:

Level 1 - These are albums that any fans of good music should have.

Level 2 - These are albums that any metal fan should have.

Level 3 - While these are not essential recordings, they are worthy additions for a black metal fan.

Level 4 - Albums that have some interesting aspects to borrow, re-use or re-do.

Level 5 - Everything else. The "who really cares" file, except for purists.

Level 1

Bathory - The Return, Blood Fire Death, Hammerheart

Hellhammer - Apocalyptic Raids

Immortal - Diabolical Full Moon Mysticism, Pure Holocaust

Burzum - Burzum, Det Som Engang Var, Hvis lyset tar oss

Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon, Transilvanian Hunger

Mayhem- De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas

Beherit - Drawing Down the Moon

Graveland - The Celtic Winter, Following the Voice of Blood

Gorgoroth - Pentagram, Antichrist

Ancient - Svartalvheim

Emperor- In the Nightside Eclipse (1994)

Enslaved- Vikingligr Veldi (1993)

Emperor / Enslaved- Emperor / Hordanes Land (1993)

Demoncy - Joined in Darkness

Sacramentum- Far Away From the Sun (1996)

Level 2

Dissection- The Somberlain (1993)

Varathron - His Majesty in the Swamp

Rotting Christ - Thy Mighty Contract

Ildjarn- Strength and Anger (1996)

Sarcófago- I.N.R.I. (1987)

Summoning - Minas Morgul, Dol Guldur

Enslaved- Frost (1994)

Impaled Nazarene- Ugra-Karma (1993)

Kvist- For kunsten maa vi evig vike (1996)

Setherial - Nord

Beherit- Engram (2009)

Blasphemy- Fallen Angel of Doom (1990)

Dimmu Borgir- Stormblåst (1996)

Level 3

Absu - Barathrum VITRIOL, In the Eyes of Ioldanach

Averse Sefira- Tetragrammatical Astygmata (2005)

Enslaved- Blodhemn (1998)

I Shalt Become- Wanderings (1996)

Rotting Christ- Non Serviam (1993)

Samael- Worship Him (1991)

Vlad Tepes / Belketre- March to the Black Holocaust (1995)

Absurd- Facta Loquuntur (1996)

Black Funeral- Az-I-Dahak

Von- Satanic Blood (1992)

Level 4

Antaeus- Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan (2000)

Dark Funeral- The Secrets of the Black Arts (1996)

Krieg- The Black House (2004)

Level 5

Insert suggestions here!

Abruptum Absu Absurd Abyss, the Ancient Angelcorpse Antaeus Arcturus Auzhia Avenger Averse Sefira Axis of Advance Bathory Behemoth Beherit Belial Black Goat Blasphemy Blazemth Blood Burzum Celtic Frost Conqueror Cultus Sanguine Dark Funeral DarkThrone Dark Tranquility Dawn Deinonychius Demonic Demoncy Dimmu Borgir Dissection Emperor Enslaved Eucharist Frozen Shadows Gehenna Gorgoroth Gotmoor Graveland Grotesque Havohej Hades Hellhammer Ildjarn Immortal Impaled Nazarene Infernum Inquisition I Shalt Become Katatonia Krieg Kvist Lord Wind Manes Marduk Mayhem Merciless Mortiis Mütiilation Mysticum Necromantia Niden Div 187 NME Ophthalamia Pentagram Pervertum Profanatica Resuscitator Rotting Christ Sacramentum Samael Sammath Sarcofago Septic Flesh Setherial Sodom Sorcier des Glaces Sort Vokter Summon Summoning Swordmaster Tha-norr Thorns Tartaros Throne of Ahaz Ulver Ungod Urgrund Usurper Varathron Vilkates Von Watain Xibalba Yamatu Zyklon-B