The first extreme metal bands incorporating classical, orchestral, and operatic elements into their music were Mekong Delta,[2] Bulldozer on their album Neurodeliri (1988),[3] Believer on Sanity Obscure (1990) and Dimensions (1993),[2][4] Master's Hammer on Ritual (1991)[5] and The Jilemnice Occultist (1993) and Sigh on their debut Scorn Defeat (1993).
[6] The style on Emperor's In the Nightside Eclipse (1994) had a pioneering influence though and was the main inspiration for many keyboard-based black metal bands following after.
Troll's Drep de kristne (1995) and Arcturus' Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996) are other notable early works of symphonic black metal, before the genre was commercialised by the international success of bands like Dimmu Borgir and Bal Sagoth.
This may include the usage of keyboards to conjure up "pseudo-orchestral" soundscapes with default presets (e.g. strings, choirs, piano, organs, and pads), or full orchestral arrangements.
Many of the characteristics of traditional black metal are retained, such as shrieks, fast tempos, high treble and tremolo-picked electric guitars.