Black Crown Initiate is an American extreme metal band from Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, currently signed to Century Media.

[7]Formed in late 2012, Black Crown Initiate released several demos onto SoundCloud, which led to the creation of their four track EP titled Song of the Crippled Bull.

[2] Due to the success of the EP, what had initially begun as a small project by guitarist Andy Thomas, vocalist James Dorton and bassist Nick Shaw became a full-time endeavor, and they began to recruit members for live performances.

[9] In January 2014 the band posted on their official Facebook page that they would be embarking on the 2014 Metal Alliance Tour supporting 1349, Goatwhore and Behemoth.

On June 19 the band announced through their Facebook page, their signing to eOne Music, and that their full-length debut album would be on its way.

[12] On signing with the label, guitarist Andy Thomas stated: “We started this band with absolutely no clue how far it would take us.

[21] Black Crown Initiate later appeared at several other festivals such as New England Hardcore Metal Fest, South By So What?

[citation needed] In February 2016, the band announced they were back in the studio, again with Carson Slovak, to record their sophomore effort to be released in late spring 2016 through eOne Music.

[24] The band was also rumoured to be a part of the Metal Alliance Tour once again this time supporting Dying Fetus, The Acacia Strain and Jungle Rot.

[33] In August, while touring with Ne Obliviscaris, and Starkill,[34] the band's van, as well as personal possessions, were stolen in St. Louis, MO.

"[41] In November 2019, the band announced it was entering the studio to begin work on a new album, with tracking set to commence in "a couple weeks.

"[42] On March 10, 2020, the band officially announced they'd completed work on the coming album Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape, with a single titled "Invitation" slated to drop the following Friday.

[43] In July 2020, a music video was produced for the song "Holy Silence," directed by David Brodsky, with illustrations by Chris Bishop.

[52][55] On June 25, 2024, it was announced that guitarist Andy Thomas and bassist Nick Shaw were back and stated that Black Crown Initiate would hopefully be releasing music later in the year "when time permits.

Black Crown Initiate is known for incorporating various elements of heavy metal and extreme music in their sound.